A group of teen technologists last week forecasted the increase of artificial intelligence in tech and science industries, as Elphinstone Secondary School hosted a regional speaking competition for the Skills Canada organization.
Chatelech Secondary student Layan Rakha — the sole Sunshine Coast competitor to participate in the event on March 6 — earned the silver medal for her observations about how vocations and workplaces can navigate the fast-evolving challenges of technological advancement.
“There’s no shortage of news coverage or stories talking about how technology and robots are taking over certain jobs and are being seen as more efficient than people,” said Rakha. “However, can technology also be used as a tool to expand on what we already know? When it comes to technology and trades, rather than only looking at the bad side, why don’t we have to take a peek at the good side of things?”
Students from the Vancouver school district rounded out the field of competitors. Brooklyn Holden-Goldsmith and Hans Rana, both of Windermere Secondary School, earned the first and third prizes respectively.
Skills Canada (and its B.C. chapter) is a non-profit organization that promotes careers in technology and skilled trades. Over three months, students in 13 regions across B.C. participate in competitions testing their knowledge in subjects that range from fashion technology to automotive service. The Technology Festival Association of BC (headquartered on the Sunshine Coast) last year organized the first speaking competition for students in the northwest Lower Mainland region.
“We’re here to see what we can do, whether it is individually and through a bit of a team, to help enhance awareness around science, technology, engineering and math careers,” said Technology Festival Association president John Leech. “And the education, of course, behind it.”
Leech’s association is the engine behind local events that promote STEM learning, including the popular popsicle stick bridge-building competition. The bridge competition will observe a fallow year in 2025 to marshall resources after last year’s registrations reached a total of 366 eligible bridge structures that required 84,000 popsicle sticks. Meanwhile, more than 700 students participate in its annual egg drop competitions, which have also elicited enthusiastic volunteer support from Coast fire departments.
For the speaking competition, Leech enlisted the help of local Toastmasters members. The international network of clubs dedicated to the development of public speaking and leadership skills has four active chapters on the Sunshine Coast. “The calibre of speaking [at the competition] was so high,” observed chief judge Johanna Rzepa. “It was so exciting for us to be judges and to have this opportunity to share the learning.”
Last year, only two students from Elphinstone Secondary participated in the inaugural Skills Canada regional competition. Registrations tripled for last week’s event. In addition to prepared speeches, students delivered impromptu remarks on digital technology’s influence within a variety of industry sectors.
“We need to remember that we are the creators and masters of this technology,” cautioned Brooklyn Holden-Goldsmith. “We have adapted to use it for good in the past, so we should be able to do the same now. This also provides even more opportunities for jobs, especially in the field of technology, in figuring out how to use and develop these technologies for our advantage.”
For speaker Hans Rana, the benefits of artificial intelligence are clear but ethical questions remain ambiguous. “The one great issue with using AI for jobs and creation is copyright and ownership,” he said. “AI doesn’t own what it creates.”
Holden-Goldsmith will represent the northwest Lower Mainland at the Skills Canada provincial competition on April 16 at the Abbotsford Trade and Exhibition Centre.
“I’m truly excited to see how we as humans can learn to both operate and cooperate with the advancements of our future,” observed Sechelt’s Layan Rakha.
