The newest program offered to students in the Red River Technical Vocational Area (RRTVA) held its grand opening Monday morning.

"It's certainly an exciting day. There's been a lot of work going into preparing for this for a couple of years at least," said Morden Collegiate principal Marianne Fenn.

Students have been enrolled in the Piping Trades program since February, and Fenn said they're pleased with how it's going.

Carl and Travis Griffith post for a picture infront of the piping tools

"Our students are doing phenomenally," Fenn said. "One of the things we were talking about is how students find a place for themselves at our school. It might be at the in academics, might be in the athletics or in the arts or it might be in vocational training."

She explained it's taken a lot of work to prepare the space, including painting, lighting and adding accessible bathrooms.

This is the first year the class has been held and registration for next year's program is well underway.

One of the students attending the class is from Emerson and takes about a two-hour journey on multiple buses from his home to Morden every day for the class.

"It's pretty fun. I like the shop and the teachers," said grade 11 student Travis Griffith.

Carl Griffith, Travis' father explained his son's day usually starts around 7:30 a.m. when they drop him off at the first of three busses. This bus then takes him to W.C. Miller in Altona, then he'll hop on a second bus, which will take him to Plum Coulee, and finally, the third bus of the day brings him to Morden.