Skills contest winners chosen
It's all over and out of sight before the doors open to the public, but one of the most important events to take place at the Canadian International AutoShow is an annual competition for high-school auto shop students.
Ten teams of two students each, selected to represent their respective schools, took part in the unique skills competition that tested their technical knowledge and their ability to put it to practical use.
Two separate teams from Central Technical School, which has won the event several times in the past, took the first two places and a team from Marc Garneau Collegiate placed third.
The winning team of Janos Mann and Julien Predas performed a number of timed technical tasks as well as tried to start a 2008 Volkswagen GTI that had been rigged with a no-start condition by instructors from Centennial College.
By finishing first, the pair will represent Canada at the National Automotive Technology Competition in New York City next month.
In addition to the all-expenses-paid trip, they collected a trophy and a variety of tools and equipment from sponsors.
Central Tech was also represented by Brian DaPonte and Nick Imineo, who finished second. The school is a big winner too: their auto tech class will take delivery of a 2008 GMC Sierra 4X4 pickup, donated by GM Canada, which will be used for technical training.
Marc Garneau Collegiate in East York, which finished third, was represented by Nirmal Sahota and Haseeb Rafiqzad. Their school will receive a brand-new Chevrolet Impala LTZ for training purposes, also donated by GM.
The purpose of the competition is to promote automotive technology as a rewarding career path, and one that is highly lucrative, as there is a constant shortage of qualified technicians in the industry.
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