A team of 28 learners from Algonquin College are preparing to show off the skills, training and knowledge at the 2026 Skills Ontario
Competition, taking place May 4-5 in Toronto.
Students will compete across diverse sectors, ranging from carpentry and auto repair to cybersecurity and aircraft maintenance. Their efforts will reflect the College’s identity as a polytechnic institution and showcase the importance of hands-on and industry-aligned learning. Participating students have been preparing with faculty coaches and program teams in advance of the competition.
The Skills Ontario Competition is an annual provincial competition that brings Ontario students together to test their mettle in a range of trade and technology disciplines. Algonquin College has a long history of winning medals in the competition: in the 2025 event, AC learners won three gold, three silver and three bronze in fields that included horticulture, photography, culinary arts, architectural design and more.
The experience also provides valuable exposure to the pressure of industry-standard conditions, giving students a chance to truly understand what the working world will look like for them. Strong performers at Skills Ontario may even get the opportunity to compete at the Skills Canada National Competition and, possibly, the WorldSkills Competition.