Not even the most formulaic made-for-TV Christmas movie could come up with this plot: set in a workshop in December, featuring a sub-five foot tradesperson using ingenuity and some shiny new tools to help build an original Christmas tree. Oh, and her name is Holly. You can't make this stuff up.
For what Holly Riopelle, a 4'7" Canadore College plumbing student is lacking in height, she more than compensates for with technical skill and creativity. With partners, Daniel Landry and Patrick Vaillancourt, the trio, along with five other groups competing, were tasked with designing and assembling an original, decorated Christmas tree, fashioned only from materials provided.
It was Holly's unique tree-topper that caught the eye of Canadore electrical professor Steve Lazarou. The star-shaped ornament was fabricated with metal pipes that were soldered into place. Lazarou, acting as a mentor to the competitors was impressed with the teamwork and technical trade skill on display.
"We had three hours before today to plan it out. We cut out pieces as a team and just kind of made it work and soldered it all together. We wanted ours to stand out from the others," said Holly, noting that the exercise was a practical use of her plumbing training.
The carpentry workshop at Canadore's Commerce Court campus was the site of Friday's Canadian Tire MAXIMUM Design Challenge. Students from the various disciplines offered for study at the campus joined forces to show off their skills in what was dubbed an "Iron Chef-style event," for the trades.
MAXIMUM tools and materials were provided, and a panel of expert judges from Canadian Tire and the college's faculty graded each of the finished projects.
Although Holly and her group did not win the grand prize, they found the experience to be rewarding nonetheless, a sentiment that the Braeside native said also described her experience at Canadore College's trade school.
"I heard it was a really good school and it's close to home for me, and I like North Bay. I already went to school down south, and it wasn't for me," said Holly.
Ceilidh McMeekin, communications advisor for Canadian Tire said the competition encourages the integration of skill sets and teamwork, adding that The Challenge was the third in the series, with previous editions having already been held at St. Clair College in Windsor and Sir Sandford Fleming College in Peterborough.
David Quan, manager private label brand development for Canadian Tire advised that the four judging criteria were creativity, functionality, integration and cooperation, and execution.
"MAXIMUM tools are designed specifically for tradespeople, we referenced their opinions, what their concerns were, their quality expectations, and what durability features were expected," said Quan, adding that the Challenge not only promotes Canadian Tire's products with future tradespeople but serves as a test lab for their tools as well.
