High school students test trade skills at St. Clair College as industries look to shore up labour shortage

High school students across Windsor-Essex descended on St. Clair College on March 1, 2025. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor)

High school students across Windsor-Essex descended on St. Clair College on Saturday to test their trade skills.

As a pre-qualifier for the provincial Skills Ontario competition later this spring, students competed in precision machining, carpentry, plumbing, culinary and various other trades.

Inside the school’s automotive building, instructor John Cammalleri and representatives from the automotive industry searched for more than a winner.

“So they’re actually talking to shop owners or supervisors that actually are involved in hiring,” Cammalleri said.

“They get to kind of talk to them and they get a feel of the students and get to talk to the students, which could potentially land them a job.”

Throughout the morning, 19 students showed their knowledge of automotive work including tires, brakes, and batteries.

In working with the Windsor Professional Automotive Repair Association, Cammalleri said eight industry representatives helped students complete their tasks. The top three winners would also be offered summer internships and accrue service time, which could later be applied to apprenticeships.

Labelled as Canada’s Automotive Capital, Cammalleri said the region remains rich with job opportunities in the industry.

Organizers hoped the event would allow students to “dabble” in their chosen trade and shore up any uncertainty about their career future.

Cammalleri noted a labour shortage continues to impact many skilled trades industries in addition to automotive services.

“The problem now is that we’re getting more retiring than we have coming in. So there’s actually a shortage in the trade, so now these people that are still in the trade are actually getting paid more money,” he said.

Saturday’s skills competition included students from the Greater Essex County District School Board, the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, Lambton Kent District School Board and Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence.

The winner in each trade will move on to the Skills Ontario competition held in Toronto in May.