They came, they saw, they built some outstanding snow sculptures. 

RRC Polytech’s third Snow Me the Money! winter engagement contest has come to a close, just in time for the Spring thaw. Despite unpredictable temperatures this year, there were 10 teams who enthusiastically responded to take part in the contest.  

Each team was willing to take time out of their busy schedules to have some winter fun, show off their creativity, and enjoy the company of their teammates while working together to beautify the NDC campus, and Campuses across the province to raise climate action awareness. 

 Congratulations to this year’s winners: 

• 1^st place: Sea Five  

• 2^nd place: Cloud Niners 

• 3^rd place: Health Care Aides Selkirk – Team Busy 

Snow Me the Money! invites our community to come together and have some fun during Winnipeg’s chilly winter season. While the prize is an enticing incentive, the true goal of the contest is to connect with our classmates, co-workers, colleagues, friends and family in a fun activity that boosts morale and mental health. 

But it’s much more than a lighthearted romp in the snow – Snow Me the Money! highlights the harsh realities of climate change and encourages us all to fight for a future where snowy, fun-filled winters are the norm for generations to come. 

At RRC Polytech, we strive to ingrain sustainability in everything we do. There are several College initiatives that are aimed at tackling climate change, such as: 

• Our commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including Goal 13: Climate Action, through the signing of the SDG Accord. 

• Our efforts to create sustainable campuses – demonstrated by the award-winning Manitou a Bi bii daziigae, a building designed to near net zero efficiency. 

• Research Partnerships & Innovation’s ongoing partnerships with industry to create clean energy solutions for the real world – such as the all-electric bus, the EV Tundra Buggy, and conducting air tightness tests to provide insights into cost-effective measures for reducing energy usage at buildings throughout the province. 

• Our recently released Sustainability Strategy, a comprehensive plan that guides us towards a more sustainable future for RRC Polytech and our broader community. 

The driving force behind Snow Me the Money! is Maria den Oudsten, who has been organizing similar competitions through her Sweet Sorrow Snowman Foundation for years. 

Maria den Oudsten, along with her late husband Jan, presented one of the largest gifts from an individual donor in RRC Polytech’s history – 1.5 million dollars to support students and researchers in Manitoba’s heavy vehicle sector.  

We want to thank Maria and her family for their ongoing support of RRC Polytech and for donating the cash prizes, and for inspiring us all to build a better tomorrow. 

Thank you to all who participated!