Keegan Sturge Heads to Shanghai for WorldSkills 2026

After months of training and preparation, Keegan Sturge is about to put his skills to the test on the world stage.

The Keyano electrical alumnus is heading to China to represent Team Canada in Electrical Installations at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, where he will compete alongside some of the top young skilled trades professionals from around the world.

Keegan’s path to Worlds started at Keyano, where he entered the Electrical Dual Credit program while still a student at École McTavish. 

His first Skills competition came in 2022. Held virtually due to the pandemic, Keegan entered Skills Alberta with limited competition experience and earned bronze in Electrical Installations at the secondary level.

The result gave him something to build on.

Working with Keyano electrical instructor and mentor Dawn Ohama, Keegan continued training and returned to provincials in 2023, this time taking gold. He went on to earn silver at Skills Canada Nationals in Winnipeg, becoming the first École McTavish student to medal at the national level while training through Keyano. 

“That was the moment it hit me,” he says. “Like, okay, this is real. I can actually do this.” 

Keegan moved into the post-secondary category the following year and continued to find success. He earned gold at both the provincial and national competitions in 2024 and again in 2025, securing his place on Team Canada. 

“I couldn’t believe it at first, just super excited to know that all my hard work had paid off,” he says. 

Dawn has been there throughout that process, training and coaching Keegan as the competitions became more challenging. 

“She believed in me before I really believed in myself,” Keegan says. “She took me under her wing from day one.” 

Their work didn’t stop when Keegan earned his spot on Team Canada. Preparing for Worlds has meant months of technical training, problem-solving and learning to work with different equipment and international electrical standards. 

Most recently, that preparation took Keegan and Dawn to Yancheng, China, for the 48th WorldSkills Electrical Installations Competition.

Joined by WorldSkills Canada Expert Jason Taylor, Keegan competed and trained alongside participants from China, Korea, Macau, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and Mongolia. 

The trip gave Keegan a chance to experience international competition before heading to Shanghai and see where he could make final improvements. 

“Every competition gives us something to work on, something to sharpen, and a little more confidence heading into the big event,” Dawn shared following the trip. 

Now, the focus is on Shanghai. 

For Keegan, the competition is a chance to test what he has learned while also seeing how others around the world approach the same trade. 

“I’m excited to meet competitors from all over the world,” he says. “Everyone does the same trade a bit differently. It’s going to be amazing to learn from that.” 

It’s an opportunity that started with a dual credit program close to home and grew through years of training, competitions and support. 

Keegan is quick to credit the people who helped him get there. 

“The instructors, the programs…they’re incredible,” he says. “You always feel like someone’s in your corner.” 

Now, with his final training complete, Keegan is ready to represent Team Canada at WorldSkills 2026, taking place September 22 to 27 in Shanghai China, with Dawn once again alongside him. 

This time, it’s Worlds. Please join us in wishing Keegan luck as he heads off to Shanghai.