A Competition Amongst Peers for the HVACR Gold!
So many students, so little time!
In a demanding 4 ½ hour time slot, some brave Secondary and Post-Secondary students from various schools across Southern Ontario were vying at the chance to win a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal by showcasing their learned skills in the ‘Heating Systems Technician’ competition at the Skills Ontario Competition’s show in the Toronto Congress Centre, May 2, 2023.
On the same day, across the hall from Heating Systems, other courageous Secondary and Post-Secondary students were demonstrating their abilities while competing in a seven-hour, sweat-inducing race for their chance at another set of medals for the ‘Refrigeration & Air Conditioning’ competition at the Skills Ontario Competition.
The Skills Ontario Competition is Canada's largest skilled trade and technology competition, annually bringing together 67 trades, over 2,000 student competitors and at least 20,000 spectators over three days (May 1-3, 2023) at the Toronto Congress Centre.
The Skills Ontario Competition offers a unique opportunity for top students in their field to demonstrate that they are the best of the best. Within our ‘Heating Systems Technician’ competition, our three fearless Secondary students came mostly from Thames Valley DSB, with the Gold Medalist from Niagara Catholic DSB. Our Post-Secondary finalist from Mohawk College won the Gold, while another talented Mohawk College second runner-up walked away with the Silver, and the Bronze medal went to yet another skilled student from Cambrian College.
However, with the ‘Refrigeration & Air Conditioning’ competition, not only does the Ontario Post-Secondary finalist win a Gold medal, he will also have the opportunity to compete in the Skills Canada Nationals Competitions taking place on May 25 & 26, 2023 in Winnipeg! And, from there the winner competes in the 2024 WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France! This year, that lucky person is a brilliant student from Centennial College, who will be happily accompanied by his instructor and advisor, Mr. Tom Marshall. The Post-Secondary Silver Medalist was a talented student from St. Clair College, and the Bronze went to another skilled student from Mohawk College. We were thrilled to have one brave and focused Secondary student show up to do his best at performing many Secondary school-level Refrigeration-based tasks, which got him a Gold medal as well.
Students in the ‘Heating Systems Technician’ competition were tested on their interview, practical and theoretical skill sets over a period of 4.5 hours. The interview component involved a sectioned off 2-person panel performing a mock interview with resume feedback; the practical involved installing a wiring harness and commissioning a gas furnace (Post-Secondary), or disassembling and reassembling of a blower motor, installing a thermostat and identifying specific parts of a wiring diagram (Secondary); and the theoretical component involved an open code book test with multiple choice and short answers.
The Post-Secondary students in the ‘Refrigeration & Air Conditioning’ competition were required to perform a 9-task refrigeration system installation and start-up function, and the Secondary requirements consisted of a flaring and bending project, and identifying various refrigerants and refrigeration components.
This year, one of the ‘Heating Systems’ volunteer Judges was also a previous Bronze medalist in the same competition in 2005, Ms. Brandi Ferenc. It was such an honour to have her come full-circle from being a contestant to a Judge, appreciating now both sides! And, she’s also an integral advocate and member of the Women in HVAC-R organization.
The ‘Heating System Technician’ competition and the ‘Refrigeration & Air Conditioning’ competition were both created and managed by HRAI’s Technical Skills Committee 11 members, as well as 18 other dedicated industry experts who volunteered their time and energy in creating a dynamic experience in a carefully constructed heating systems and refrigeration environment.
HRAI and the Technical Skills Committee would like to give a big heart-felt THANK YOU to all the students, donors, and volunteers for making the Skills Ontario 2023 ‘Heating System Technician’ and ‘Refrigeration & Air Conditioning’ competitions a fun and successful experience!
From the HRAI Technical Skills Committee – Jeff Fata, Victor Ferreira, Brad Mavin (Co-Chair), Bob and Nancy McKeraghan, Jeff Moody, Bruce Munro, Mark Parliament, Richard Thomas (Co-Chair), and Jim Wood, with the assistance of their Coordinator, Grace Diecidue.
Other Industry Experts – Interviews: Victor Hyman (ClimateCare), Rick Little (ClimateCare), Michelle Littler (Wolsesley), Dana Lee (Rockstar Recruiting); Refrigeration: Bob Rebelo (McKeough Supply), Joe DiDonato (Thermal Concepts), Dave Cushing (Independent Supply), Josh Charron (Advantage Airtech), Rob Robertson (Mits Air); Heating Systems: Craig Easterbrook (Easterbrook Brothers), Sandro Timpano (Blue Flame Heating & Cooling), Mike Gosson (Advantage Airtech), Brandi Ferenc (Fair-Trades Toolbox), Gary Johnson (AtlasCare), Bob Bettles (Powrmatic), Chris Burns (Tri-Air Systems), Morgan Petrov (Tri-Air Systems), and Scott Papp (HRAI).
Donors – Supplies, Equipment and Funding
ClimateCare, EMCO, Emerson, Daikin, The Master Group, Johnstone Supply/B&B, Independent Supply, McKeough Supply, Reliance Comfort, Five Seasons Air Cleaners, Tri-Air Systems, and through the monetary support of the HRAI Chapters – Golden Horseshoe, GTA, Essex-Kent-Lambton, and Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk.
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