Maria den Oudsten’s towering tribute to the skilled trades

On a sunny day in late February, a skilled trades worker gazes out at the traffic zipping past the RRC Notre Dame Campus on Route 90. He’s a little worse for wear: his hard hat is chipped, his goggles are scratched, but his spirits don’t appear to be dampened as he grins from ear to ear. 

He’s also about 10 feet tall and made entirely of snow. 

The scuffs on his uniform are the result of unseasonably high temperatures, which caused an early snow melt in mid-February (at the time of this article’s publication, however, southern Manitoba has once again been entrenched in subzero temperatures and a significant dumping of fresh snow).  

The sculpture’s ephemeral nature was all part of the plan, according to Maria den Oudsten, who commissioned local sculptor Ed Sanchez to create it to bring attention, in part, to the realities of climate change. 

“Since moving to Winnipeg, I’ve been in awe of the snow,” she said. “I see it with new eyes every year.” 

Maria used to organize a snowman building contest with her family, friends and community (and even at RRC Polytech), where they’d build a snowman on Christmas Day and wait for it to melt by Easter. These days, the snow is often long gone by that point. 

Seven years ago, Maria and her late husband Jan den Oudsten donated $1.5 million to support the Polytech’s 60,000-sq.-ft. heavy vehicle training and research facility, which is now known as the Jan den Oudsten Vehicle Technology & Research Centre (VTRC). 

“My husband’s heart was in this,” said Maria, gesturing to the building that bears his name. “That’s why he supported RRC Polytech.” 

Ed’s snow sculpture is meant to inspire everybody – people passing by on Route 90, and staff and students within the Polytech. 

“It’s meant to celebrate the people that learn to do practical things, and that’s what people do here at RRC,” said Maria. “Smart hands need smart brains.” 

A fitting axiom for snow sculptor Ed Sanchez, who works as an engineer by day but picked up the snow sculpting hobby during the pandemic. 

“I come from a family of sculptors,” he said, showing pictures of bronze statues crafted by his kin. 

It took 28 days to build the sculpture at RRC Polytech, which Ed finished with help from his friend Michael Novilla. And in another 28 days, the sculpture will likely be no more than sand and slush. 

“The snow melts, but the story lives on,” said Maria.