Calendar
Competition – Visitors
2024 Skills Ontario Competition: May 6th and 7th at the Toronto Congress Centre
Closing Ceremony: May 8th
Day 1: Monday
(Open to the Public 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
• Some contests for secondary and/or post-secondary school students occurring prior to Tuesday (registration required for participants / open to the public for viewing)
• Elementary Contest for students in grades 4 – 6 and 7 – 8 (registration required)
• Elementary Workshops for students in grades 7 and 8 (registration required)
• Hands-on exhibits in the Skills Ontario Career Exploration Showcase with Passport (open to the public)
• Young Women’s Conference for young women in grades 7 and 8 registration required)
Day 2: Tuesday
(Open to the Public 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
• Contests for secondary and post-secondary students (registration required for participants / open to the public for viewing)
• Hands-on exhibits in the Skills Ontario Career Exploration Showcase with passport (open to the public)
• Young Women’s Conference for young ladies in grades 9 to 12 (registration required)
• Young Women’s Francophone Conference for young ladies in grades 9-12 (registration required)
• First Nations, Métis & Inuit Student Conference (registration required)
• TV Video Contest – Video Premiers: Cohen Ballroom (4:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.) (open to public)
• Guidance Councillor Conference (registration required)
Day 3: Wednesday
• Closing Ceremony – awarding of medals, monetary awards and job offers, scholars, prizes and more (free to attend and first come first served for seating)
• Team Ontario Meeting (Skills Ontario Competition Gold Medalists of contests that advance to the Skills Canada National Competition)
If you have any questions, please email info@skillsontario.com. For latest developments, follow us on Twitter at @skillsontario.
For resources and information regarding visiting the 2024 Skills Ontario Competiton, please stay tuned to this webpage.
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Competition Floor Plan
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Competition Floor Plan
The Skills Ontario Competition can be visited on either Monday, Tuesday, or both days! Each day of the event is slightly different, and the floor plans change to reflect this!
There is a separate floor plan for Monday and Tuesday. It is colour-coded to outline the differences between the contests, workshops, and skilled trade and technology sectors. It also outlines all the Showcase Booth numbers that correspond with the Career Exploration Showcase Booth document (located on this page) that outlines which exhibitor occupies each booth.
Other areas to note on the map are in purple for items such as:
- Restrooms
- Seating areas
- Concessions
- First Aid
- Skills Ontario Info Booth
- Skills Ontario Office
- YES Desk at the Main D Entrance
The floor plan will be available here closer to the competition date.
Food Options & Information
Food will be available for purchase from different sources during the Monday and Tuesday competition days, both onsite and offsite. Line-ups may be long, and is recommended that you bring a lunch, snacks and/or a drink with you, as other options and/or to avoid line-ups.
Onsite options include:
This will be located outside near the Main D Entrance which includes a lunch tent for seating. Onsite, there will be various seating options both inside and outside the venue, which will be located on the Competition Floor plan (found on this same Visitors page). Please note to students that they are not allowed to sit on the floor/carpeted areas in the venue.
- Food Trucks (available 10am to 3pm)
- Bob's Burgers: Hot Dogs, Sausages, Burgers, Veggie Burgers, French Fries
- Poutine Shack : Classic Poutine, Bacon Poutine
- Nashville: Hot Fried Chicken Sandwiches, Chicken Tenders, Gluten free and Vegan Hot Dogs and Hamburgers
- Tiny Tom Donuts: fresh, hot mini donuts
- Bubba's Fries
- Fleets Coffee: Specialty Cold and Hot Drinks
- Matt's Dairy Ice Cream Truck
- The Toronto Congress Centre Food Services
Offsite options include:
Listed restaurants are all on the same side of road as the Toronto Congress Centre and would not require crossing Dixon Road at the lights in between Highway 27 and the 401. Please note these options are on the opposite side of the Main D Entrance - plan walking time accordingly.
- Swiss Chalet - 642 Dixon Rd
- Subway - 642 Dixon Rd
- Tim Hortons - 638 Dixon Rd
- Milestones - 646 Dixon Rd
- Harvey’s - 648 Dixon Rd
- Quesada Burritos & Tacos - 648 Dixon Rd
- Makimono Sushi Bar - 636 Dixon Rd
- Burger King - 636 Dixon Rd
Hotels
Visitors and competitors of the annual Skills Ontario Competition visit at the Toronto Congress Centre from all over the province, and even outside Ontario! Sometimes, this means accommodations are required for overnight travel. Skills Ontario works with hotels close to the vicinity of the venue to secure several different group options and rates for visitors to book. The hotels and group rates are generally posted to the Skills Ontario website near the start of the school year/fall. Visitors can follow the instructions listed with each hotel on how to book. There is a deadline allocated with each hotel for when the group rate is no longer available. At that time, the hotel will be removed from the Skills Ontario website, or removed if and when a block has been filled.
Courtyard Marriot
231 Carlingview Drive
Toronto, Ontario
M9W 5E8
(416) 675 0411
Run of House Rooms: $191 per night. Standard rooms are equipped with 2 Queen or 1 King bed with a twin-size pull-out sofa.
Nights Available: Sunday May 5th, Monday May 6, Tuesday May 7, 2024
Room Rates subject to: HST tax and 6% MAT Tax (tourist tax, subjected to HST)
Booking: Individual school teams are responsible to make reservations/payment with Arvinder Kaur at akaur@atlificyyz.ca
Includes: high speed wireless internet
Parking: Overnight parking for registered hotel guests: $25.00 per day (1 regular size vehicle per room). Per Bus: additional charges may apply. Reservations for bus parking must be no later then 7 business days prior to arrival
Cut Off Date: April 5, 2024 rooms must be booked by this date and rooming lists supplied. Hotels have the right to release blocks if not submitted. A name(s) can be edited after submission, please work with hotel on case by cases basis.
Cancellation: A date will be provided for each block of rooms by the hotel when booked.
Embassy Suites By Hilton Toronto Airport
262 Carlingview Drive,
Toronto, Ontario,
M9W 5G1,
Canada
(416) 674-8442
Run of House Rooms: One King Bed Suites or Two Queen Bed Suites with an additional pull out bed, $237 * Quoted rates are for single/double occupancy. Additional charge of $25.00 per adult (18+ years), per room, per night for Triple/Quad occupancy
Nights Available: Sunday May 5th, Monday May 6, Tuesday May 7, 2024
Room Rates subject to: HST tax and 6% MAT Tax (tourist tax, subjected to HST) %)
Includes: Complimentary Hot Breakfast buffet includes Egg Station – (Savings of $35 per person, per day). Complimentary Evening Reception – (Savings of $30 per person, per day). Complimentary high speed internet in guestrooms, meeting and public spaces, Discounted On Site Car parking in a gated car park charged at $20.00 per car per day (Regular price at $30).
Parking: Discounted On Site Car parking in a gated car park charged at $20.00 per car per day (Regular price at $30).
Cut Off Date: April 4th, 2024, 5PM rooms must be booked by this date and rooming lists supplied. Hotels have the right to release blocks if not submitted. A name(s) can be edited after submission, please work with hotel on case by cases basis.
RESERVATIONS & CUT-OFF DATE: Reservations will be booked by Individuals/schools: Attendees/school to make guest room reservations through rooming list shared by the schools. Reservations/Rooming List by Schools must be received on or before April 4, 2024 (the ‘Cut-Off Date’) and must be guaranteed to a credit card. At the Cut-Off Date, Hotel will review the reservation pick up for the Event, release the unreserved rooms that have not been guaranteed to a credit card for general sale and/or determine whether Hotel can accept reservations based on a space – and rate available basis at the Skills Ontario Competition group rate after this date.
Room List along with payment details to be shared to the below mentioned point of contacts:
Akshay Gandhi – akshay.gandhi@hilton.com / +1-416-671-4336
Priya Kendal – priya.kendal2@hilton.com
Rooming List Due by: April 4th, 2024. Typed in alphabetical order, by last name, first name, arrival and departure dates, room type and special requests. Room types cannot be guaranteed if room list is received at the hotel after the cut-off date.
Cancellation: A date will be provided for each block of rooms by the hotel when booked.
Double Tree by Hilton Toronto Airport
925 Dixon Road,
Toronto, ON
M9W 1J8
(416) 674- 2222
Run of House Rooms: Two Queen Beds, $239
Nights Available: Sunday May 5th, Monday May 6, Tuesday May 7, 2024
Room Rates subject to: HST tax, Sustainability fee and 6% MAT Tax (tourist tax, subjected to HST)
Includes: room rates include) high speed wireless internet, Breakfast costs $19.00 per person per day (plus 13% HST and 15% Gratuity). Vouchers to be provided.
Parking: Reduced overnight parking at $20.00 per car per night (regular rate for overnight parking is $28.00 per day, per car). Bus parking rate of $100.00 per bus per night
Cut Off Date: April 4th, 2024 rooms must be booked by this date and rooming lists supplied. Hotels have the right to release blocks if not submitted. A name(s) can be edited after submission, please work with hotel on case by cases basis.
Rooming List Due by: April 4th, 2024. Any additions or revisions to the list, subsequent to its initial submission, should be made directly with the Sales Coordinator, Simran Somal at 416-674-2222 ext. #1917 or via E-mail: simran.somal@hilton.com
Cancellation: A date will be provided for each block of rooms by the hotel when booked.
No Shows: If a guest who without prior cancellation, fails to arrive at the hotel, the guest credit card will be charged OR, if said reservation is guaranteed by the school reserving, the school reserving will be responsible for the hotel’s loss, up to a maximum of one night’s accommodation.
Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Airport West/Mississauga
1870 Matheson Boulevard
Mississauga, Ontario
L4W 0B3
Tel. 905-361-6300
Fax. 905-361-6305
Run of House Rooms: Two Queen Beds per Room or King Bed Rooms $195
Nights Available: Sunday May 5th, Monday May 6, Tuesday May 7, 2024
Room Rates subject to: HST tax and 4%* MAT Tax (tourist tax, subjected to HST)
Includes: High speed wireless internet
Parking: Complimentary car parking on first come first serve basis – 1 car/per room/per night. Discounted bus parking of $25.00 + 13%HST per bus/per night.
Cut Off Date: April 4th, 2024 rooms must be booked by this date and rooming lists supplied. Hotels have the right to release blocks if not submitted. A name(s) can be edited after submission, please work with hotel on case by cases basis.
Booking: Individual Schools will book with Arvinder Kaur Mann at akaur@atlificyyz.ca
All Reservations must be made by April 05, 2024 after which the rooms will be released. Guestrooms and rates will not be guaranteed after this date and are subject to availability at time of request.
Rooming List Due by: April 4th, 2024. Typed in alphabetical order, by last name, first name, arrival and departure dates, room type and special requests. Room types cannot be guaranteed if room list is received at the hotel after the cut-off date. Rooming list must be submitted to the hotel sales manager: akaur@atlificyyz.ca
Cancellation: A date will be provided for each block of rooms by the hotel when booked.
Holiday Inn East
600 Dixon Road
Toronto, Ontario
M9W 1J1
(416) 240 7511
2 Queen Beds/ or 1 King Bed: $219 per night (1 person per room) and includes 1 (one) “to go breakfast” and includes muffin, yogurt, fruit and juice.
2 Queen Bed/ or 1 King Bed: $229 per night (2 people per room) and includes 2 (two) “to go breakfasts” and includes muffin, yogurt, fruit and juice.
2 Queen Bed/ or 1 King Bed: $239 per night (3 people per room) and includes 3 (three) “to go breakfasts” and includes muffin, yogurt, fruit and juice.
2 Queen Bed/ or 1 King Bed: $249 per night (4 people per room) and includes 4 (four) “to go breakfasts” and includes muffin, yogurt, fruit and juice.
Nights Available: Sunday May 5th, Monday May 6, Tuesday May 7, 2024
Room Rates subject to: HST tax and 6% MAT Tax (tourist tax, subjected to HST)
Includes: room rates include takeout breakfast(s), high speed wireless internet
Parking: Complimentary car parking on first come first serve basis – 1 car/per room/per night. Discounted bus parking of $25.00 + 13%HST per bus/per night.
Cut Off Date: April 4th, 2024 rooms must be booked by this date and rooming lists supplied. Hotels have the right to release blocks if not submitted. A name(s) can be edited after submission, please work with hotel on case by cases basis.
Rooming List Due by: April 4th, 2024. Typed in alphabetical order, by last name, first name, arrival and departure dates, room type and special requests. Room types cannot be guaranteed if room list is received at the hotel after the cut-off date. Rooming list must be submitted to the hotel sales manager: scm@yyzae.com
Cancellation: Should schools decide to cancel their room blocks between April 5th, 2024 and arrival date, fifty percent (50%) on Total Sleeping Rooms Revenue of individual school block will be applied as a cancellation fee.
Residence Inn
17 Reading Court
Toronto Ontario M9W 7K7
(416) 798 2900
Run of House Rooms: One Bedroom Suit $209 per night (includes 1 queen or king bed, and pull out sofa. Max 3 adults) Above rates are valid for up to 2 people per room. Each additional person, is $15.00 plus taxes.
Nights Available: Sunday May 5th, Monday May 6, Tuesday May 7, 2024
Room Rates subject to: HST tax and 6% MAT Tax (tourist tax, subjected to HST)
Booking: Individual school teams are responsible to make reservations/payment with Arvinder Kaur at akaur@atlificyyz.ca
Includes: hot buffet breakfast, high speed internet
Parking: $24.00 per day – for stays between 1-4 consecutive nights
Cut Off Date: April 5th, 2024 rooms must be booked by this date and rooming lists supplied. Hotels have the right to release blocks if not submitted. A name(s) can be edited after submission, please work with hotel on case by cases basis.
Cancellation: Individual reservations must be cancelled by calling hotel at 416-798-2900 no later than 11:59pm local time, 24 hours prior to arrival date in order to avoid a “No Show” charge of one night’s room and tax. The Hotel will allow up to 10% of total room block to be cancelled up to 11:59pm local time, 24 hours prior to arrival date without cancellation penalty, after which total revenue equivalent to one-night room and tax will apply.
The Sandman Signature Toronto Airport Hotel
55 Reading Court,
Toronto, M9W 7K7
(416) 798-8840
Andrea Blake | Sales Manager | (416) 798-6775
Sales_yyzairport@sandman.ca
Run of House Rooms: Two Queen beds, $219
Rates are quoted per room per night based on single or double occupancy, and quoted in Canadian funds.
Nights Available: Sunday May 5th, Monday May 6, Tuesday May 7, 2024
Room Rates subject to: HST tax and 6% MAT Tax (tourist tax, subjected to HST)
Booking: Individual school teams are responsible to make reservations/payment
Includes: Free WiFi
Parking: Onsite parking is available at a cost of $15 per vehicle, per night.
Cut Off Date: April 4th, 2024 rooms must be booked by this date and rooming lists supplied. Hotels have the right to release blocks if not submitted. A name(s) can be edited after submission, please work with hotel on case by cases basis.
Cancellation: A date will be provided for each block of rooms by the hotel when booked.
No Shows: If a guest who without prior cancellation, fails to arrive at the hotel, the guest credit card will be charged OR, if said reservation is guaranteed by the “Reserving School- who will be responsible for the hotel’s loss, up to a maximum of one night’s accommodation.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Toronto Airport South
25 International Blvd. Toronto, ON
Tel: 416-362-720
2 Queen Beds, $199 per night (4 person per room) and includes complimentary breakfast
Nights Available: Sunday May 5th, Monday May 6, Tuesday May 7, 2024
Room Rates subject to: HST tax and 6% MAT Tax (tourist tax, subjected to HST) plus 3% facility fee.
Includes: room rates include breakfast(s), high speed wireless internet
Parking: Special rate of $10.00 + 13%HST per vehicle/per night
Discounted bus parking of $60.00 + 13%HST per bus/per night
Cut Off Date: April 4th, 2024 rooms must be booked by this date and rooming lists supplied to the hotel. Hotels have the right to release blocks if not submitted.
Rooming List Due by: April 4th, 2024. Typed in alphabetical order, by last name, first name, arrival and departure dates, room type and special requests. Room types cannot be guaranteed if room list is received at the hotel after the cut-off date. Rooming list must be submitted to the hotel sales manager: sales@hiextorontoairport.com
Cancellation: Should schools decide to cancel their room blocks between April 5th, 2024 and arrival date, fifty percent (50%) on Total Sleeping Rooms Revenue of individual school block will be applied as a cancellation fee.
*Please note that Municipal Accommodations Tax (MAT) vary from 4% to 6% depending on where on the Toronto /Mississauga boarder the different hotels may fall geographically. Toronto, including Etobicoke, has a MAT of 6%. Mississauga MAT is 4%.
School Trip Tip Sheet
Each year over 37,000 students, teachers, parents, industry and members of the general public over the course of two days come from across the province and beyond, to observe the Skills Ontario Competition, the largest competition of its kind in Canada. With large crowds, it is helpful to plan your trip with this in mind.
We hope the tips listed below assist in planning a fun and valuable class trip for your students!
- Review all items and documents on the Competitions Visitors page.
- View the Bus Drop-off/ Pick-up Map and Parking Map for directions and where to park for the driver.
- There are many buses dropping off and picking up, and sometimes it can be very difficult to find which bus is yours at the end of the day. Make a brightly coloured sign that clearly identifies your group to put in your bus window. Show this to your group before they get off the bus when you arrive.
- There is NO PA system in the venue that can be used to page students. Please create a communication plan so you can get a hold of your students or vice versa.
- Arrange a meeting place and time with your students prior to arriving at the Toronto Congress Centre (such as in front of the Home and Team Building Contest). This can be determined by using the Competition Day Floor Plans, posted on the Competition Visitors page
- The designated “lost and found” person’s area is the “Skills Ontario Office” in Zone 1 of the meeting rooms area at the front of the building. Our staff will direct any lost persons, or people looking for lost persons to this area.
- Instruct your students to use the buddy-system. When exploring the event, no student should be left to tour alone. The competition space including the meeting room areas for contests is approximately 650,000 sq.ft. This is more than eleven football fields.
- Review the Competition Day Floor Plans ahead of time with your students. They will benefit from being familiar with the layout of the venue. These will be available to print from a PDF from the website, view as electronic PDF from the website, and as hard copies available on site.
- If you are printing copies of the floor plan before arriving, it is recommended to clearly mark it with your designated meeting place (and perhaps the supervision contact’s cell phone number).
- First Aid Stations and EMS are marked on the floor plan - point this out to students, in case of an emergency. Students can also ask for help from any Marshal or Skills Ontario staff. There are three locations where a Skills Ontario staff will be stationed at all times: YES Desk at the Main D Entrance, the Skills Ontario Booth in the middle of the floor plan, and in the Skills Ontario Office at the front of the building.
- Designate a location that you will stop at throughout the day where students can find you if they need to - make this location clear to your students.
- Instruct students to dress for the weather. While the majority of contests and showcase booths are indoors, there will still be some outside. There will not be a space to leave coats or valuables. It is recommended that perhaps students wear a backpack or bring a bag if they need to carry a jacket, valuables, or items that they receive during the day from the Showcase Booths, or if are signed up for Elementary workshops
- Plan an activity for your students to complete throughout the day. There is a Scavenger Hunt Activity called the “Skills Ontario Competition Passport” provided by Skills Ontario to learn more about Skilled Trades and from the Showcase Booths!
Career Exploration Showcase Booths
The Career Exploration Showcase runs annually in conjunction with the Skills Ontario Competition and features 20,000+ square feet (the equivalent of nearly 170 cars!) of exhibitor booths, offering attendees the opportunity to:
- Try a hands-on skilled trade or technology-based activity at every booth
- Learn about skilled trade & technology careers and pathways
- Speak to Ontario business, education, and government representatives about skilled trade & technology career opportunities
This event is an excellent way to see what’s out there and explore what’s possible, perfect for students, educators, parents/guardians, and career seekers!
Are you a Skills Ontario partner/sponsor and would like information about being an exhibitor? If so, please contact Caitlin Vollum at cvollum@skillsontario.com for details.
Bus Pick-up/Drop-off and Parking
There are several entrances and different parking lots at the Toronto Congress Centre. A Bus Pick-up/Drop-off Map is provided, as well as a Parking Map for where buses can park after dropping off. These are provided each year to assist visitors in planning the best possible route and schedule for their visit when arriving and leaving the Skills Ontario Competition, if travelling via a bus.
Vehicle Parking and Bus Drop-Off & Pick-Up
Skills Ontario Competition Passport
Enhance your experience at the Skills Ontario Competition by taking part in this fun engaging activity! The Skills Ontario Competition Passport encourages attendees to experience as much as the event has to offer. Activities in the Passport will have attendees participating in activities such as:
- Speaking with exhibitors about skilled trades and technologies careers
- Participating in hands-on activities at Showcase Booths
- Learning more about what the Skills Ontario Competition has to off
Those who complete the Passport and submit to Skills Ontario have a chance to win a prize!
