RRC Polytech Apprentices Shine with Gold at Skills Canada Nationals
One small decision can impact your life forever – for five apprentices representing RRC Polytech and Manitoba at the 2025 Skills Canada National Competition, choosing which seat to take on the six-hour drive to Regina was the start of a lifelong bond.
Josh Klassen (Bricklaying), Chris Hagyard (Sprinkler Fitter), Malaya Gertley (Steamfitter/Pipefitter), Izaak Verheist and Jordan Owen (Landscape Gardening) didn’t just represent Manitoba with skill and pride – they built a strong connection by going through the intense competition process together.
“It felt so natural,” Klassen said. “We all understand what each other do, and we’re all trying to be the best at what we do. It made for easy connections.”
That solidarity provided confidence for the competitors, with Klassen, Hagyard and Gertley bringing home gold medals and Verheist and Owen earning silver.
For Klassen, winning gold in masonry was more than a personal achievement—it was a family legacy fulfilled.
“What drew me to masonry was my dad,” he shared. “He has his own business where I work now. I kind of always grew up with it. I tell people, when they ask how long I’ve been doing this, I say as long as I’ve been able to carry a pail of water.”
While masonry has always been a part of his life, Klassen’s time at RRC Polytech helped him refine his skills and creativity. He began taking on small creative projects, including building a new company sign that sits outside his dad’s shop
Competing at Skills, with some encouragement from instructor Brian Gebhardt, showed him how far he has come in his career already.
“I just wanted to do my best throughout school, and my best was very good,” Klassen said.
Hagyard echoed that sentiment and credits his journeyman, Dylan Lamb, and the RRC Polytech apprenticeship program for his rapid growth.
“Since I was younger, I’ve always loved working with my hands,” he said. “When I was looking for a career change in my early 20s, I jumped at the opportunity to get into sprinkler fitting,” he said. “Having a good journeyman showing me the ropes definitely helped.”
Competing in Skills is something Hagyard said was a great opportunity and he encourages anybody who has the chance to participate to take the invitation.
“One thing that I knew but was more reaffirmed in this would be how much I enjoy my trade,” he said. “I believe when you really enjoy something and put all your effort in you will thrive and this is a great example of what the outcome can be if you give it your all.”
The competition was a revelation for Gertley.
“I thought I didn’t have a shot at placing, let alone receiving gold,” she admitted. “But I went in thinking, ‘I probably won’t make it, but I’m going to try my best anyway.’”
Not only did she win gold, but she was also the first woman to ever win gold in the steamfitter/pipefitter category at the national level.
Gertley, who followed in her father’s footsteps into the trades, said the competition showed her how far she’s come as a tradesperson.
“Competing and winning gold was very eye opening to me in terms of how far along my craftsmanship has come since I’ve started, and my ability to be able to problem solve on the fly,” she said. “A huge shoutout to my instructor Karl Schifke — he believed in me when I didn’t. And to all the members of Local 254 — I wouldn’t be here without the incredibly skilled journeymen and apprentices I’ve worked with.”
The group was part of more than 60 individuals from post-secondary and secondary institutions representing Team Manitoba at the Skills Canada National Competition – 24 of which were RRC Polytech students and apprentices.
“Each year it’s incredible to see the students take what they’ve learned from their training at RRC Polytech and grow through competition. Even if they don’t land on the podium they’re bringing home a new experience that will help them achieve success in their careers,” says Scott Savoy, Chair, Construction Trades at RRC Polytech.
In total, RRC Polytech students and apprentices earned Team Manitoba 8 medals:
Gold
- Bricklaying – Josh Klassen
- Sprinkler Fitter – Chris Hagyard
- Steamitter/Pipefitter – Malaya Gertley
Silver
- Electronics – Lucas Plett
- Landscape Gardening – Izaak Verheist and Jordan Owen
- Sheet Metal Work PS – Silver – Matthew Dercho
Bronze
- Outodoor Power and Recreation Equipement – Yang Yu
- Autobody Repair – Renz Medida
Two students from Team Manitoba also qualified to to represent Canada at the 2026 WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai, China:
- Brooke Heaman, 3D Digital Game Art from Assiniboine Community College
- Taylor Brewster, Aesthetics from Arts and Technology Center