Sparks fly at 11th annual Welding Rodeo promoting trade skills

High school students showed off their prowess at the 11th annual Welding Rodeo on the weekend, showcasing their welding and metal fabrication skills.

Sparks flew at a long-running event for local high schools interested in the trades on Saturday.

Students showed off their prowess at the 11th Annual Welding Rodeo, a competition designed to showcase their skills in welding and metal fabrication.

Masks were flipped down and the temperature turned up in southeast Calgary Saturday.

Thirty-two students from eight different local schools took part in the annual welding rodeo skills competition.

“it brings the love to trades,” said Luc Berube of Boilermakers Local 146. “It’s something that’s sort of disappeared over the years and it’s what allows us to recruit more welders into the trades.”

The day consisted of timed challenges based around this year’s theme -- the Welders of Oz, which drew on themes from the Wizard of Oz and Wicked films.

Students completed a fabrication project, a Dorothy’s House from drawings, fabricated a Wizard of Oz-themed sculpture from scrap metal and had the option to complete a mock CWB 1GF weld test.

“I just love the feeling of flipping down my hood and just all that matters and that split second is the weld and how it is going to turn out. It’s like everything else goes quiet and you’re focused on that little bead,” said Notre Dame Grade 12 student Cameron Gale.

“I just like getting to make creative things with different materials than usual. Like I do a lot of sketching, but getting to work with a solid substance that isn’t more malleable like clay is really fun,” said James Fowler Grade 12 student Ollie Wojack.

Prizes for students and their schools were on the line, including a pricey scholarship.

It comes as trade schools in Alberta face problems related to declining enrolment.

Professional welders want to remind students there will always be jobs in their industry.

“There’s a lot of kids that end up joining us afterwards and they love it — you’ll see it on their face," said Berube.

The kids participating couldn’t agree more.

“If your high school is offering any trade class, take it. Try them all out and see if you like them,” said Central Memorial Grade 12 student Callum Snell-Farnsworth.

The Welding Rodeo is expanding to Edmonton this fall.

With files from CTV News’ Timm Bruch