This week, the fourth annual Who BILDS it Best building competition was held at the Home, Garden & Leisure Show at the Lethbridge Trade and Convention Centre.
BILD Lethbridge Region hosts the annual event, in partnership with CAREERS and the Southern Alberta Collegiate Institute.
High school students of all carpentry skill levels cut and built a project live at the show.
This year, 24 high school competitors from nine southern Alberta schools competed to showcase their abilities.
Six teams of two cut, constructed and stained a project within just 75 minutes, using only the provided materials and hand tools.
BILD Lethbridge Region Executive Officer Bridget Mearns said participants are dual-credit students that feel trades might be a path they want to pursue.
“They come and they’re given a project. They’re given tools and materials and using only what they’re given, they’re challenged to build the project,” she added.
The event has judges from within the industry, and there’re prizes for all the competitors.
“We do have some return competitors, so it’s a lot of fun. It’s an opportunity to highlight some of their skills because this is a path of interest and maybe it’s just a tiny kernel of an interest, but this is something we’re hoping will be a full-blown career path for them,” Mearns noted.
According to Mearns, the show has existed in the community for decades, but was re-envisioned a few years ago as the Home, Garden & Leisure Show.
“It’s always been a community favourite, and it’s great to see it continue to grow momentum, especially after the re-envisioning we did in 2023. There’s great interest in our community amongst our businesses and amongst our community. This is incredibly important for the businesses in our community, and the businesses in this industry specifically,” she said.
Mearns added many of the businesses book a year’s worth of business at this show. “This is an opportunity for them to really come together with their audience. That’s the point of having such a focused show, so you know where to come, you know who’s here and this is a great opportunity to find the experts you’re looking for.”
(Photo by Stan Ashbee)
