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Lethbridge's Tate McGarry (centre) wins gold at Skills Canada, May 29-30, 2025. (Photo: Skills Canada)

Lethbridge man wins gold at Skills Canada

Jun 3, 2025 | 1:09 PM

A local man has proven that he is the best cabinet maker in the country.

Tate McGarry won a gold medal in the post-secondary level cabinet-making competition at Skills Canada, held May 29-30, 2025, in Regina.

This is the second year in a row that McGarry has come out on top at Skills Canada, winning gold in the same event at the high-school level in 2024.

For this year’s competition, he had to build a “campaign nightstand” with X-shaped legs, a case on top, a hinged lid, and a dovetailed tray.

McGarry believes it was the consistency of his work that led to him winning, as he scored well in all areas.

Despite his young age, the 18-year-old tells LNN that he already has quite a bit of experience.

“I’ve kind of always done cabinet making. Since I was young, I’ve always enjoyed it. I kinda like being able to build stuff, do stuff with your hands and, you know, see a project to completion,” says McGarry.

After graduating from Chinook High School, McGarry became employed at Fuzo Woodworks in Lethbridge. He says he has enjoyed getting to learn alongside experienced craftsmen.

McGarry is also enrolled in his first year at SAIT’s Cabinetmaker Journeyperson program.

By winning gold at Skills Canada, McGarry has qualified for WorldSkills, taking place in Shanghai, China, in 2026.

“For Worlds, I’m definitely nervous,” says McGarry. “It is kind of Skills on a way bigger scale. You got, I think, 30 countries or something competing.”

Contestants are not informed ahead of time what they will be making for Worlds, so McGarry says he will spend the next several months sharpening his general skills to ensure that he will be ready for anything.

Tate McGarry has won a gold medal in cabinet making at Skills Canada. (Photo: Tate McGarry)
Tate McGarry has won a gold medal in cabinet making at Skills Canada. (Photo: Skills Canada)

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