Birch Hills students medal at Sask. Skills Competition

At provincials, she was tasked with cooking a cheeseburger, roasted potatoes, and a chocolate brownie with two sauces.

She joked that she really wanted to eat it after she was done.

“The judges got to eat it,” Babbings said while chuckling.

Marissa Babbings at the 2023 Skills Canada Provincial Competition. (Robyn Stanford)

She is considering a career in cooking as it’s already become a real passion for her.

Babbings will represent Saskatchewan alongside Ryan James and Ella Kirkland who attend Prince Albert’s Carlton Comprehensive High School.

As for Simmonds, despite not earning a spot at Nationals, she’s quite excited about her silver medal in baking.

“I was very ecstatic I even got a medal at all,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting to do so well.”

Emily Simmonds at the 2023 Skills Canada Provincial Competition. (Robyn Stanford)

She was tasked with baking 12 Mexican concha buns, 16 shortbread cookies, and 12 eclairs, while also having to decorate a cake.

Just like Babbings, Simmonds has thought about a career in baking but noted it’s still too soon to say whether she’ll pursue it or not.

Whether she does or not, it’s something she plans on enjoying for the rest of her life.

“I do it in my free time a lot and sometimes it helps me calm down, just to bake something simple.”

Meanwhile, the National Competition is scheduled for May 25 and 26 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

According to Skills Canada, these are the only multi-trade and technology competitions for students and apprentices in the country.

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by Jaryn Vecchio