Local Students Experience Creativity On A Provincial Stage At Skills Canada Alberta

For two local Grade 11 students, a trip to Edmonton earlier this month became an opportunity to step into a creative world much larger than themselves and experience firsthand what photography can look like at the provincial level.

From May 5 to 7, Autumn Court and Jade Delves travelled to the Edmonton Expo Centre alongside teacher Monica To for the 2026 Provincial Skills Canada Competition, where nearly 700 high school students from across Alberta competed in dozens of skilled trade and technology categories.

Court qualified for Provincials in photography after advancing through district competition earlier this year, ultimately placing 10th in Alberta among 20 high school photography competitors from Grades 10 to 12. An impressive accomplishment.

But the experience itself was about much more than standings. Over the course of three days, competitors were challenged in nearly every area of photography and editing imaginable. The massive Expo Centre became their workspace as students moved throughout the facility, completing assignments that tested both technical ability and creativity under pressure.

From portrait photography and low lighting to action shots, journalistic storytelling, triptychs, and digital editing, each challenge pushed students to think differently and adapt quickly.

One moment, they could be photographing movement in a crowded hallway, and the next, they were editing images against the clock or building a visual story through a series of photographs.

It was fast-paced, creative, and incredibly exciting all at once.

Court rose to the challenge throughout the event while also having the chance to meet several well-known photographers during the closing portion of the competition.

Although Delves did not advance past districts this year, attending Provincials still gave her the chance to experience the atmosphere, support Court, and see the incredible level of talent and opportunity surrounding the event.

For students interested in creative industries, the competition opened the door to much more than photography itself. Throughout the Expo Centre, students were surrounded by trades, technology, art, media, and hands-on career opportunities from across the province.

The trip also came with memorable moments outside the competition floor. During their stay in Edmonton, the group experienced authentic Korean barbecue together, adding another layer to an already unforgettable few days.

For Court and Delves, the experience was a reminder that creativity can take students far beyond the classroom.

And for a small community to have local students represented on a provincial stage in such a creative category is something worth celebrating.