Tec Voc Students leave lasting mark on Graham Avenue in Downtown Winnipeg

Eight welding students from Technical Vocational High School’s welding program dedicated two months to creating artful bench boxes, which will soon be placed along Graham Avenue as part of the city's downtown revitalization effort. 

The benches will be strategically placed at former bus shelter sites along Graham Avenue after city buses are soon to be removed from the route by end of June, following the launch of the city’s new Primary Transit Network. Graham Avenue will now have more space dedicated to pedestrians, and these benches will provide places for people to sit and rest. 

For the benches, the students utilized high-quality steel, which forms a protective rust patina naturally over time, so the benches serve a dual purpose as functional art pieces, too.

The front side of the box features artwork from the Seven Sacred teachings alongside contributions from the Manitoba Métis Federation and the Southern Chiefs’ Organization Inc, reflecting the community's diverse Indigenous heritage. 

"Eight students worked on this project, and we created 40 boxes," said Tony Bage, welding teacher at Tec Voc High School. "It's called Corten steel, and the longer it's outside, the more it naturally patinates." 

Student Jesse James Beaucage, who plans to pursue welding as a career, said the experience exceeded his expectations. "I had a great time working on this. There was a lot of experience going into it," he said. "It was just good doing it for the city...I can't wait to see them on the street." 

“They should feel very proud of themselves because they're going to see what they did in class out on the street this summer for everyone to enjoy,” said Karen Kliewer, senior city planner managing the Graham Avenue initiative. "These are art pieces, but they are also places for people to interact with and sit and enjoy." 

Bage admitted he was surprised by his students' enthusiasm for what might seem like a simple project. "I didn't think they'd be interested in just welding a box," he said. "I thought they'd want to weld something like a car or a Thor hammer." 

The hands-on experience proved invaluable for Beaucage, who praised his instructor's teaching methods. The enduring nature of the project is what’s most significant for him. 

"They're built to last forever...and will stay there forever. So maybe your children can also go and see it," he says, adding that he intends to take family members and friends to see the completed installations. 

This collaboration highlights a partnership among municipal planning, Indigenous artistry, and hands-on education, creating lasting tributes to student craftsmanship in downtown Winnipeg. Watch the students and Tony build the boxes on the WSD Instagram account here.