Anika Jones, a 21-year-old autobody painter and student at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, placed 17th in the car painting category at WorldSkills 2026 in Shanghai, representing Canada. The competition is regarded by some as the Olympics of trades and technology. Jones was the first female NAIT student to compete in autobody painting at WorldSkills.

About 70 countries took part in the event, competing in skills including plumbing, welding, carpentry and cloud computing. Alberta sent 12 competitors across aerospace technology, automobile technology, cabinet making, car painting, carpentry, computer numerical control machining, electrical installations, heavy vehicle technology, industrial mechanics, plumbing, web technologies and welding.

Jones placed second at the Skills Canada National Competition in Regina last year. That two-day timed event involved teams of three or four preparing, polishing and painting a car panel while completing small damage repairs. Industry professionals judged the work. This report includes files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson.

Based on reporting by CTV News Edmonton.