Skills/Compétences Canada —Helping Canadian Youth Make Informed Career Choices

Skills/Compétences Canada (S/CC) is a national, not-for-profit organization that was formed in 1998 to promote skilled trades and technology opportunities available to our youth.  With offices in each of the 10 provinces and 3 territories, as well as a national office in Ottawa, the organization provides important career information to thousands of Canadian young people every year.  One of the main activities of S/CC is its annual national competition — with over 500 competitors vying for medals in over 40 different skilled trade, technology and employability skill competitions.  In addition, every two years S/CC sends a team to compete at the WorldSkills competition, with the next competition begin held in October 2017 in Abu Dhabi.  The WorldSkills organization now has 77 members.

John Oates is currently the national President of Skills/Compétences Canada and is the first person east of Ontario to be elected to this position.  He has been involved in the Skills Movement in Canada for the past 17 years, having previously served as the President of Skills Canada—Newfoundland and Labrador for 12 years.  John has always been a strong supporter of skilled trades and technology careers.  He recently retired from College of the North Atlantic, after spending 38 years at that organization — the last 12 years in a leadership position.