Submitted by GISS TRADES PROGRAM
Grade 12 Gulf Islands Secondary School (GISS) welding student Antoine Gonzalez will compete with Team BC at the 2026 National Skills Canada Competition in Toronto from May 28 to 30.
Gonzalez earned his spot on Team BC after winning a gold medal at the prestigious Skills Canada Provincial Championships in Abbotsford on Wednesday, April 15. To gain a seat at the provincial championships, Gonzalez first took home the gold medal at the Skills Canada South Island Regional Competition at Camosun College in March.
Gonzalez has been working towards his welding certificate since discovering the trade in metalwork class at GISS in Grade 11. He began his apprenticeship locally at Island Marine Construction on Salt Spring while he completed Grade 11 and 12 courses at GISS and set himself up to move to Victoria in August 2025 for the seven-month dual credit Welding Foundation program at Camosun College.
Dual credit students are sponsored for tuition by their high school and gain high school course credits as well as the college program credentials. According to his instructors at Camosun, Gonzalez had a “strong technical foundation.” As well, they highlighted his “responsiveness to coaching and growing confidence.” His hard work paid off and he quickly rose to the top of his welding class, which resulted in competing at the regional Skills Canada event.
Kevin Huebert, Corey Johnson and the team at Island Marine Construction have sponsored at least 10 GISS students for work experience or apprenticeship over the past 10 years. Huebert’s patience and skill have been passed on to all these students, most still working as welders locally or elsewhere in B.C. The trades community on Salt Spring has stepped up and supported the Youth Work in Trades programs for over 20 years, allowing young workers to enter the workforce with strong mentors and opportunity. GISS students consistently complete trades training at the top of their classes.
Gonzalez’s apprenticeship at Island Marine Construction and the excellent instructors at Camosun College prepared him very well for the regional and provincial competitions. In a five-hour period, he followed a complex blueprint and assembled a steel box structure with multiple design features. The competitors were even granted an extra 30 minutes as the judges recognized the complexity of the task! Gonzalez was on the ferry returning to Salt Spring when he heard his name announced for the gold medal through the live broadcast from the Abbotsford Tradex.
Gonzalez missed the evening award ceremony at Skills Canada provincials because it would have meant spending another expensive night in a Vancouver hotel. He is determined to be there for the medal ceremony at Skills Canada Nationals and has a strong chance of being back on the podium.
Event registration will be paid for by GISS Career Programs funding for trades training, but the flights and accommodation for five nights in Toronto add up quickly. The goal is to raise $15,000 to pay for Gonzalez, his mom, his welding mentor, who will coach him through the three-day welding competition and a staff member from GISS to attend. Watch for upcoming local fundraisers for the GISS Welding “A Team.”
Charitable donations to support the trip can be made to the SD64 Gulf Islands – attention: Skills Canada Welding Competition. People are invited to contact Shari Hambrook, GISS Youth Work in Trades teacher, with inquiries at shambrook@sd64.org.