Optimistically awaiting the results of the 2024 Post-Secondary Provincial Skills Canada Competition, Nicholas Fogg felt good about his performance in automotive skills on May 9.
“I hope with the knowledge that I've learned over the years, I’ll be able to do a little bit better than I did last year,” the Airdrie resident said, who placed ninth in the 2023 competition. He added he feels a sense of accomplishment in his trade as one of the top 30 youth and young adults competing in the provincial skills competition.
While no high school competitors from Airdrie took part in this year’s Provincial Skills Competition, several Post Secondary competitors originated from Airdrie.
Nick Fogg and Angeline Robert both attend the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and competed in Automobile Technology, while another SAIT student, Erik Thoresen, competed in Electrical Installations. Lastly, Cassidy Gregg who attends MC College competed in Hairstyling.
The Provincial Skills Competition took place at the Edmonton EXPO Centre May 8 and 9.
Fogg, who is finishing his second year as an automotive service technology student, said the competition tested the hand skills, knowledge and theory, and accuracy and speed through completing tasks at six stations over two days. The stations focused on driveability, brakes, suspension, engine, mechanical brake lines, and driveline systems.
“For driveability, we had to scan the engine, we were given a customer concern that we had to diagnose and try to figure out what is causing this problem,” Fogg said. “We were given 75 minutes per station, so this particular station we had to test electronics, the performance of the engine, and figure out what’s the best possible cause and repair for the customer's concern.”
For the driveline station, participants had to disassemble a transmission differential and clutch assembly and measure the component and describe the path of power and function.
At the wheel and suspension station, the task was to dismount and repair a flat tire, balance the tire, and do a front end wheel suspension on a Jeep Cherokee donated by a local dealership.
Fogg hopes to return next year for his third and final year.
“I felt very confident but slightly nervous as the days grew closer,” he said. “I felt more confident while in classes and doing it in my spare time training for this event with my instructor, I was able to understand a little more of what I need to do and how to be more efficient.”
The Airdrie resident attended WH Croxford High School where he started his venture into the world of automotives as he joined the Automotive Rocky View Schools (RVS) Mechanics Training program.
He said the competition was a great bonding experience for him and his peers who also competed for gold.
The gold medalist from the Provincial Skills Canada Competition will move on to the 2024 Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) in Quebec City, QC, from May 27 to June 1, 2024.
