Aspiring New Brunswick tradespeople showcase skills in provincial contest

A skilled tradespeople competition was held in Saint John, N.B., on Wednesday.

Sparks were flying in Saint John, N.B., Wednesday as several of the province’s top post-secondary trade students and apprentices participated in the 2025 Skills Canada New Brunswick Provincial Competition.

Hosted by the New Brunswick Community College’s Saint John campus, the full day event transformed parts of the campus into a live-action arena. Each event was focused to a particular trade (including carpentry, brick laying and welding), allowing young students and apprentices to showcase their skills and knowledge in timed competitions which were open to the public.

Winners from the provincial competition will earn the right to represent New Brunswick at the national contest in Regina, SK, at the end of May.

“It’s such a celebration of the skill trades and technologies and so many careers that work behind closed doors and in the refinery that we never get to see and celebrate,” says Courtney Donovan, executive director of Skills Canada New Brunswick. “This is their stage, this is where they really get to show off. Whether it’s a competitor or the teacher accompanying them or a parent, the industry is showing up.

“It’s just the sheer joy and excitement of everyone being here today and it’s such an honor to be able to do this.”

Mitchell Thomas, a bricklaying instructor at the NBCC, says the event serves as a fun way for students to learn what it’s like to work under the pressure of a deadline.

There is an emphasis across Canada to build more houses, and Thomas says more bricklayers will be needed as there is a “major” shortage of workers.

“The worst part is they’re going to start finding ways to get rid of some of these trades because of the shortage,” Thomas believes. “Mainly commercially, bricklaying is a big part of all new builds including schools and hospitals.”

Cody McKeil was a competitor for plumbing in the 2015 competition. He won gold in his event.

“It’s overwhelming at the start, but once you get it, you just realize it’s another day at work and you settle it,” McKeil. “It’s an eight-hour day so you have your task and you just go to work and you put your head down.”

McKeil, who is now a licensed plumber with George’s Plumbing and Heating out of Moncton, says competing among the province’s top plumbers a decade ago helped his career. McKeil also helps coach students and judge the events.

He says several middle and high school students will come to see the competition throughout the day. On top of getting to see the competitions unfold, attendees of all ages were also welcomed to more than 35 Try-a-Trade activities.

“I remember when I went to school it was, go be a teacher, go be a doctor, go be a lawyer,” McKeil recalls. “College wasn’t even really a thought that was on my small-town school’s table. So now to see that the turnout that they’re getting here, two to 3,000 kids for these events, it’s phenomenal.”

Labourers are expected to become more in demand in the years ahead across Canada with retirement looming for many current workers.

Donavan says it’s important to educate students on the benefits of the trades so they are aware of all their possibilities following high school.

“These careers are incredible and they are all employable,” says Donovan. “In New Brunswick you can get some of the best education in the country right near home and then work for some of the top employers in the country again, right in your home province.”

On top of bricklaying, Donovan says skilled roofing workers are also in high demand.

Heather Allaby, vice-president of engagement and experience at NBCC, calls it an honour for the school to host the event.

“We are seeing a real uptick in interest,” Allaby says. “People are understanding that there are opportunities in these skilled trades here in New Brunswick, and we are seeing a real increase in interest from students.

“We look around and we see some of the challenges we’re facing and the people who are going to help solve that are skilled tradespeople. So people are hearing that young people are hearing that.”

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