February 26, 2026 (Cornwall, ON) – On Tuesday, February 24, students from across the region gathered at St. Lawrence College (SLC), ZipGrow headquarters, and the River Institute in Cornwall for the Eastern Ontario SKLZ competition. Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) students had a great showing, with multiple medals clinched in events such as welding, hairstyling, automotive service technician, TV video production, and more.
The annual competition is held in collaboration with the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario and St. Lawrence College. Approximately 260 participants from both school boards showcased their skills in a variety of different trades. The UCDSB had representation from 16 out of 22 secondary schools.
Some medalists will head straight to the Skills Ontario competition in Toronto on May 5, while others will have to make it through a qualifying event in Kingston to earn a spot at the provincial competition.
UCDSB results from the SKLZ Competition are as follows:
Small Powered Equipment
Gold – Darren Gregoire, North Dundas District High School (Advancing to Skills Ontario)
Silver – Hank Whitton, Tagwi Secondary School
Bronze – Theo Pendherney, Rideau District High School
Automotive Service Technician
Gold – Raine Wells, Seaway District High School (Advancing to Skills Ontario)
Bronze – Ayden Flagle, Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute
Welding
Silver – Maria McDonald, Glengarry District High School (Advancing to Kingston competition)
Bronze – Colton Cavanaugh, North Dundas District High School
Individual Carpentry
Gold – Bryce Coleman, Cornwall Collegiate & Vocational School (Advancing to Kingston competition)
Bronze – Jaydon Shannon, Glengarry District High School (Advancing to Kingston competition)
Carpentry, Team of 2
Gold – Colin Cox & Rus Rossback, Glengarry District High School (Advancing to Skills Ontario)
Silver – Jack Weir & Hunter Porteous, Carleton Place High School
Bronze – Devin Roberts & Brodie Roberts, Seaway District High School
Carpentry, Team of 4
Bronze – Mateo Guerrero, Logan Shaver, Nathan LaChapelle-White, Simon Leger, Carleton Place High School (Advancing to Skills Ontario)
Cabinetmaking
Gold – Hanna LaRocque, Carleton Place High School (Advancing to Skills Ontario)
Silver – Liam Ladouceur, Glengarry District High School
Bronze – Christian Shattler, Seaway District High School
Job Interview
Gold – Alexander Moussa, Cornwall Collegiate & Vocational School (Advancing to Skills Ontario)
Silver – Maggie Mcintosh, Tagwi Secondary School
Bronze – McKenna Russell, Carleton Place High School
Environment
Bronze – Karis S & Amber H, Seaway District High School
CAD Design and 3D Printing
Gold – Thomas Little, Rockland District High School
Silver – Hayden Doner, Thousand Islands Secondary School
Bronze – Sam Petrie, Carleton Place High School
TV/Video
Silver – Myles Verge & Anthon Shykinov, Perth & District Collegiate Institute (Advancing to Kingston competition)
Photography
Bronze – Shannon Seay, Tagwi Secondary School (Advancing to Skills Ontario)
Fashion
Gold – Grace St. Pierre, Char-Lan District High School
Silver – Kelsey Duguid, Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute
Bronze – Brenna Devenne, Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute
Floristry
Gold – Kaydence Antoine, Cornwall Collegiate & Vocational School (Advancing to Skills Ontario)
Silver – Khori Branchaud, Tagwi Secondary School
Bronze – Izzy Lavigne, Cornwall Collegiate & Vocational School
Hairstyling
Bronze – Marry Iranyumva, Tagwi Secondary School (Advancing to Skills Ontario)
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