Update June 10, 2013
Congratulations to Kate Andrews High School student Megan Lavoie, who earned a fourth place finish in the Skills Canada National Baking Competition in Vancouver Saturday.
Lavoie was one of 62 members of Team Alberta competing at the national event.
During the two-day competition, Lavoie spent six hours a day baking, proving herself one of the best young bakers in all of Canada.
"It was an amazing experience," she said Monday. "It was the time of my life."
Lavoie encourages all high school students to consider competing in regional skills competitions to hone their crafts and vie for the opportunity to compete provincially and nationally.
"It was like the provincials but better," she said of her time at B.C. Place Stadium. "I knew I was at the next level and I was competing against the best in Canada.
"It really proved to myself that I am a really good baker. If I wanted to, I could make a career out of baking."
Lavoie says her one regret is that she knows she made a small mistake in her eclairs and cream puffs, items that are normally her strength. "It probably cost me a medal."
Lavoie said she had the opportunity to get to know other members of Team Alberta, and the experience of competing provincially and nationally has helped bring her out of her shell, a skill she'll need as she prepares to move on to university where she has her sights set on an engineering degree.
The Grade 12 student credits her Careers and Technology Studies teacher Angie Roelofs for encouraging her to enter the skills competition. Without that encouragement, Lavoie said she would have missed out on the experience of a lifetime.
Roelofs, who attended the competition, said Lavoie represented Kate Andrews High School, Palliser Regional Schools and Alberta exceptionally well. The showcase of talent was a life-changing opportunity to experience personal growth, high-level competition and success, Roelofs said.
Update June 7, 2013
Thank you to Angie Roelofs for again sharing photos from the Skills Canada National Competition in Vancouver.
On Day 2, Kate Andrews High School student Megan Lavoie's assignment was to bake bread, buns and a cake.
Beautiful work, Megan.
The closing ceremonies and awards are Saturday.