January 25, 2013 – Skills/Compétences Canada (S/CC), a not-for-profit organization promoting careers in skilled trades and technologies, officially welcomed the 35 members of Team Canada who will compete at the 42nd WorldSkills Competition being held in Leipzig, Germany, July 2-7, 2013. Representing Canada’s best in skilled trades and technology, the youth gathered in Ottawa today for a Champions Breakfast, marking the final leg of their journey to WorldSkills.

The Champions Breakfast will be followed by a team orientation meeting for the competitors as they undergo final training and mental preparation in the lead up to WorldSkills.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to wish Team Canada all the best at the WorldSkills Competition in Germany,” said Diane Finley, minister of human resources & skills development. “You are the future of Canada’s skilled workforce and we’ll be cheering you on as you compete on the world stage.”

A leading advocate for skilled trades and official spokesperson for S/CC, Mike Holmes was also on hand to support the future members of Canada’s skilled trade labour force. He encouraged the competitors to do their “very best” on this last stretch of training before the “test of their lives” in Leipzig.

Leipzig represents Canada’s 12th participation at WorldSkills, an international competition that takes place every two years and brings together the world’s best and brightest skilled trades and technology students and apprentices. The 35 members of WorldSkills Team Canada 2013 will compete in 32 of the 45 skill categories against more than 1000 competitors from 61 member countries/regions. The four-day WorldSkills Competition is the biggest of its kind in the world.