NIC student takes top spot at Skills Canada event

North Island College student Nathan Munro is bringing home gold in the Heavy Vehicle Technology category at Skills Canada.

Munro, a Level 2 Heavy Duty student, qualified for the national competition by winning gold at the Skills BC event held in Abbotsford in April. He lives in Campbell River and works for Wacor Holdings.

Unlike the provincial event, he did not have his instructor Byron Beupre as coach, so he was not sure what would happen.

“I really didn’t have a lot of expectations,” he said. “I was going for the experience.”

For the event, he had to work through six stations, including hydraulics, electronics, drive train and undercarriage. When he heard the bronze and silver winners announced, he assumed he had messed up something—until he heard the winner announced.

“They called the gold, and I went up and shook all the competitors’ hands,” he said. “Everybody did a great job.”

The annual event was held in Toronto from May 27 to 30 and brought together competitors from across Canada to evaluate their skills in categories for careers in construction, transportation, electronics and information technology, engineering, aesthetics, culinary and fashion, among others.

“Representing Team BC on the national stage, Nathan earned a gold medal, showcasing the skill, dedication and excellence that define the next generation of trades professionals,” Acting Dean of Trades and Technical Programs Chris Manning said. “North Island College, Campbell River and all of British Columbia are incredibly proud of Heavy Mechanical student Nathan Munro for his outstanding achievement at the Skills Canada National Competition.”

Manning credited Munro for his accomplishment, saying the student’s hard work and commitment paid off and that everyone is looking forward to seeing what he achieves next.

Skills Canada is the only national, multi-trade and technology competition for students and apprentices in the country, with more than 550 competitors from all regions of Canada competing every year in more than 40 skilled trade and technology competitions.