OCNews

Not only do Okanagan College students Emily Frick and Vladyslav Usach have promising careers ahead of them working in the skilled trades, but they will also forever be linked as two of the top OC students to compete at the national level.

OC is celebrating the students and their standout results at the 2026 Skills Canada National Competition, held on May 28 and 29 in Toronto, Ontario. Both brought home national hardware — Frick earning the bronze medal in Car Painting and Usach capturing the gold medal in Collision Repair. 

Frick’s bronze marked the College's first female national banner winner and its first national banner in Car Painting. Her result follows a gold-medal performance at the 2026 Skills Canada BC Provincial Competition in April, where over a dozen students represented OC in Automotive, Car Painting, Carpentry, Collision Repair, Electronics, Heavy Duty Mechanics, IT Network Systems Administration, Refrigeration Sheet Metal and Welding. Usach, who also took gold at provincials, was coached throughout his preparation by OC Collision Repair and Refinish instructor Andreas Roth, whose mentorship was a big part of the team’s success.

“Competing in the Skills BC and Canada competitions has meant the world to me,” shared Frick. “I was able to showcase my learning and go up against some of the most talented apprentices out there. This was my first and only time competing and I was so excited to bring home a medal and a banner from Nationals.”

Frick is excited about her future and is quick to acknowledge the support from OC. “I’d say the future for me holds some intricate custom paint work and coaching the next generation of painters,” added Frick. “And I couldn’t have done it without Okanagan College’s support, our team and or our coach, Andreas.”

OC also celebrates Sy Korf of A.I. Fortune Secondary School in Enderby, who earned a Gold Medal Autobody Repair at the national competition. Korf was co-coached by OC instructors Roth and Jason Inkster over the past month. “Sy represented his school and community exceptionally well, and it was rewarding to see his growth and commitment throughout the preparation process,” said Roth.

“This is an incredibly proud moment for our students and for everyone who has helped build world-class skilled trades programs at Okanagan College,” said OC’s Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship, Caitlin Hartigan. “Skills competitions are an incredible platform for our students to demonstrate the depth of their abilities and the strength of their training. I am deeply grateful to our instructors, industry partners, and the entire Trades and Apprenticeship team at Okanagan College for making this possible.”

“What our students accomplished in Toronto illustrates what is possible when students, educators, industry partners and institutions work together toward a common goal,” said OC’s Provost and VP Academic, Dr. Samantha Lenci. “Okanagan College is committed to building on this success through exceptional instruction, strong industry relationships and a culture that challenges students to compete and succeed at the highest level. Congratulations to Emily, Vladyslav, Sy and all of OC’s skills student competitors this year, and everyone who supported their journey.” 

The Skills Canada National Competition is the country's premier trades and technology skills showcase, bringing together gold medalists from provincial competitions across Canada. OC's national competitors earned their spots by placing first at the 2026 Skills Canada BC Provincial Competition on April 15 in Abbotsford, where the college's skilled trades students delivered a strong showing across multiple disciplines.

For more than two decades, Okanagan College has served as the host site for Skills Regionals, an event that brings close to 100 high school students together with college students in a series of competitions at OC each year.

To learn more about Trades and Apprenticeship at Okanagan College visit okanagancollege.ca/trades.