Greater Fort Erie Secondary School’s Autumn Wartman took top honours at the Skills Canada national competition in Regina, earning gold for her culinary demonstration.
Greater Fort Erie Secondary School’s Autumn Wartman took top honours at the Skills Canada national competition in Regina, earning gold for her culinary skills. Accompanying her was Afshin Keyvani, the culinary arts teacher at GFESS. Afshin Keyvani photo
A Greater Fort Erie Secondary School student has earned national recognition for her culinary skills, flipping her way to gold at one of Canada’s most recognized skills competitions.
Autumn Wartman, a Grade 12 culinary student at GFESS, won first place in the job skills demonstration category at the 2025 Skills Canada National Competition in Regina, Sask., with a polished and practised crepe-making demonstration.
Wartman — who serves as kitchen manager at The Pomegranate, the school’s student-run restaurant — has spent the past year refining her demonstration as part of her training in the school’s culinary arts program.
“I feel absolutely amazing. Even though it has been a few days since I won (the) national gold medal, I’m still in disbelief,” she said. “I have worked for this competition for over two years. It feels so rewarding to see how my hard work, my commitment to the process has paid off.”
GFESS student Autumn Wartman joined Team Ontario to compete in the Skills Canada National Competition. Wartman’s win was also the only medal brought back to the Niagara Region from the competition, where hundreds of students from across the country competed in skilled trades and technology categories. Skills Canada photo
It was Wartman’s second year competing nationally, last year earning a bronze medal in the same category.
Behind her success is a consistent training routine. From September through May, Wartman practised her demonstration every other week under the guidance of her culinary teacher, Afshin Keyvani.
She also leaned heavily on family and friends for support and feedback.
“They have watched my demonstration dozens of times, providing me with constructive criticism and supporting me every step of the way,” she said.
“My teacher Mr. Keyvani, my family and my friends have been incredible throughout this experience.”
Keyvani, who has taught with the District School Board of Niagara for more than two decades, said Wartman’s victory reflects both her personal dedication and the strength of the school’s skills programs.
“My students have dominated in this particular challenge in the last three years,” Keyvani said. ”(They’ve) won gold in the last three years at (Skills Ontario).”
Wartman’s win was also the only medal brought back to Niagara from this year’s national competition, where hundreds of students from across the country competed in skilled trades and technology categories.
Wartman plans to continue her passion for pastry at Niagara College this fall. She said her experience with Skills Canada has helped shape not only her skills, but her confidence in her future career.
“Looking back at these past (few) months, I am very proud of how far I have come,” she said. “This experience has changed my life.”