SRSS student representing Canada at WorldSkills

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This article was published 26/11/2023 (540 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The slogan for WorldSkills is “where there is a skill there is a way.” James Bartel found his way to Lyon, France after winning the Skills Canada Autobody Repair competition.

The Steinbach Regional Secondary School Grade 12 student is now fundraising to compete against some of the world’s best high school and college students. He will be the first SRSS student to make the trip and only the second to ever qualify according to his Collision Repair and Refinishing teacher Jessy Unrau. Bartel was in Grade 11 when he came out on top at the national competition held in Winnipeg in May.

“James got even a higher mark than the post-secondary students, and so that’s why he got the invitation,” explained Unrau, who will be joining Bartel on the trip.

Lyon is quite a trip from working in the SRSS shop or at home just outside of Kleefeld. Bartel explained how he felt after the big national win.

“First feelings were just overwhelmed, completely unexpected,” said Bartel.

And then he was told he was invited to France.

“The first thought that I actually had was there’s no way, it’s just way too much,” said Bartel.

But then he realized with some financial support and a lot of practise, he could take on the world. Bartel still needs a toolbox, and also hopes to go to Skills Canada’s national competition again this year in Quebec to prepare for France, and other trips across Canada and the U.S. for training with National Technical Committee member Bill Speed.

SRSS culinary students are already chipping in, giving half their poutine money over last week – a popular dish. He got $1,000 worth of donated tools from NAPA, and a car to take apart and put back together from LKQ.

Bartel now has plenty of projects to work on at home ahead of his travels, with his dad and friends helping out. It was just a few years ago his interest in the industry was piqued while helping his dad and older brother.

“I didn’t help much, just pass a tool there, tighten a screw there. They were fixing all kinds of things. Even with the basic things we had, they were doing transmissions and lifting engines. So I was always just there kind of watching,” described Bartel.

Then when he got to high school, Bartel wanted to pick a trade that was in the same area but a little different. Now he is cutting things up before drilling and welding them back together, among other things, in Collision Repair and Refinishing.

“I’m fairly gifted I guess in some areas with doing things with my hands, with tools or whatever,” said the national champion who was a little bashful talking about his elite abilities.

Unrau, who along with Lyle Peters taught Bartel at SRSS, got to see those abilities progress.

“Going through the small projects, working the way up on bigger and bigger and bigger projects. Now into Grade 12 doing customer jobs here at the school,” said Unrau.

The teacher teased that Bartel is not a fan of the paperwork, but described how the student turns what is on paper into reality.

“Once he has the understanding he can apply it to whatever situation needs to be applied to on a vehicle, which is very helpful. Some people get stuck on ‘well, I did it here, why’s it different over here’ … it’s just a different area of the car. He understands all that,” said Unrau.

Bartel is now working on speed, as the competition will be timed. Going over the paperwork and mental preparation is a big part of the training.

The WorldSkills Lyon competition is Sept. 10-15. About 1,500 competitors from over 60 countries and regions will compete in over 60 skills.

Bartlel might be a little nervous in front of the 250,000 spectators expected at Eurexpo Lyon.

“I’m not the best with situations where there’s a lot of people, like big events. It’s going to be definitely a little stressful. But I mean it’s a great experience, of course, going to France and competing in such a big event,” said Bartel.

Anyone who wishes to donate to his trip can call the school or email Unrau at junrau@hsd.ca.