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ilage o. 5 Stu : trac :nat The senior public school students said they were amazed by the intricate handiwork of the carpenters on hand at the 14th Ontario Technological Skills Compeâ€" tition and the 9th Canadian Skills Competition, held last week at RIM Park in Waterâ€" loo. Students get closer look at trades during provincial and national skills competitions Lindsa_v Oxby and Natalie Wood never pictured themselves with toolbelts strapped around their wastes, and marking pencils behind their ears. Until last Monday. One look at what those tools can create, and the idea didn‘t seem so impossiâ€" ble. "All of the machines they use are very interesting," Oxby said. s "And you can make a lot of money, too." Oxby and Wood were just two of the thousands of stuâ€" dents who got a closer look at life in the trades during the weekâ€"long competition. Every year Skills Canada â€" Ontario promotes careers in the skilled trades and technologies to young Canadians as viable, chalâ€" lenging and interesting career options through over 80 demanding contests. Contests relate to a variâ€" ety of career fields, includâ€" ing construction, manufacâ€" turing and machining, robotics, mechanics, culiâ€" nary arts, forestry, graphic design and transportation Wood said attending the competition opened a world of opportunity in her mind. "If we hadn‘t come today, we wouldn‘t know about the â€" Canodian Travel & Cruises â€" By Anorea Bamey Chronicle Staff _ Best Flights Anywhere! 886â€" Thousands of students from across Ontaric took part in the 14th Ontario Technological Skills Competition and the 9th annual Canadian Skills Competition held last week at RIM Park. trades," she said. "We don‘t young people shy away _ dirty or boring. learn this kind of thing in _ from trade careers because The high school studer school." of negative stigma attached _ was especially intrigued b And that‘s a shame, said _ to job that demand intense _ the aviation display, as we Greg Beselaere of Skills physical labour. as the masonry exhibit. And that‘s a shame, said Greg Beselaere of Skills Canada â€" Ontario. He said more awareness needs to be created around the benefits of trade work. Otherwise, the industry will soon suffer from a severe shortage of skilled workers "A high percentage of skilled trades workers will be retiring within the next seven to 10 years, taking their acquired skills with them," he said. "That‘s going to leave a huge hole in the industry." Beselaere said a lot of LIFESTYLE "It‘s the perception. There are a lot of negative attitudes and beliefs around careers in the skilled trades," he said. "(Trades) aren‘t thought of as sophistiâ€" cated. People often see them as dirty, boring and lowâ€"paying. That couldn‘t be more wrong. "We‘re trying to show young people that careers in these fields are exciting, and they can open up a lot of opportunity." _ lan Greyling found nothâ€" ing about the competition The high school student was especially intrigued by the aviation display, as well as the masonry exhibit. "This is a good way for people to see if they would enjoy a job in the trades," he said. "It‘s nice to have a chance to try out the differâ€" ent jobs." Greyling said a skilled trade position can also bring certain flexibility peoâ€" ple in other fields might not enjay. "You get to work outâ€" doors; you get to travel around," he said. "To me, that‘s total freedom." For more information visit www skillsontario.com. The Highwaymen Car Club‘s Graffiti Car and Motorcycle Show will take place June 15 at the Waterâ€" loo Rod & Gun Club, in support of the Children‘s Wish Foundation. The event will include a car and matorcycle show with door prizes and trophies, hundreds of vehicles and motorcycles on display, a swap meet, food, games and free giveaways. The Waterloo Region unit of the Canadian Cancer Society is offering a new opportunity to buy luminarâ€" ies by phone, in support of the Relay For Life fundraisâ€" ing event. Teams of 10â€"12 people set up camp in Tent City and take turns walking and running around a track for 12 hours. This is your opportunity to see hundreds of classic vehicles and motorcycles on display and help the Highwaymen celebrate their 42nd anniversary. The show will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Waterloo Rod & Gun Club is located at RR1, St. Jacobs vReIay For Life is a celebration of survival and a tribâ€" ute to the lives of loved ones. Through today, luminaries â€" candles bought in memory or in honour of cancer survivors â€" can be purchased for $5 each and are placed around the track and lit during a moving ceremony that commences at 10 p.m. June 13. To purchase a luminary, call 886â€"8888, ext. 30. For more information about Relay For Life, visit the website at www.cancer.ca, or contact Donna Bumâ€" stead at 886â€"8888, ext. 25 or dbumstead@ccsont.org. Help light the spark to beat cancer. Waterloo Regional Crime Stoppers is raffling off a 2003 Harley Davidson 100th Anniversary Limited Ediâ€" tion FLSTS Heritage Springer, June 26 at the East Side Mario‘s restaurant in the Cambridge Centre. Tickets are $20 each, with only 4,500 available. The raffie will include 25 prizes in all, making the odds of winning one in 173. All proceeds from ticket sales will support the Waterloo Regional Crime Stoppers. The draw will take place at 8 p.m. . Graffiti car and bike show supports Children‘s Wish Crime Stoppers raffles off 2003 Harley Davidson Cancer Society offers Relay For Life luminaries For more information, call 650â€"8500, ext. 765 JACKSON‘S LOCK & SAFE pront 746â€"0039 £â€" Dead Bolts * Fitted