Two Lakeland College students made a mark on the national stage, bringing home silver and bronze from the Skills Canada National Competition

Tyler Bendfeld and Khyler Yockey competed at the Skills Canada event from May 26 to 27 in Vancouver, B.C., after placing first in the Skills Alberta event in April. Bendfeld, a second-year carpenter apprentice, came home from nationals with silver. Yockey competed in aesthetics, earning bronze.

“Skills Canada is a fantastic way to show the country the amazing work that our students do every day,” says Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College. “We are so proud of the effort they put in here on campus, and the hard work and dedication they display on the national stage. Congratulations to Tyler and Khyler for making us proud.”

Three hundred competitors from across Canada participated in-person in the national competition, representing over 35 different skilled trades. A secondary virtual competition was also held, with more than 200 competitors from across the country.

“Skills Canada was an unreal experience,” says Bendfeld. “It was an honour to represent Lakeland and to know that I can compete against people from all over Canada and do well is an amazing feeling.”

Yockey participated in the WorldSkills Team Canada Selection Category competition, held concurrently at nationals. Winners in the skills areas of this competition would go on to become a member of WorldSkills Team Canada 2022 and move on to compete for the world champion title.

At the competition, she demonstrated aesthetics skills learned in her courses at Lakeland, as well as additional skills she practiced outside the curriculum, including lash extensions and sugaring.

“These were such life-changing experiences that have helped me develop both my personal and professional skills,” says Yockey. “It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that wouldn't have been possible without the overwhelming support from the staff and students at Lakeland College.”

Along with Bendfeld and Yockey, the following students also earned medals at the Skills Alberta Provincial competition:

• Judy Fast (aesthetics): Silver medal
• Karleigh MacKenzie (aesthetics): Bronze medal and safety award
• Arianna Laboucane (hairstyling): Silver medal
• Liese McIntyre (hairstyling): Safety award

Lakeland had competitors in the aesthetics, automobile technology, carpentry, hairstyling and heavy vehicle technology categories.

“We are very proud of all participants who represented Lakeland College during these highly regarded competitions,” says Dave King, Lakeland's dean of trades and technology and vice president of Skills Alberta.

Lakeland's apprenticeship programs include carpenter, automotive service technician, electrician, heavy equipment technician, parts technician and welder. Taught in Lakeland's spa and salon, the health and wellness programs offered include esthetician, hairstyling, clinical esthetician and barber.

Photos: Top - Khyler Yockey competes in aesthetics at Skills Alberta. Photo credit: Skills Alberta. Bottom - Tyler Bendfeld competes in carpentry at Skills Canada. Photo credit: Skills Canada.