Over 100 secondary school students were put to the test at the annual Regional Technological Skills Challenge at Georgian College in Owen Sound.
The students from the both the Bluewater and Catholic Boards were judged on their skills in eight categories including carpentry, welding, machining, and hairstyling.
Coordinator Dave Barrett says the judges are local people from the industries involved.
"They come, they sponsor the event they sponsor the different challenges and these companies are generous enough to send their people to us to be judges for the day. So the kids are actually meeting industry people about what it's really like to work in these skilled trades," says Barrett.
Barrett adds the opportunities for young people in skilled trades these days are enormous.
"There's so much opportunity and Grey Bruce is really starting to see that. There are new manufacturers coming to Owen Sound, Bruce Power's major component refurbishment," he says, adding that the list goes on.
Winners at the Skills Challenge in Owen Sound go on to provincial then national competitions.
Last year, local students who advanced to the provincial challenge garnered one gold and one bronze medal. One of those students also represented Ontario at the national event where they secured gold.