Local high school students test skills in spirited competition
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Nearly 1,500 high school students from the Val-des-Cerfs School Service Center and the Eastern Townships School Board gathered at two venues on Friday, Oct. 25, to participate in the Trade Challenge, an event designed to introduce young people to vocational education through friendly competition. Held at the Integrated Regional Training Center (CRIF) in Granby and the Brome-Missisquoi Campus (CBM) in Cowansville, the event was a first for both locations, providing students with hands-on experience in various trades.
The event was organized by Compétences Québec and backed by the Ministry of Education. Assistant Director Jeremy Frizzle from CBM emphasized in an interview on the scene in Cowansville that the aim was to expose students to a range of trade skills while fostering team spirit. He noted that the event is part of a provincial initiative to encourage students to consider vocational training programs as viable career options.
Students competed in small teams in five different challenges, each testing skills specific to a particular trade. The hairdressing competition, for instance, required students to set eight rollers in the shortest time while ensuring accuracy, with the team that completed it most precisely declared the winner. In welding, students were tasked with joining two metal plates at a precise 90-degree angle, challenging their technical skills and attention to detail. Another challenge in cooking tested students’ knowledge of ingredients, with teams competing to identify various types of produce correctly. Frizzle explained that if there was a tie, a bonus item was added as a tiebreaker, keeping the competition lively.
The setup for the Trade Challenge required substantial logistical support, as both campuses ran simultaneous events, with specific trades assigned to each location. For example, while CRIF hosted challenges involving certain trades, CBM featured others unique to its facilities. According to Frizzle, the event required careful coordination between the two campuses to ensure students had access to as many trades as possible. “We wanted to maximize exposure, so certain trades that weren’t available at one campus were covered at the other,” he said.
In addition to student teams, several adult education students and vocational training instructors volunteered to assist with the event. They acted as guides, helping participants navigate the campus and supporting the organizers in running the competition. Frizzle praised the involvement of these volunteers, noting their eagerness to contribute. “We asked our students to help out, and they were more than willing,” he said, highlighting how the event became a collaborative effort for the entire school community.
