From the President's Desk: May 2026
From the President's Desk
This month, 11 Lakeland College students and apprentices put their skills to the test at the 2026 Skills Alberta competition. Once again, they demonstrated the talent, determination and professionalism that makes Lakeland so proud.
Skills competitions are about far more than medals. They give our students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in real-world, high-pressure environments. They build confidence, encourage problem-solving, foster connections within industry and showcase the incredible value of skilled trades and technologies. Participation in Skills Canada events align closely with Lakeland’s strategic goals, including enhancing student learning through applied, hands-on opportunities that mirror industry standards and expectations.
This year, Braden Kereliuk earned a gold medal in steamfitter-pipefitter – his second after claiming the gold last year as well. He will advance to nationals, which are held May 27-30, and we can’t wait to cheer him on.
Braden Kereliuk stands at the centre of the medal podium after winning gold at the 2026 Skills Alberta competition in the steamfitter-pipefitter category.
Ten other students competed in the following categories:
- Automobile technology - Drew Dutertre and Connor Balash
- Carpentry - Deyton Selte
- Electrical installations - Alexandre Lacasse
- Heavy equipment technology - Curt Dyberg and Ethan Randell
- Esthetics - Pearl Clarke and Brooke Bender
- Hairstyling - Kara Delisle and Breanna Dyck
Alexandre and Kara both earned bronze medals in their category and Breanna was awarded the safety award in hairstyling.
They join an amazing group of recent Skills medalists from Lakeland, including Tyler Bendfeld, James Wilson and Logan Peters.
Logan’s Skills journey will continue this fall as he represents Canada at WorldSkills in Shanghai. This is the first time one of our competitors has advanced to the world competition and we wish Logan all the best in his journey!
Until next time,
Alice