Some of Durham College’s most technologically talented students will see if they have the skills to pay the bills at the 24th annual Ontario Technological Skills Competition (OTSC) from Monday, May 6 to Wednesday, May 8.

The event, featuring more than 1,900 elementary, secondary and post-secondary school competitors in more than 60 skilled trade categories, will take place at RIM Park in Waterloo, Ontario. This year, Durham will send nine students to compete in five different areas of competition.

Zachary Winch and Connor Saunders, both third-year students in the Computer Systems Technology program, will compete in the IT & Network Systems Administration category. Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Techniques (HVAC) students Jeffery Thackery and Dylan Severn will participate in the Heating Systems Technician contest, while Mitch Tempro and Jordan Best, second-year students in the Mechanical Technician – Mechanical Maintenance and Control program, will compete in the Industrial Mechanic Millwright category.

Also competing are Mike Mills and Mark Schubert, Tool and Die (Level 3 – Advanced) apprenticeship students in the Precision Machining category, while Plumber (Level 2 – Intermediate) apprenticeship student Donny Reid competes in the Plumbing competition.

Gold-medal winners in each category (except Heating Systems Technician) will be eligible to compete at the Skills Canada National Competition taking place from Wednesday, June 3 to Saturday, June 8 in Vancouver, BC. Last year, Durham College students took home two gold and two silver medals, including Plumber apprentice Ryan Voscek who eventually won the Plumbing category with a gold at the 2012 Skills Canada competition.

More than 30,000 spectators are expected at the three-day event.