College of New Caledonia Apprentice Off to Skills Canada National Competition
CNC Quesnel millwright apprentice Dustin Cathcart is in Halifax today to participate in the 25th annual Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) May 28 to 29.
Cathcart qualified for the SCNC back in April when he took gold in the millwright competition at the Skills Canada BC event in Abbotsford. He will now represent British Columbia as he competes against 9 top millwright apprentices from across the nation.
“I’ll do the best that I can,“ Cathcart said. “You shoot for the sky and hope to hit the clouds. If I happen to win while doing that, then that’s cool too.”
Cathcart first entered CNC as a Dual Credit student during Grade 12 in 2018. He completed the Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)/Machinist Foundation program and started work in industry after the program ended. He returned to CNC Quesnel this spring to complete the Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) Level 2 program.
During Skills Canada BC, Cathcart was challenged to take apart, reassemble, and align a speed reducer as well as complete an alignment job that involved connecting an electric motor and a pump. Though he wasn’t familiar with all the equipment, Cathcart worked through it and took gold.
“There were lots of challenges with alignment and new machinery,” said CNC Quesnel millwright instructor Sergio Jorquera. “But Dustin handled it well. He has that flexibility and demeanour to face the challenges a millwright experiences in the field.”
SCNC is the only national, multi-trade and technology competition for students and apprentices in the country. Each year, more than 550 competitors from all regions of Canada attend SCNC to participate in over 40 skilled trade and technology competitions.