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Skills Champion
Ken Heather, Welding Instructor and 12 year veteran volunteer at Skills Canada Competitions
When Red Deer
College instructor Ken
Heather was asked to volunteer for the 1997 Provincial and Canadian Skills
Competitions he would have never imagined the long term and international
journey that Skills Canada Alberta would take him on. Now twelve years later and countless hours of
volunteering under his belt, Ken has a key role organizing the Welding Competition
at WorldSkills Calgary 2009.
"Ken Heather has three characteristics that make him a champion
of the Skills Movement; integrity, commitment and enthusiasm," said Chris Browton, Executive Director, Skills Canada
Alberta. "He is involved in all levels of Skills Canada; from regionals to
provincials and nationals to WorldSkills, and in the process has impacted
thousands of students and Skills Canada Alberta Alumni."
Ken's involvement in Skills Canada Competitions begins close
to home. On top of a busy instructional
role, he is the Regional Skills Canada Coordinator at Red Deer College,
ensuring that local high school students have the opportunity to compete in
Regional Skills Canada Competitions. From logistics, to promotion and volunteer
recruitment, Ken brings the Skills Movement to the students of central Alberta.
As the Co-Chair of the Welding committee for the Provincial
Skills Competition, Ken watches the finest young welders in Alberta challenge themselves at the annual
competition.
"I am involved in Skills Canada because it is an amazing
platform for high school and post-secondary students to show off their skills,"
notes Ken Heather. "At the first Skills
Canada competition I attended, I thought WOW!
If I played a violin there would be obvious opportunities for me to
perform. Skills Competitions are an
important outlet for trade talent to shine."
Ken's experience organizing Provincial and Canadian Skills
Competitions made him an ideal volunteer to lead the Welding Competition at
WorldSkills Calgary 2009. The full magnitude of the logistical planning
required to host an international competition came to the forefront when Ken
travelled with the other Workshop Supervisors to Japan in 2007 to see the last
WorldSkills International Competition.
Although his volunteer roles with Skills Canada have taken
him across Canada and to Asia, Ken's favourite moments as a Skills Canada Alberta
volunteer is watching the young competitors each year embrace the challenges
presented to them with determination that demonstrates that they are blossoming
craftsman, with talent that is admirable.
"I hope hosting WorldSkills Calgary 2009 leaves a legacy of support for the ongoing
grassroots organizations and people that are committed to the Skills Movement
in Alberta,"
notes Ken. "Even when the world isn't
watching we will continue to invest and take tremendous pride in our trade and
technology students."
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