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From left to right: Carlton teacher Trevor Rutz, Cameron Dueck and Emmy Sayazie. (Image Credit: Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)
Talented youth

Prince Albert high school students invited to bring their skills to Toronto

Apr 15, 2026 | 4:13 PM

A pair of highly skilled high schools in Prince Albert have earned the right to represent Saskatchewan next month at a national competition.

Based on their performances at last month’s Skills Canada competition in Regina, Jorja Hanson and Cameron Dueck will travel to Toronto at the end of May for the 2026 Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC). Dueck, who is in Grade 11, won gold for precision machining.

“I worked for hard for it and I’m very grateful I won with the help of my teacher,” he said.

Dueck explained his passion for the trade was developed at a young age, having a neighbour who was a machinist.

‘I liked it and moved here in Grade 10 to do it”

Jorja Hanson Lemaigre won gold in electrical installations but was not available when paNOW went to the school on Wednesday. Grade 11 student Emmy Sayazie won gold for Indigenous beading. Unfortunately, due to the fact there is no national category for her craft, Sayazie will not get to go to Toronto but she is hoping that will change for next year’s competition.

She revealed she is self-taught.

“I’ve always felt disconnected from my culture, especially growing up in the city, and home being so far away and teaching myself how to bead is a way to reconnect.”

This piece by Sayazie took her abut six hours.
This piece by Sayazie took her abut six hours. (Image Credit: Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Sayazie added no one in her immediate family knows how to bead or sew, and the ones who did have already passed on.

“I kind of like to think my great grandmothers are there with me as I stitch every piece I make.”

Having lost count how many pieces she’s actually made, Sayazie has since the age of 14 run her own small business called Creations by Emmy.

Machine shop teacher Trevof Rutz has been involved with Skills Canada since he started at Carlton 18 years ago and said he is very proud of all the students who participated.

“They put in a lot of work practicing and they really excelled at a high level.”

The provincial comp was held March 26 and 27 in Regina. Here are more results:

Carlton Comprehensive High School

Robby Everest – bronze precision machining

Matthew Quiring – silver precision machining

Chloe Loh – bronze photography 

Jelleane Nguyen & Brooke Anderson – silver video production

Kiara Levesque – bronze aesthetics

Arianna Polowski – bronze baking

St Mary

Micah Bridal – third in paddle making

Prairie Constant – fourth in ribbon skirt making

Braylyn Merasty – fifth in beading

Drew Schultz – fourth in carpentry

PACI

Carmen Bear-Ray – fourth in beading

The Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) runs May 28 and 29, 2026, at the Enercare Centre in Toronto, Ontario.

The event will features over 550 young professionals competing in 40+ skilled trade and technology areas, including interactive “Try-A-Trade” activities.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell