High School students let sparks fly at annual welding rodeo
CTV
High school students from across six school districts put their welding skills to the test at the eighth annual Calgary High School Welding Rodeo, taking place at the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Canada Lodge 146.
High school students from across six school districts put their welding skills to the test at the eighth annual Calgary High School Welding Rodeo, taking place at the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Canada Lodge 146.
There were about 50 students in attendance all trying to impress industry experts while competing against one another.
“It’s not as scary as everybody thinks it is,” says volunteer Riley McElroy, who competed in the competition in 2018.
“Everybody has this bad stigma around the industry and that whole blue collar (idea). It's not what it was 20 years ago, the advances in safety as well as the treatment towards others. It's something I'm so proud to be a part of.”
Bishop McNally grade 11 student Lily Lang believes the competition allows her to test her own skills on a higher stage.
“Today's been so great, because it's given me a chance to actually see what welding really is, because I haven't been welding for very long,” said Lang.
“It's been giving me a chance to apply the skills that I've learned in a useful setting.”
