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Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta's Trade & Tech Youth
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.
The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Skills Canada Alberta or its affiliates. Our goal is to provide a platform for the diverse and unique perspectives and experiences of our Alumni and others in the Skills community. Overall, we are celebrating their experiences and journeys in the trades, technologies, and our competitions. The “Skills Canada Alberta” name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner, and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.
Skillz & Thrillz: Alberta's Trade & Tech Youth
One Brick at a Time: Mikayla Hannesschlager's Journey of Confidence and Competition
In this episode, we chat with Mikayla Hannesschlager, gold medalist in Bricklaying at the 2025 Provincial Skills Canada Competition and proud member of Team Alberta at the 2025 Skills Canada National Competition in Regina. Mikayla shares her journey into the skilled trades, growing up in a family of bricklayers and finding her own path in refractory work—carving a unique space in a field where her family specializes in red brick.
She opens up about the training and mentorship that shaped her success, the importance of having women role models in the trades, and how confidence plays a key role in both competition and career. Mikayla also offers practical advice for anyone looking to explore bricklaying or step into the competition world.
Plus, she gives us a look ahead at her next big challenge: representing Canada at a union bricklaying competition this fall in Detroit!