Welcome to the York Region Skills Challenge (YRSC)!
These events bring together students from across York Region elementary and secondary schools to compete against fellow students in skills-based challenges. Students showcase their skills and talents in individual or team competitions while building confidence and experience in areas that interest them.
There are several different skills challenge events open to elementary and/or secondary students:
Secondary Transportation
Competitors demonstrate their skills and knowledge in the automotive industry, through practical and theoretical applications. Competitors explore the trade of an Automotive Service Technician through authentic automotive repair challenges.
Registration Opens in late Fall through the YRDSB school.
Skills Ontario Junk Drawer Races
Introducing the first-ever Skills Ontario’s Junk Drawer Races! The contests under this program are open to students from Grades 2 - 12 within Ontario. Competitions include a variety of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related challenges.
Registration Opens in the Fall through the Skills Ontario site.
YRDSB is pleased to announce a numbers of wining schools with the Regional and Championship rounds.
See Championship 2021-2022 Video.
Elementary Robotics
Elementary Robotics (Grades 4-8) begins with five area qualifier competitions in January of the school year.
Schools select one location of their choice and can send up to two teams per school: junior (grades 4-6) and/or intermediate (grades 7-8).
School registration is open from in September -October. Top teams from the qualifiers will advance to the York Region Skills Challenge scheduled in February/March of the school year.
We are pleased to announce our second annual YRSC VexVR competition (Grades 4-8). This competition takes place in the spring through the YRDSB classroom educators.
York Region Skills Challenge - Elementary and Secondary Events
Students compete in one or more of the 30+ challenge events. Challenges are offered for students in:
- Grades 4-6
- Grades 7-8
- Grades 9-12
All students who participate receive a medal of participation at the end of the day’s events. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners to recognize their distinct achievement. Gold medal winners of most competitions advance to compete provincially at the Skills Ontario Competition in May at the Toronto Congress Centre.
Skills Ontario Competitions
The provincial Skills Ontario Competition (SOC) will be virtual this year and take place between April 18-29, 2022.
Gold medal winners of some secondary competitions at the Skills Ontario Competition advance to the National Skills Competitions. Please visit the Skills Canada website for more details.
Specialist High Skills Major and Skills Ontario Events
Secondary students enrolled in the Specialist High Skills Major Program (SHSM) can earn possible certificates and/or experiential learning towards their SHSM designation. Speak to your school SHSM team for further information.
Students interested in participating in the YRDSB Skills Challenge must be registered by a supporting teacher. Registration opens in the fall.
For More Information
For information on Skills Canada-Ontario or York Region Skills Challenge (YRSC) events and activities, please contact Fadi Boutanos, Curriculum Consultant.