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Student carves out silver

Skills Canada nationals great experience for Ben Perrault

After winning at both regional and provincial levels, Ben Perrault headed to Edmonton recently to participate in Skills Canada national competition using skills learned as a student in Brooks Secondary School and Vancouver Island University dual-credit carpentry program.

Ben joined about 30 other youth with Team BC, and was supported by his parents, Erin and Rod Perrault, and instructor Gary Huculak.

“As his dad, I can tell you that we are so appreciative of the high quality of instruction Ben’s received from Gary,” said Rod, vice-principal at Brooks, “and for the coaching and support he offered to Ben so he could get ready for the competition and so he could do well while he was there.”

Ben represented BC with a strong performance. He came away with silver in the secondary carpentry competition and met Mike Holmes, host of television show Holmes on Homes. Holmes, known for his home building prowess, is a volunteer spokesperson for Skills Canada.

“He gave me some words of wisdom that I should just relax and not stress it or else I’ll make mistakes,” said Ben, “and that definitely helped because I was a little bit worried about the time. It calmed me down a bit, so that was good.”

Competitors had 12 hours over two days to build a gazebo, with four posts, a roof, a bench, railings and some other items inside. The project was quite a bit harder than at regional or provincial competition, where he made a picnic bench and a doghouse, said Ben, and timing was tight. “It was stressful but it was nice because it was harder to tell who was way ahead. Everyone there had won their provincials too so the competition was a lot better.” When asked about what made the difference between gold and silver, he answered “the other guy finished before me and had time to make his a little bit nicer with sand. I didn’t have time to do that.”