May 8, 2023
The 2023 Skills Ontario Competition was held at the Toronto Congress Centre May 1 – 2. The competition draws over 40,000 students, competitors and visitors over the course of two days. This is Canada’s largest skilled trades and technologies competition that features over 76 different contests alongside elementary workshops.
Rob Davidson (the Provincial Technical Chair) and Roy King (Co-Chair) are the heads of the Outdoor Powered Equipment Contest. This year they were in charge of designing and setting up six competitions that hosted 24 high school and six post-secondary student competitors. The contest was held on May 2nd.
Two students, Xander Powell and Matt LaRiviere, were in attendance from the Marine Engine Mechanic program at Georgian College. Rob Davidson is also a Professor and Program Coordinator for the program.
The Outdoor Powered Equipment Contest includes marine, small engine, motorcycle and powersports equipment. Students competed in six tests that were 85% practical and 15% theory based. They had one hour to complete each test before moving onto the next. The tests were as follows:
1. 2-Stroke Engine Mechanical Operation
2. 2-Stroke Engine Troubleshooting
3. Fuel System and Carburetor Repair
4. Electrical Wiring and Troubleshooting
5. 4-Cycle Engine Troubleshooting
6. Theory
The gold medal winners, one high school and one post-secondary student, will move on to represent Team Ontario at the Skills Canada National Competition, May 24 – 27 in Winnipeg. The closing ceremonies were held on May 3rd after the two days of competition. Students were competing for gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as monetary awards and job offers in select contest areas.
Xander Powell from Georgian College won gold at the Skills Competition! He comments on his favourite part of the marine industry: “Everything’s different. Every day is different. Every day is a new day.”
Xander Powell won gold and Matt LaRiviere placed 4th in a close race for bronze! Congratulations to both for your hard work and well-earned finishes.
Marine Industry Career Path: Brett Ramsey
Wendy and Brett Ramsey
Boating Industry Canada is kicking off its Marine Industry Career Path series once again. For the first installments this year, we have two subjects to highlight. Introducing Wendy and Brett Ramsey!
The Ramsey’s have been working in the marine industry for many years but have both had unique paths in getting to where they are now. They’ve also been working on an impactful pilot project for a long time, which will now be launching this spring. The focus of this initiative is to bring more young people into the marine industry.
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Building on its award-winning M Series, Bayliner unveiled the all-new M19 at the Miami International Boat Show. The M19 joins the M Series lineup of the M15 and M17 delivering the stability and versatility the series is known for with a focus on expanding boater participation through its intuitive design, ease of maintenance and inclusive price point.
With an overall length of 19 feet and starting at $30,995 USD, the M19 is built on an improved M-hull foundation offering increased stability and automotive style handling for familiarity to appeal to the next generation of boaters. The M19 features an upgraded nine-person capacity and is watersports capable for a full day of adventure on the water.
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Televisions on a boat are increasingly commonplace. With the simple-to-install Glomex Avior VT300 Omnidirectional TV/FM antenna from GA Communications, it's never been easier to bring analog and digital broadcasts onboard—at a price that's hard to ignore.
The most noticeable feature of the Avior VT300 antenna is its compact white, anti-yellowing radome. At only 4" dia. x 8" H and 8.8 oz., it's specifically made for smaller boats that can't accommodate large TV antenna domes and only need short range reception, depending on height and conditions. The amplifier allows the antenna to have an increase in gain with a 24.5 dB average to receive vertical and horizontal polarized TV signals simultaneously from 360°.
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Airmar hires Suzanne Hawley as Brand Manager
The Leader in Ultrasonic Technology and Multi-sensor Solutions Continues to Grow in Talent and Innovation. AIRMAR® Technology Corporation, a world leader in ultrasonic transducers and Chirp technology, has named Suzanne Hawley as the Brand Manager for the company’s wholly owned distributor, Gemeco Marine Electronics Specialists, located in Lake City, SC.
Hawley comes to Airmar with extensive marketing and PR experience in the marine electronics industry including 20 years as the owner of Hawley Communications, a consulting agency focused on creative marketing solutions for businesses in the recreational boating industry.
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