RRC Polytech’s winter engagement contest adds a new twist for 2024
By: Carson Woytowich
This year, the college’s Snow Me the Money event combined snow-building and singing to raise awareness about climate change.
Students, faculty, and friends spent hours creating snow sculptures, but also had a new option to submit a video of them singing “Tell me Where the Snowmen Are” by Ria den Oudsten.
Den Oudsten, an RRC Polytech donor community member and the contest’s judge, wrote this song based on the tune “Tell Me Where The Flowers Are” by Pete Seeger. Her song highlights the effects of climate change.
According to a report by Climate Change Connection, Manitoba’s greenhouse gas emissions are 14.7 per cent since 1990. Manitoba’s vehicle transportation was the largest portion of our greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report by Climate Change Connection. This does not include our air travel, but strictly the fuel we use to drive.
“As it is a busy time, we wanted to participate in this event. Having the singing option made it possible for us,” said Isabel Bright, a student at RRC Polytech.
Bright was one of the event’s randomly-selected winners, taking home a $250 prize.
Claire May Tuazon, an international student from the Philippines, said she enjoyed the event.
“I like the snow and winter, but I like singing more. Singing for me is a creative way I can express my emotions. I instantly loved the song,” said Tuazon, who heard about the contest in a student news email.
“I learned the song in a few hours. It was a nice and engaging activity,” said Tuazon.
Den Oudsten chose Tuazon’s singing as her favourite, which won her $1,000. Oudsten donated a total of $5,000, divided between the multiple winners of this year’s contest.
Last year, den Oudsten and her husband gifted RRC Polytech $1.5 million, one of the largest donations in RRC Polytech’s history. After her husband’s death in 2023, RRC Polytech named the Jan den Oudsten Vehicle Technology & Research Centre after him.
