Oct 25, 2023
The Forged By Youth Award was created and funded by the CWB Welding Foundation in 2021 to celebrate the creativity and effort involved in secondary school welding projects and the continued support of secondary school welding facilities. These awards recognize outstanding class projects with a financial award for each winning school’s welding program.
We are thrilled to celebrate this year’s winners and support creativity and collaboration in school workshops nationwide. Well done, everyone!
First Place Project: Bear-B-Q
School: G.W Graham Secondary School
Location: Chilliwack, BC
Instructor: Brad Bootsma
Awarded: $15,000
The Bear-B-Q is a fully functional, 4,000-pound BBQ made of steel and painted like a bear. This project taught important lessons on attention to detail, teamwork, commitment, and time management. “We discovered the significance of trust within a team,” says teacher Brad Bootsma. “Trusting each other’s abilities and contributions was vital to our progress.”
Second Place Project: Female-led Projects
School: Geraldton Composite High School
Location: Geraldton, ON
Instructor: Terry Burke
Awarded: First Place – $10,000
These projects were female-led and driven by their interests. The project supported female students and helped generate interest amongst them in the workshop and school.
Third Place Project: Map of Canada and Red Dress
School: ASDN ICE Centre
Location: Miramichi, NB
Instructor: David Gray
Awarded: First Place – $5,000
This project shares and celebrates Indigenous history and perspectives in Canada. It reflects personal experiences that have greatly impacted the participating students and required researching historical events concerning Indigenous and First Nations peoples.
Honourable Mention:
Project: Rocket Stove
School: R.B Russell Vocational High School
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Instructor: Mike Johnston
Awarded: $1,000
Honourable Mention:
Project: Anchor
School: Bayside Secondary School
Location: Belleville, ON
Instructor: Michael Burns
Awarded: $1,000
Honourable Mention:
Project: Hatchets
School: Chilliwack Secondary School
Location: Chilliwack, BC
Instructor: Darren Purych
Awarded: $1,000
Honourable Mention:
Project: Trailer and Light-Up Heart
School: Centennial Secondary School
Location: Coquitlam, ON
Instructor: Keith Peterson
Awarded: $1,000
Honourable Mention:
Project: Ski Lodge Projects
School: Grande Cache Community High School
Location: Grand Cache, AB
Instructor: Greg Nolan
Awarded: $1,000
Honourable Mention:
Project: Community Based Projects
School: Nelson High School
Location: Burlington, ON
Instructor: Yvan Poulin
Awarded: $1,000
Honourable Mention:
Project: Charcoal BBQ
School: Parkside Collegiate Institute
Location: St. Thomas, ON
Instructor: Martin Naylor
Awarded: $1,000
Honourable Mention:
Project: Fire Pit
School: Prince Edward Collegiate Institute
Location: Picton, ON
Instructor: Aaron Gray
Awarded: $1,000
Honourable Mention:
Project: Trailer and Smoker
School: Strathmore High School
Location: Strathmore, AB
Instructor: Caleb Harris
Awarded: $1,000
Honourable Mention:
Project: Modified Lawn Mower
School: St. Anne Catholic High School
Location: Windsor, ON
Instructor: Michael Costello
Awarded: $1,000