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Auto tech students win contest
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Twenty Toronto-area high school teams vie at Centennial College for the right to represent Canada at a U.S. auto technicians skills contest.
Two automotive tech students from Jean Vanier Catholic Secondary School in Scarborough beat out 19 other Toronto-area high school teams to win a unique skills competition that challenged students' technical knowledge at the Canadian International AutoShow.
James Ryan Bachiller and John Gonsalves performed
a number of timed technical tasks and attempted to start a new 2010 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible that had been rigged with a no-start condition by automotive instructors from Centennial College.
By finishing first, the pair will represent Canada at the U.S. National Automotive Technology Competition in New York City in April.
Toronto's Danforth Tech finished second, thanks to the efforts of students Cameron Elpkick and Tauriq Shaikh, while Central Tech earned third place, represented by Jonathan Bagni and Michael Mallette.
In addition to the all-expenses-paid trip, Bachiller and Gonsalves received a trophy and equipment from sponsors.
The top two schools are winners, too. Their automotive tech shops will each take delivery of a General Motors vehicle, which will be used for technical training.
General Motors of Canada donated two new vehicles as prizes. This was the 11th year for the contest, organized by Centennial College, which promotes automotive technology as a career path.
– Mark Toljagic
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