An exciting program is underway at MacGregor Collegiate Institute (MCI) for students interested in the culinary arts and practical skills. Penny Osborne, who leads the program, is part of a larger food and nutrition curriculum offered at the school.
"Every year, I put about 120 students through the program," Osborne explains. "We only have 170 students in the school, so that's most of the kids. We also run a textiles program where students learn sewing. In addition, I teach the Home-Ec program to Grade 7 and 8 students from MacGregor Elementary and Austin Elementary, which are part of our division."
Despite her busy schedule, Osborne is particularly excited about the return of a special project—the deer hide collection initiative.
Deer Hide Collection Project
"We're asking local hunters to donate their deer hides to the school," Osborne says. "We will use the hides to make mitts, mukluks, and moccasins through our leatherwork program at the high school level. If possible, we ask hunters to remove the hide in one piece, place it in a garbage bag, and label the bag with their name and tag number. We need to record the name and tag number for the province, as we have a permit for collecting, and that’s a requirement.”
Osborne adds that they prefer the hides to be bagged since they can sometimes be a bit wet. The school has a freezer for storage, and a tanner who works with the program will process the hides.
Why the Deer Hide Project Matters
“Buying leather from a store costs about $120 for one sheet of deer hide," Osborne explains. "But there are a lot of deer hides available right here in our local community that we should be using instead. If we had to ask the kids for $150 just to start a project, it wouldn’t be feasible. So, this way, we get the leather for free, and the students only need to buy the lining, needles, beadwork, and any other materials. It turns into a $20 or $30 project, which makes it accessible for everyone."
The students bring their own creativity and artistic flair to the projects, and their diverse backgrounds contribute to the rich artistic expression in each piece.
“They can make whatever they want,” Osborne says. “Using local resources doesn’t increase costs; it simply allows us to use what we already have more efficiently. The Conservation Department has been incredibly supportive of this initiative, and we’re really grateful for their backing.”
A Win-Win for the Community
This initiative not only helps students create beautiful handmade items but also makes good use of deer hides that many hunters would otherwise discard. Osborne notes that the program benefits both the students and the local community.
“This program is quite unique and not found in many schools across Canada. Leatherworking resources are expensive, so we’re fortunate to be able to bring this opportunity into our school. Manitoba Education has been redeveloping the curriculum to incorporate more culturally diverse perspectives, particularly through the lens of Reconciliation and Indigenous content. This program continues to evolve, and it’s exciting to see it grow.”
Osborne also mentions that other schools have expressed interest in setting up similar programs, although acquiring leather remains a challenge. “It takes the community to make this available to our kids, and we’ve always had great support from local hunters. They’re conservation-minded and don’t want to waste what they don’t need. We’ve had fantastic participation from our local community in bringing in what they’re not using.”
How You Can Get Involved
If you'd like to support the program, Osborne encourages local hunters to donate deer hides. “Simply call the school, bag the hide, tag it with your name and tag number, and drop it off at our door. It’s a great way to help students learn while also disposing of the hides that you wouldn’t use.”
By contributing to this program, you can make a positive impact on local students while supporting conservation efforts in the community.
