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Precision Skills student hopes to represent Canada in WorldSkills Competition

July 3, 2014

Tyler Magri, a first-year student in the Mechanical Technician – Precision Skills program at ��������’s Barrie Campus, is likely to compete in the use of computer numerically controlled (CNC) milling machines at the 2015 WorldSkills Competition in São Paulo, Brazil.

Magri will be taking part in WorldSkills trials before officially joining the Canadian skills team. To qualify for this opportunity, he earned the highest mark in CNC milling and a bronze medal in the overall CNC category at the Skills Canada competition from June 4 to 7 in Toronto. The national competition saw 500 of Canada’s trades students and apprentices – from hairstylists to electricians – competing for medals in their fields.

“I was so honoured to be included with the best of the best at Skills Canada, and I’m really excited for the worlds,” says Magri. “I’ve never competed before, so if I get to Brazil, it’s going to be an amazing experience.”

Every two years, the WorldSkills competition (also known as the “Skills Olympics”) showcases the best new talent in vocational training. Young skilled people from over 70 countries compete and test themselves against demanding international standards.

Jurgen Hierholzer, faculty member in ��������’s School of Engineering Technology and Environmental Studies, will be joining Magri at the competition as his teacher.

“Tyler is a second-semester student, but had to compete at a fourth-semester level,” he explains. “We spent hours preparing together – and in the end, his dedication and positive attitude earned him this medal.”

Magri is the first �������� student in a decade to compete in the CNC category of the Skills Canada competition, so this honour was a welcome surprise.

“We know we’ve got great faculty, great facilities and great support here at ��������,” says Hierholzer, “but it’s rewarding to see our program officially recognized – and to have someone else tell us we’re doing a good job.”

Magri is currently enjoying his co-op term in the manual machine shop at Barrie Welding, where he’s building a strong foundation for his career. He hopes to work at Barrie Welding after graduation.