​It's not called Precision Machining as hyperbole. You have to be precise to shape a piece of metal to tight specifications, especially when you're competing against the top high school machinists in Ontario.

Devin Paquette from General Amherst High School ​(pictured, left) proved to be the most consummate high school tradesman of the group, earning the gold medal at the Skills Ontario championship in Toronto.

The tolerance on 2 machining projects was 5/1000s of an inch, with score deductions for every 1000th outside. He had 3 hours to complete each project, a cylinder on the lathe and a cube. His was the closest to perfection of all the competitiors.

Devin has been around machines all his life - his father works in the industry - and he thinks that experience was an asset in the tense atmosphere of the provincial championship. His formal training in the trade has been in the OYAP program at General Amherst. Devin will pursue a mill wright apprenticeship after high school and attend a program at St. Clair College.

Before graduation, though, he will be competing in the National Skills Championship in Edmonton, Alberta in June.

Twelve GECDSB students participated in Skills Ontario:

Devin Paquette - Precision Machining - GOLD medalist and provincial champion (1^st place)

Brendan Laliberte - Automotive Service - 11th place

Ariel Shearer – Photography - 18th place

Andrew Onorato and Kingston Shantz – Two-person Team Carpentry – 38th place

Matthew Collier – Coding - 13th place

Zuheir El Korek – Computer-Aided Manufacturing - 11th place

Myles Thiessen – IT Networking – 9th place

Aiden Bradwell and Ethan Lavigne - TV & Video Production - 21^st place

Jagsir Aulakh - Mechanical CADD - 23^rd place

Nalin Kamath - Prepared Speech - 14^th place​

​