Olds College of Agriculture & Technology is celebrating success for three of its students, and a national win to top it off. The Skills Canada National Competition, held in Toronto from May 27 to 30, 2026, saw hundreds of young competitors from across the country come together to compete in a variety of skilled trades. Among them was dual credit Pre-employment Welding student Logan Swanson, and Landscape Horticulture Apprenticeship students Samantha Wheale and Maia Zezulka.
Swanson, 18, claimed the national title in Welding after advancing through both the Central Regional and Provincial Skills Canada competitions earlier this year, where he also earned gold medals. Representing Alberta at the national event, Swanson's victory is the latest milestone in a skilled trades journey that began while he was still in high school.
A student in Olds College's Pre-Employment Welding program through the dual credit pathway, Swanson first discovered his passion for the trades while attending Didsbury High School. Dual credit programming at Olds College allows students in Grades 10 to 12 to take approved post-secondary courses while still in high school.
“I've had the privilege of instructing Logan from the very beginning, from his first days in Welding 1167 through to completing Welding 2167 in our dual credit program,” says Olds College Instructor James Palidwar. “What has always set Logan apart isn't just his raw talent, it's his work ethic and dedication.”
Through the Central Alberta Collegiate Institute (CACI), he completed the Readiness for the Skilled Trades Level 1 and Level 2 programs, building the foundation for his success in welding, in competition and setting him up for future career success in the trades.
CACI, a partnership between Chinook's Edge School Division, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, Red Deer Public Schools, Wolf Creek School Division, CAREERS, Red Deer Polytechnic and Olds College, provides students with access to career-focused and trades programming that supports both post-secondary education and workforce readiness.
Swanson's national gold medal follows several years of growth and success in Skills competitions. After earning silver at the regional level in 2025, he returned this year determined to improve, achieving gold at regionals, provincials and nationals.
“Logan's national gold medal is an outstanding achievement and reflects the value of dual credit programming in helping students gain real-world skills while pursuing their education,” said Dennis Beaudoin, Dean, School of Trades and Skills, Olds College. “We are proud to have Logan as part of the Olds College community and look forward to seeing where his welding career takes him next.”
Olds College also celebrated a strong showing from Landscape Horticulturist students Sam, 18, and Maia, 19, who earned gold at the provincial Skills Canada competition hosted at Olds College in March. Their victory secured a spot at nationals, where they represented Alberta in the Landscape Gardening competition.
Competing as a team against some of the country's top post-secondary students and apprentices, Sam and Maia transformed raw materials into a professionally designed landscape installation featuring wood, stone and softscape elements. Outfitted by generous industry sponsors, Grainger Canada, Milwaukee Tool, SureWerx, Watson Gloves, and LineDrive, the pair showcased both technical skill and creativity while representing Alberta on the national stage.
Although they did not place in Toronto, their performance earned praise from fellow competitors, judges and industry representatives. As some of the youngest competitors in the category, the pair impressed with their attention to detail, professionalism and craftsmanship, with several peers commenting that Alberta is quickly becoming the standard to beat in the competition.
“I can't believe the amount of effort and precision these two young ladies did. I am incredibly proud of them and they represented Olds College like true champions,” said Beaudoin.
The accomplishments of Logan, Sam and Maia highlight the strength of hands-on learning at Olds College and the opportunities available through skilled trades education. Whether earning national gold or representing Alberta among the country's best competitors, these students demonstrate how industry-focused training, mentorship and determination can lead to success on a national stage.