LBPSB Electricity and Plumbing Students Compete at 17th Edition of the Olympiades Québecoises
by Julie Liebman
The 17th edition of the Olympiades québécoises des métiers et des technologies took place at the beginning of May in Quebec City. It is the biggest competition dedicated to trades in the province and two LBPSB vocational students participated in this intense two-day competition.
Organised by Compétences Québec, this year’s competition was marked by an incredibly high number of qualifying rounds in centres and CÉGEPs prior to the final competition, allowing thousands of students in various trades to get a taste of how a real competition takes place.
Verdun Adult and Career Centre was thrilled to have Dennis Skiadopoulos compete in the plumbing competition. Dennis started the Plumbing Program at VACC last April after working for 15+ years as a chef and even owning his own restaurant. He successfully went through VACC’s internal competition process and truly represents the dedication, determination, and persistence of adult learners.
“I recently had the opportunity to participate in the plumbing competition in Quebec City. Even though I didn’t return with a win, the experience was incredibly valuable. I learned a lot, pushed my skills further, and got to meet and connect with other talented individuals in the trade. I’m grateful for the experience and I know this will help me grow and improve in my future career,” says Dennis.
Willie Theriault, Dennis’ coach and teacher continues, “This experience made me really understand how to get out of my comfort zone. It was a very fulfilling experience to see top of the line students performing at their top level.”
“I cannot begin to describe how proud I am of Denis, Willie, and the whole VACC team who made this wonderful experience possible. WOW! It was such a great opportunity to highlight all the amazing students from all over Quebec demonstrating their hard work, determination and strong will. Congratulations to all!” says Michael Clark, Centre Director of the Verdun Adult and Career Centre.
The Pearson Electrotechnology Centre was proud to present Gil De Melo, a student in the electricity program.
Gil placed first in the Montreal Regional competition last February!
“Gil excels at his work and is focused, determined, and collaborates extremely well with others. He is a pleasure to work with!” said his teacher Michael Luciano.
“Gil’s dedication and disciplined training were evident in his confident performance—showcasing true mastery of his electrical trade, marked by grit, skill, and sportsmanship. Despite not placing in the medals, we are proud of his performance,” says Christopher Foster, Gil’s Electricity teacher.
Both Gil and Dennis practiced tirelessly leading up to the big event. They travelled to Quebec City with their ever-supportive teachers, coaches, and RAC counsellor, Pierre Auclair.
This year, almost 300 students made it to the final round in Quebec City representing a total of 34 trades. This record is a clear illustration of the popularity of trades across the province.
Although Dennis and Gil did not medal this year, they certainly made their peers, teachers, and centres extremely proud.
A big congrats to both!
