Students from across Canada participated in the 2022 Skills Canada National Competition to discover skilled trade careers through interactive activities. The ARA proudly represented the automotive sector.
On May 27 and 28, the Automotive Retailers Association was proud to take part in the 2022 Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC), in Vancouver. Founded in 1989, Skills Canada aims to engage youth in Canada and showcase all of the fascinating and profitable jobs that are available in the skilled trades. Competitors representing every province and territory took part in a variety of contests in a wide range of different trades and skills. The automotive industry was strongly represented at the event, with trades ranging from auto body repair, automotive painting, collision and glass repair, and more.
Over the course of three days, the SCNC had over 3,000 attendees. Students of all ages from all over the Metro Vancouver area attended and were able to see firsthand just how engaging these trades can be. The event was also attended by a multitude of industry representatives, businesses, educational institutes, and government officials.
The ARA’s goal is to encourage youth to recognize and take advantage of the multiple possibilities and opportunities available in this broad, developing industry. “It was great engaging with youth,” said ARA’s industry relations advisor Dejla Sabanac at the event. “It’s important to open their minds to what the automotive industry can offer when it comes to careers.”
The ARA’s Automotive Retailers Foundation Inc. (ARFI) also had the opportunity to bring awareness to the bursaries and scholarships it offers to a wide range of potential recipients. In 2022, the foundation will award a total of $15,000 in two scholarships and four bursaries to students pursuing careers in automotive.
Our goal is to make this industry accessible and a viable choice for students, which is why ARFI is such a key component of our work in this industry. The future growth, diversity, and prosperity of our industry depends on it.