Members of the Skills for Success Youth Assembly (SFSYA) reflect on their Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) 2025 experience:
Once we arrived at the Regina Airport, it all set in – we made it to SCNC! Arriving at the REAL District, we could feel our hearts racing and the energy buzzing, as we looked across the sea of colours, each representing a different province and territory. These competitors from across Canada came together to compete at SCNC Regina 2025.
A tradition among SCNC attendees is trading our provincial and territorial pins onsite. This is a moment we are always so excited for. But first, we got to attend the Opening Ceremony. With flags waving and teams chanting, we experienced the Opening Ceremony at the Brandt Centre. As each team entered the arena, there was an overpowering sense of community amongst us. We cheered for the competitors with excitement and pride. Although we come from across the country, we were joined together on Treaty 4 territory, the homeland of the Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota, and Metis. We recognize Indigenous people’s spiritual bond with the land and the natural world.
On stage, Connor Kaszycki, an SCNC medalist and Skills/Compétences Canada alumni, gave a welcome address, where he shared his skills story about traveling from the Yukon and competing at SCNC Vancouver 2022 in Electrical Installations. He was grateful for his time in Vancouver and how the experience paved the way to his podium finish. However, his success did not end there. Connor returned with experiences that propelled his career forward and validated his choice of profession. He fondly recalled collecting pins from across the country representing the people he met. This mosaic of colour and memories was proudly displayed on his lanyard for all to see.
With the energy still high from the Opening Ceremony, we made our way to the grandiose Mosaic Stadium for the Welcome Reception. We ventured into the crowds of people to participate in the longstanding tradition of exchanging pins. What begins as a simple trade, sparks trust and conversation. The pin trade provides an opportunity to hear each other’s stories and learn about each other’s skills, building friendships along the way. By exchanging pieces of ourselves, we built a vibrant mosaic—a powerful symbol of connection, collaboration, and the diverse talents that make up Canada’s skilled community. We all shared a common sense of pride for our provinces and territories. With our lanyards filled with precious mementos and our hearts full of excitement we closed off the night and couldn’t wait for the next two days of competition where we would be cheering on our new friends.
Contributed by: Lubna Ismail, Clare Hiscock, Giovanna Caputo, Mia Makhlouf, Daniel Tapatai, Elwood Innis, Sy Boquida, Olive Lopes, Shane Clennett and David Pilkington.
