Bluefield student wins bronze at national skills competition

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Bluefield High School student Jack MacPhail won the bronze medal recently in workplace safety while representing P.E.I. at the Skills Canada competition in Winnipeg.

Jack MacPhail, a student at Bluefield High School, won a national bronze medal at the recent Skills Canada competition in Winnipeg.

A Grade 12 carpentry student, MacPhail earned his place at the national competition when he placed first in workplace safety at the provincial event.

“The Skills Canada competition continues to be a great opportunity to highlight workplace safety,’’ said Stuart Affleck, chairman of the P.E.I. Workers Compensation Board (WCB). “Any time we can get youth thinking about safety in the workplace and the hazards that exist is a worthwhile experience.’’

Rebecca McQuaid, youth education consultant with WCB, said the judges at the national competition were very impressed with MacPhail’s clear understanding of safety hazards and ways to control those hazards.

McQuaid also sits on the national technical committee for workplace safety with Skills Canada.

Leo MacDonald, MacPhail’s shop teacher at Bluefield, said MacPhail is a role model for other students.

“He worked hard on his own to prepare for this competition,’’ MacDonald said. “I am very proud of his dedication.’’

MacPhail’s third-place finish at Skills Canada follows another student win in workplace safety at the national level.

In May, Morell Regional High School students Ben MacMillan and Jacob MacDonald took second place in a national youth video contest, sponsored by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. The contest challenged students to create a video about the importance of safety on the job.