Two Grade 12 students from Portage Collegiate Institute (PCI) are being recognized for their strong performances at this year’s Skills Manitoba competition.
Skills Manitoba sees students take part in hands-on challenges that assess their abilities in various trades and technology-based fields. More than 475 participants from high schools, post-secondary institutions, and apprenticeship programs competed on Thursday, April 10th. PCI’s Parker Bird took home a bronze medal in the automotive service category, and Hunter Jefferies finished sixth in the outdoor power and recreational equipment category.
Sean Benedictson, automotive instructor at PCI, explains why he chose Bird and Jefferies to represent the school.
“We chose them to participate this year. Parker and Hunter are top students in our program, and they both did extremely well,” Benedictson notes. “Parker placed third and received a bronze medal in his competition and Hunter placed sixth, which is the first time we've ever competed in the outdoor power category. We are very proud of them both.”
Bird’s event featured six stations—engine management, electrical, chassis, brakes, engine mechanical, and drivetrain. Each task lasted about 45 minutes and tested students’ technical knowledge and their ability to problem-solve under pressure.
“There’s 12 students in each of the categories, so to finish where they did is impressive,” Benedictson adds.
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Cool under pressure
Bird says the competition felt familiar thanks to his training at PCI, and his calm mindset helped him secure a podium finish.
"Competing wasn’t as nerve-wracking. It was kind of like I was in class because there’s always people around watching you in Auto.”
Benedictson agrees, adding that Bird’s ability to remain composed gave him an edge.
“There is a lot of pressure on these students to perform as well as others have in the past and his ability to focus and remain calm was an advantage in the competition. We’re very proud of Parker achieving the bronze medal.”
That pressure, Benedictson notes, comes in part from PCI’s long-standing tradition of excellence at Skills Manitoba—something proudly on display in the school’s auto shop, where banners hang to celebrate the success of past medalists.
“We've done very well over the last 20 years or so. This is our first medal in a few years, there wasn’t a competition for a while because of Covid, but we’re happy to be back on the podium.”
Auto instructor Leo Lanouette wasn't at all surprised by how well the two students performed.
“They handled the pressure well,” says Lanouette. “They were cool and calm all things considered. We just told them ‘You’ve made it this far, you’re the best we have here, so just enjoy the day.’”
A new challenge
Jefferies’ category for outdoor power and recreational equipment had four stations, including engine mechanical, electrical, work order, and drivetrain.
Reflecting on his time competing, he says it was a fun experience to be a part of.
“It was cool being there and competing with all those other people,” Jefferies says.
Despite limited training, Jefferies held his own against students in a specialized three-year program—an accomplishment Lanouette says speaks volumes.
“For Hunter, I taught him a little bit about the small engine stuff, but he was competing against kids that were taking a three-year course with the outdoor power equipment, and he finished mid-pack there which is quite considered an accomplishment. He was up against a lot of stiff competition, and he only trained for a couple of months. We don't have a course on this. He just volunteered; that was quite a challenge for him, and he performed great, he had a good time and that's what matters most.”
Both students plan to pursue careers in the trades after graduation, carrying with them, the skills and confidence they’ve built at PCI. With their determination and talent, it’s clear this year’s competition is just the beginning.