Welcome to another episode of the Team Canada Podcast Series!

In this episode, we sit down with Team Canada competitor Carter Kokot, who will be representing Canada in Automobile Technology at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.

Carter’s journey began at SAIT, where his dad, who was also an instructor, encouraged him to compete in the Skills competitions while he was pursuing his studies. Growing up with a lifelong passion for cars, Carter’s dedication and determination have driven him from competing at Skills Canada Nationals in Quebec City and Regina to earning his spot on Team Canada.

Joined by his WorldSkills Canada Expert, Nathan Banke, and Trainer Harley Breadner, Carter continues to fine-tune his craft as he gears up to take on the world stage.

This is just the beginning of Carter’s story—we’ll be catching up with him again after the competition to hear all about his experience in the fall of 2026. Stay tuned as we continue to share the inspiring journeys of Alberta’s 12 Team Canada competitors.

Welcome to another episode of the Team Canada Podcast Series!

In this episode, we sit down with Team Canada competitor Lucas Stang, who will be representing Canada in Welding at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. Lucas’s journey began at Red Deer Polytechnic, where his trainer, Lee Yasinski, encouraged him to compete in the Skills competitions while he was completing his welding program. From that first competition to earning his spot on Team Canada, Lucas’s path has been forged through dedication, precision, and a deep appreciation for the artistry of welding.

Joined by his WorldSkills Canada Expert, Ken Heather, and Trainer Lee Yasinski, Lucas continues to push his craft to new heights as he prepares to take on the world stage.

This is just the beginning of Lucas’s story—we’ll be catching up with him again after the competition to hear all about his experience in the fall of 2026. Stay tuned as we continue to share the inspiring journeys of Alberta’s 12 Team Canada competitors.

Welcome to another episode of the Team Canada Podcast Series!

In this episode, we sit down with Team Canada competitor Benjamin Jamison, who will be representing Canada in Aerospace Technology. Benjamin shares his passion for aircraft and his journey through the Skills competitions, including competing at the national level twice before earning his spot on Team Canada. We talk about his training, what drives his interest in aerospace, and his excitement for taking his skills to the world stage in Shanghai, China in 2026.

This is just the beginning of Benjamin’s story—we’ll be catching up with him again after the competition to hear all about his experience in the fall of 2026. Stay tuned as we continue to share the inspiring journeys of Alberta’s 12 Team Canada competitors.

Welcome to the first episode of the Team Canada Podcast Series!
 In this episode, we sit down with Team Canada competitor Luke Emeny, who will be representing Canada in Heavy Vehicle Technology. Luke shares his Skills journey, from training and preparation to the moment he secured his spot on Team Canada. We talk about his excitement for competing on the world stage in Shanghai, China in 2026, and what he’s most looking forward to.

This is just the beginning of Luke’s story—we’ll be catching up with him again after the competition to hear all about his experience. Stay tuned as we continue to share the incredible and inspiring journeys of all 12 of Alberta’s Team Canada competitors.

Breanne and Kehli Warrington are sisters in the trade! Together, they’ve built their careers in Mechanical Insulation — studying side by side at NAIT, working on-site together, and most recently, competing together at the 2025 Provincial Skills Canada Competition, where they proudly brought home silver and bronze. 

In this episode, they share what it’s like to navigate the trades as sisters, the challenges and rewards of competing, and how their shared journey has shaped their careers. Tune in to hear their story, and check out their full interview with NAIT at the link below!

Sisters share success as skilled trades classmates - techlifetoday

In this episode, we sit down with Kade Hamre and Marek Fournier from Brooks Composite High School, the robotics duo who powered their way to gold at the 2025 Provincial Skills Canada Competition—earning a spot on Team Alberta—and went on to claim silver at the 2025 Nationals in Regina.

Kade and Marek share what it was like to prepare for competition, the challenges of designing and building a successful robot, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. From long hours of testing to the thrill of competing against the best in Canada, their journey is full of innovation, teamwork, and determination.

Tune in to hear how these two young innovators engineered their way to success!

In this episode, we sit down with Diego De Dominicis Barrios, gold medalist in Electronics Secondary at the 2025 Provincial Skills Canada Competition. His win earned him a spot on Team Alberta for the 2025 Skills Canada National Competition in Regina, Saskatchewan—where he also took home the Team Spirit Award alongside his Ernest Manning classmate, Amal Hussainy.

Diego shares his inspiring Skills journey, what it was like to train and compete at such a high level, and the incredible support he received from teachers, mentors, and fellow competitors in the Electronics community. He also offers thoughtful advice for future competitors and reflects on his unforgettable time in Regina.

Tune in to hear Diego’s story of teamwork, dedication, and what it takes to succeed in Skills competitions!

In this episode, we chat with Mikayla Hannesschlager, gold medalist in Bricklaying at the 2025 Provincial Skills Canada Competition and proud member of Team Alberta at the 2025 Skills Canada National Competition in Regina. Mikayla shares her journey into the skilled trades, growing up in a family of bricklayers and finding her own path in refractory work—carving a unique space in a field where her family specializes in red brick.

She opens up about the training and mentorship that shaped her success, the importance of having women role models in the trades, and how confidence plays a key role in both competition and career. Mikayla also offers practical advice for anyone looking to explore bricklaying or step into the competition world.

Plus, she gives us a look ahead at her next big challenge: representing Canada at a union bricklaying competition this fall in Detroit!

In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Turner, gold medalist at the 2018 Provincial Skills Canada Competition in Photography and bronze medalist at Nationals—as she shares her inspiring journey through the world of Skills competitions and beyond. Rachel opens up about the challenges she faced and the lessons she learned, including how overcoming self-doubt played a major role in her success.

She reflects on the invaluable mentorship she received from Lance Burns and how his guidance helped shape her path. Instead of taking the corporate route, Rachel chose to follow her creative passion and built her own photography business. From the competition floor to capturing life behind the lens, Rachel’s story is a testament to perseverance, mentorship, and the power of believing in your craft.

Tune in to hear how Rachel turned her Skills experience into a thriving career and how you can do the same.

Want to check out her incredible portfolio? Here's the link to her website: Edmonton Wedding Photographer | Rachel Turner

Want to learn more about her Skills experience? Here's the link to her blogpost: Skills Canada Competition - Rachel Turner Photography

 In this episode, we sit down with Zack Hartle, a Skills Canada Alberta alumnus, two-time gold medalist in Industrial Control, Electrical Trades Instructor at SAIT, and co-host of the Watts the Word podcast. Zack shares his inspiring journey from competing in Skills competitions to representing Canada at WorldSkills Germany, and how those experiences shaped his career path. Now a Provincial Technical Committee member and passionate educator, Zack discusses launching a podcast with Jason Cox to spotlight the electrical industry, creating a YouTube channel to support learners, and what it means to give back to the trades community. Tune in for insights, inspiration, and a look at how one competitor became a leader, mentor, and advocate for skilled trades. 

Podcast: https://www.wattsthewordpodcast.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZackHartle