RDP Apprentices Win Nine Medals at 2025 Provincial Skills Competition

May 15, 2025

Lucas Stang (RDP Welding student) stands with his gold medal on a podium with two other welders at Skills Canada Alberta 2025

Lucas Stang (centre) with his gold medal in Welding. Photo by Brian Buchsdruecker for Skills Canada Alberta

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) apprentices continue to shine on the provincial stage, bringing home a total of nine medals from the 2025 Skills Canada Alberta Competition, held recently in Edmonton.

An RDP carpentry student at Skills Canada Alberta 2025 — Photo by Brian Buchsdruecker for Skills Canada Alberta

Demonstrating excellence across a variety of skilled trades, RDP apprentices earned two gold, three silver, and four bronze medals at this year’s event. In addition to the post-secondary success, RDP instructors also mentored two high school competitors—Ty McCartney (Carpentry) and Dane Schmidt (Welding)—who each earned gold in their respective categories.

“We are incredibly proud of the apprentices and students trained at RDP, whose dedication, hard work and talent were showcased at the Provincial Skills Canada Alberta Competition,” says David Pye, Dean of the School of Trades and Technology at Red Deer Polytechnic. “Their success is a testament to the commitment of our instructors, staff and industry partners, who have worked collaboratively to provide top-tier education and training. As Alberta’s third-largest provider of skilled trades education, RDP plays a vital role in developing talent, training more than 2,200 apprentices annually to help meet critical labour market demands across the province.”

Miles Alger wearing orange coveralls leans over some equipment at Skills Canada Alberta 2025 — Photo by Brian Buchsdruecker for Skills Canada Alberta

Among the gold medal winners were Adam Moore (Sprinkler Systems Installer) and Lucas Stang (Welding), who will now advance to represent RDP at the 2025 Skills Canada National Competition, taking place May 29–30 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Additional RDP medalists include:

Silver: Riley Jacobs (Carpentry), Carson Donovan (Pipefitter), and Tyler Hagstrom (Sprinkler Systems Installer)
Bronze: Simon Pell (Electrical), Miles Alger (Heavy Vehicle Technology), Tyson Bucklaschuk (Plumber), and Lucas Drage (Sprinkler Systems Installer)

An RDP student in blue coveralls and an RDP hat operates a large piece of equipment at Skills Canada Alberta 2025 — Photo by Brian Buchsdruecker for Skills Canada Alberta

Other notable placements include Greg Arbeau (Carpentry – 5th), David Stolk (Carpentry – 6th), Rhian Marinduque (Electrical – 6th), and Zac Barnes (Cook – 9th). High school competitor Johan Eriksson, also trained by RDP, placed fifth in Carpentry.

Since 2003, RDP apprentices have accumulated 93 medals across Provincial, National, and WorldSkills competitions, highlighting the institution’s longstanding tradition of excellence in skilled trades education.

By providing robust hands-on training and fostering strong partnerships with industry, Red Deer Polytechnic continues to play a pivotal role in equipping students with high-demand skills that drive Alberta’s economic success and workforce sustainability.

Winners of the upcoming national competition will have the opportunity to represent Canada at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, scheduled to take place in Shanghai, China from September 22–27, 2026.

Learn more about RDP’s 17 apprenticeship programs

David Pye in a grey suit and black shirt stands smiling on stage with two other suited men at Skills Canada Alberta 2025 — Dave Pye (centre), Dean of the School of Trades and Technology on stage. Photo by Brian Buchsdruecker for Skills Canada Alberta

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