School Field Trips & Skill City
We are excited to offer TWO field trip experiences to Alberta’s schools in 2027!
Provincial Skills Canada Competition: May 5 & 6, 2027 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre.
This field trip is recommended for schools north of Red Deer.
Skills Canada National Competition: May 27 & 28, 2027 at the BMO Centre at Stampede Park in Calgary.
This field trip is recommended for schools south of Red Deer.
For additional information or questions about the Skills Canada National Competition field trip, please visit the Skills/Compétences Canada website.
Additional information about the Provincial Skills Canada Competition field trip:
Due to EXPO building capacity numbers, registration is restricted to a certain number of spots available. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. ALL teachers wanting to bring their class on a field trip MUST register via the Skills Portal. Schools must be a Skills School in order to create a username and password.
The 35th Provincial Skills Canada Competition is the best career exploration field trip in the province, where students can:
- Get informed about what to expect on the competition floor at Launch Pad, and get an inside look at where a career in the trades or technologies can take you.
- Witness Alberta’s best high school and post-secondary students compete in over 45 skilled trade and technology events.
- Try a variety of hands-on activities and discover your skills and interests at the Try-A-Trades®.
- Visit Skill City booths and learn about career and education options by engaging with over 70 of Alberta’s top industry and education exhibitors.
Frequently Asked Questions – Provincial Skills Canada Competition field trip:
How do I register for the school field trip?
Watch the video above on the main page. Teachers MUST register in order to attend the school field trip via the Skills Portal. Schools must be a Skills School in order to access the Skills Portal (username/password required). Due to EXPO building capacity numbers, registration is restricted to a certain number of spots available. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. We highly recommend teachers register ASAP to get an optimal time slot. Arrival times are 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00 and 12:30. Time slots are booked for a 3 hour duration. We appreciate your efforts to help provide a safe and positive experience for visitors by arriving at your scheduled time with your registered number of students. If you arrive outside of your scheduled time, we may ask you to wait as there are building capacity numbers we must adhere to.
What is the cost to attend the field trip? Is there a bus subsidy?
It is free to attend! We offer a bus subsidy to help offset the costs of transportation and it’s applied after you attend the field trip. Upon arriving, it is very important that you first register at Launch Pad to confirm your attendance in order to qualify for the bus subsidy. Please note that to complete the submission, you will need to send us a copy of your transportation receipts (bus invoice, gas receipt, mileage form, etc.). Each approved subsidy will receive a cheque for a maximum of the complete traveled kilometer allowance per bus based on your transportation costs. Cheques will be made out to the school.
- 0-150 KMS = $100/bus
- 151-399 KMS = $200/bus
- Over 400 KMS = $400/bus
What is a Try-A-Trade®?
A Try-A-Trade® is our way of engaging students, transporting them to an industry, and inviting them to safely experience skills that are practiced in day-to-day, on the job, hands-on activities at a variety of trade and technology careers. The Try-A-Trade® activities are found throughout the halls – look for the symbol/sign. These get very busy and long line ups may occur. Learn more about Try-A-Trades here!
Are there resources we can check out prior to attending?
Yes! Please check out all these helpful resources:
- Book a FREE Skills in the Classroom presentation.
- Scroll down to Finding Your Niche on our webpage to use our skill filter to help you discover new skills or what the right fit is for you.
- View all the Skills Competitions for High School that we offer. Click on “About” to learn more about that specific career.
- Check out our Trade Career Resources page that offers great resources for Albertan students mapping out a career in the Trade and Technology sector. Everything from Career paths, Technical Institutes to Job postings contributes to the endless possibilities for students.
- Listen to our Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta’s Trade & Tech Youth Podcast! Through in-depth conversations, we aim to provide valuable advice and insightful perspectives on the impact of the Skills Canada competitions on the careers and lives of our guests. Join us as we explore the journeys of Alumni and many others and uncover the lasting effects of their participation in the Skills Canada Competitions.
Where is the bus drop-off and pick-up?
A bus map is e-mailed directly to the teacher who registered for the field trip approximately 1 month prior to the event. Teachers are responsible for reviewing the map with their bus driver prior to attending. There is a designated bus drop-off zone located near Entrance 2 & 3. Buses must drop students off and then leave this zone to go park in the general EXPO parking lots. There is a designated bus pick-up zone located near Entrance 6. It is the teacher’s responsibility to communicate with their students the departure time and to meet at Entrance 6. It is also the teacher’s responsibility to know their bus number/bus driver that will be picking them up. EXPO parking staff and security guards will only allow teachers to locate their bus. All students must stay behind the fences to ensure a safe bus route. Once teachers locate their bus, teachers can safely walk their students to the bus.
What will our day look like when we arrive?
Upon arriving at the Edmonton EXPO Centre, you will be greeted by a Skills Canada Alberta representative at the bus drop off zone. Please safely and quickly unload your bus and make your way to your first mandatory stop – LAUNCH PAD! At Launch Pad, please be sure to check-in with Skills Canada Alberta representative who will officially register you as attending the field trip. Check-in is essential to securing that your bus subsidy is guaranteed. After watching a quick 3 minute video, students can grab a printed map and teachers can lead students to the main halls to see the competition floor, Try-A-Trades® and Skills City booths. Schools have 3 hours to explore.
Is there a floorplan?
Yes! We offer hardcopy maps onsite. An updated floorplan will be e-mailed directly to the teacher who registered for the field trip approximately 1 month prior to the event. Teachers are responsible for reviewing the floor plan in the classroom prior to attending. The competition areas are split into halls:
- Hall A – Pipe Trades and Construction Hall
- Hall B – Service and Employment Hall
- Hall C – Transportation and Construction Hall
- Hall E – Technology Hall
Hall B also includes our Education Zone. Every teacher who attends the Provincial Skills Canada Competition (PSCC) is interested to learn about the resources and programs you have, and how to bring these opportunities to their students. The Education Zone is a dedicated floor space that makes their quest for information and knowledge easily accessible.
Will it be loud and busy?
Please expect a LOT of noise and huge crowds. Saws, drills, hammers and tons of other cool power tools/equipment are being used, along with noise from thousands of visitors. We do our best to implement designated arrival times to avoid huge crowds. To avoid the busiest and loudest times, try to attend first thing in the morning. If there are students with sensory issues, we do provide a special space if needed.
Is lunch provided for field trip students?
Skills Canada Alberta does not offer lunch for field trips. We highly recommend that students bring a packed lunch. There are spaces to eat along the EXPO concourse and green spaces outside. The Edmonton EXPO offers a small food court, but Skills Canada Alberta is not responsible for the long wait lines that will occur here.
Is there a teacher lounge?
A teacher lounge is a nice bonus however we cannot guarantee this every year.
For questions about the Provincial Skills Canada Competition school field trip, please contact Alycia at alyciap@skillsalberta.com
Looking to register as an exhibitor at Skill City? Apply here!