Lakeland apprentice Tyler Bendfeld takes home gold from Skills Canada competition
Tyler Bendfeld, from Heisler, Alta. is a third year carpentry apprentice at Lakeland College.
Benfeld travelled to the Skills Canada competition in Winnipeg, Man. from May 25 – 26, where he took home a gold medal.
“I was well prepared and well supported. My employer, J D McTavish Construction, has been an awesome source of support for both years, ensuring I can compete, and my instructors from Lakeland have always helped me through the competitions. My family was very excited to see what I was able to accomplish as well. It’s a great experience, having all these people supporting me. I was nervous but also excited to be able to show what I can do again and challenge myself. It’s really rewarding to bring home a gold medal for Lakeland. I feel great,” said Bendfeld.
To qualify for the national competition Benfeld had to compete in Skills Alberta, where he won gold, which he did last year as well. Benfeld then competed in the Skills Canada competition and brought home a silver medal last year.
“Watching Tyler win gold at provincials and silver at nationals last year was awesome,” said Lakeland College carpentry instructor Curtis Cassibo. “Coming back and competing to win gold this year was Tyler’s goal. I had told him that we were all proud of him no matter where he placed, but the competitive side of him and the experience from the previous year’s competitions gave him the edge over the other carpenters this year. It is a huge accomplishment to win provincials by itself, but to win nationals as well is amazing. Having Tyler on the podium two years in a row at the national competition is an incredible feat and says a lot about his skills and determination.”
Benfeld was Lakeland’s only national competitor this year at Skills Canada. Skills Canada is an annual competition that takes provincial champions in construction, transportation, manufacturing and engineering, information technology, services and employment and has them compete nationally with their projects judged to strict industry standards.