On March 4, more than 300 high school students from across Niagara will showcase their talents at the District School Board of Niagara’s (DSBN) 28th annual Technological Skills Challenge, hosted by Niagara College.

The event will be held at Niagara College’s Welland Campus and Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where students from 16 DSBN secondary schools will showcase their talents through a series of hands-on challenges that highlight the technical, creative and practical skills they’ve developed in the classroom. Competitions will span more than 30 skill areas including 3D character animation, culinary arts, hairstyling, welding and coding - all taking place in the College’s state-of-the-art learning environments.

“Niagara College is proud to partner with the DSBN to give students the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a real-world learning environment,” said Duane Bender, Dean, Media, Trades and Technology at Niagara College. “Events like the Technological Skills Challenge allow students to apply their classroom learning using industry-standard equipment, explore career pathways, and gain the confidence they need to pursue futures in the skilled trades and technologies.”

Niagara College staff and faculty from the schools of Trades, Technology, Media, Culinary Arts, and Environment and Horticulture, along with the College’s Career Services team, will work alongside DSBN to administer the challenges. Throughout the day, students will receive constructive feedback to help them refine their skills and prepare for future careers in the skilled trades and technology sectors.

By participating, students will explore career pathways through industry-related projects, hands-on experience with professional-grade equipment, and adherence to real-world industry standards. Industry mentors will evaluate the competitions, providing valuable insights and opportunities for students to build connections with industry partners.

“Throughout the year, students learn alongside highly skilled technology teachers through hands‑on, experiential learning that builds technical expertise, confidence, and problem‑solving skills,” said Lissa Schoot Uiterkamp, DSBN Technology, Skilled Trades and SHSM Consultant. “The DSBN Skills Challenges highlight student creativity and innovation while offering meaningful, real‑world experiences that showcase the wide range of exciting career opportunities available within the skilled trades and technologies.”

Gold medalists from the DSBN Technological Skills Challenge will advance to the Skills Ontario Competition, taking place during the first week of May at the Toronto Congress Centre. Those who earn gold at the provincial level will join Team Ontario and have the opportunity to compete at the Skills Canada National Competition later that month.

For more information about the DSBN Technological Skills Challenge, click here.