1,200 elementary & secondary students will participate in 34th annual Halton Skills Competition,

By Gazette Staff

March 3rd, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

Halton District School Board (HDSB) will host the 34th annual Halton Skills Competition, providing elementary and secondary students with hands-on opportunities to showcase their skills in technological and skilled trades challenges. The elementary competition will be held on March 25 and 26 at the New Street Education Centre (3250 New St., Burlington) and the secondary competition will take place on March 31 at Nelson High School (4181 Montrose Rd., Burlington).

Pathways from classroom learning to future education, careers and success beyond school.

More than 1,200 elementary and secondary students from across the HDSB will participate in a wide range of events designed to connect classroom learning with hands-on experiences that build practical, future-oriented skills. The HDSB’s robust science and technology curriculum begins in elementary school with experiential learning where students can apply their knowledge in real-world contexts, and the Halton Skills Competition extends that learning beyond the classroom. As students move into secondary school, they continue to refine skills in areas they are passionate about, creating clear pathways from classroom learning to future education, careers and success beyond school.

Elementary students will take part in 15 unique challenges, including character animation, construction, green energy, LEGO mechanics and robotics, technology problem-solving, TV/video production and VEX IQ robotics.

The lineup expands this year with a 15th elementary category: Horticulture and Landscape. This competition challenges students to prioritize biodiversity and local ecosystem health, ensuring these ecological principles are the central focus of their landscape designs and habitat creations.

Secondary students will compete in events that reflect skilled trades and technology pathways including, but not limited to, 2D character animation, architectural technology and design, auto collision repair and painting, auto service technology, baking and more. Competitors will apply technical knowledge, creativity and teamwork as they work toward excellence in their chosen areas.

Winners from the Halton Skills Competition will earn the opportunity to advance to the Provincial Skills Ontario Competition on May 4-5 at the Ontario Congress Centre, where they will represent the HDSB alongside peers from other school boards across the province. In 2025, both elementary and secondary students earned Gold, Silver and Bronze awards in 13 various technological challenges. 

For secondary students, the provincial competition is a qualifier for the Skills Canada National Competition, which will be held at the Toronto Enercare Centre on May 28 and 29, 2026. Looking back at 2025 students from the HDSB earned top honours at the Skills Canada National Competition, showcasing their exceptional abilities across a wide range of skilled trades and technology disciplines.

Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board.

“Experiences like the Halton Skills Competition help students build confidence, deepen their problem-solving abilities and explore exciting pathways in technology and skilled trades,” says Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. “By connecting classroom learning to real-world scenarios, students are building essential skills and exploring meaningful career pathways that set them up for success beyond the classroom. These hands-on learning opportunities play an important role in fulfilling our commitment to Learning, Engagement and Achievement, as outlined in the HDSB’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan, connecting students to real-world challenges and future career possibilities.”

Background resources

Halton Skills Competition