Student welders from across the school board will gather in Petrolia to demonstrate technical precision and blueprint accuracy during a high-stakes, four-hour fabrication challenge.
The sparks will fly at Lambton Central Collegiate and Vocational Institute on March 6 as the school’s welding shop transforms into a competitive arena for the Lambton Kent District School Board welding competition.
Approximately 10 to 14 student competitors and their coaches from across the board are expected to participate. The event serves as a critical stepping stone for young tradespeople aiming to prove their skills under the scrutiny of expert industry judges.
The competition requires students to complete a timed project over a four-hour period. Working with carbon steel, competitors must follow a specific blueprint to fabricate and weld a task that tests their abilities in measurement, layout, fit-up, and execution. Judges will evaluate the participants on blueprint interpretation, weld quality, safety practices, and time management.
The stakes are high for these local students. Top performers will advance to a secondary qualifier held at Fanshawe College on April 11. Success there offers a chance to move on to the provincial Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto on May 4 and 5, where the best student welders in the province compete at a professional technical level.
The event also serves as a bridge between education and the local workforce. Representatives from regional skilled trades unions, mechanical contractors, and manufacturing employers will be on-site for networking and Q&A sessions. These industry partners provide mentorship and donate prizes and consumables for the program.
The growth of the LCCVI welding program has been fueled by recent investments in modern fabrication equipment and strong partnerships with local industry. The school’s Welding Club and specialized training programs have seen increased student interest in pursuing skilled trades pathways within Sarnia-Lambton.
Arrival and registration begin at 8 a.m. in the LCCVI welding shop, with the competition officially starting at 9 a.m. following an introduction of judges and safety instructions. Awards and closing remarks are scheduled for 2 p.m.
For more information on the event, residents can contact organizers Johnny Dawson or Steve Wilcox through the school board.
