Logan Peters of St. Paul, AB is taking his carpentry skills to the world stage.

The third-year carpentry apprentice and Lakeland College student will represent Team Canada at World Skills in Shanghai this October. Peters earned his spot after winning gold at Skills Alberta and silver at Skills Canada.

But his journey started much closer to home.

From Middle School Shop Class to Team Canada

Peters first discovered his passion for carpentry in middle school.

“That teacher got me into carpentry,” Peters recalls. “I developed a love for it and moved onto high school. The instructor there took me to the regional skills competition and the results spoke for themselves. I decided this is something I want to pursue.”

He continued that path at Lakeland College, becoming a carpentry apprentice and finding mentorship along the way, especially from instructor David Jones. Jones is now helping Peters prepare for World Skills and will travel with him to Shanghai.

Training for the World Stage

Most weekends, Peters and Jones can be found in Lakeland’s carpentry shop.

“We’re spending a lot of time here in the shop working on previous Worlds projects,” Peters explains. “We’re studying blueprints, going through strategies. World Skills projects use a lot of timber frame joinery techniques, so I’ve been diving into that side of things and sharpening my skills.”

He says past competitions have helped him manage the pressure.

“I’m already used to the pressure and stress of competing. It’s really cool to be able to represent your school and your province at a national level. I’d recommend it to anybody.”

A First for Lakeland College

This marks the first time a Lakeland College apprentice has advanced to represent Canada at World Skills.

It will also be Peters’ first time travelling outside the country.

“This will all be new to me,” says Peters, who is from St. Paul, AB. “I’m excited to see other parts of the world and experience some new cultures.”

He has already travelled to Regina, SK for Skills Canada 2025 and to Ottawa for the official Team Canada announcement. There is also a potential trip to the Netherlands this spring for their national Skills competition before heading to China in the fall.

Backed by His Community

Peters works for Barrett Built Ltd. in St. Paul and says his employer has been instrumental in helping him chase this opportunity.

“My employer has been really great throughout this process, allowing me the time off to compete. They’re also really flexible and give me the time to come to Lakeland to train,” he says.

Funding support has also come from Feast on the Farm, Lakeland College’s annual fundraiser that supports student-led initiatives.

“I’m also really thankful for the community support, especially on the financial side of things,” Peters says. “Without that help, I wouldn’t be able to go on this trip and experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m thankful to all of them for helping me out.”

Ready for the Challenge

Peters knows the competition in Shanghai will be intense, but he’s ready.

“Competing helps me see that sometimes I’m a lot more capable than I think I am,” he says. “Going to Worlds is going to be one of the hardest things I’ll ever do. It’ll challenge me and help me grow in my skill set. By the end of the year, I’ll be a certified world traveler.”

From a middle school shop class to representing Canada on the world stage, Peters is proving that big dreams can start in small-town Alberta.