CALEB NICKERSON
NORWAY BAY May 11, 2018
On Friday afternoon, students and staff from Pontiac High School (PHS) made their way down to the Norway Bay beach to put their hard work in the classroom to the test.
The students from the grade 10 and 11 welding program had designed and built a variety of pontoon boats, and the final test would be more practical than most classrooms.
“That’s the big question, do they float?” said PHS Principal Debra Stephens, as she oversaw the unloading of the vessels.
The boat designs and materials varied considerably, with some featuring bicycles for paddle wheels, swanky paint jobs or fancy perks like seats.
Staff from Magnalum Inc. in Shawville were on-hand to assist and two representatives from the Western Quebec School Board, Director General Mike Dubeau and Secretary General Terry Kharyati were also present to observe the spectacle.

Stephens added that while this project has been done in the past, this is the first time in around a decade it’s been tried, and by all accounts, it was a success.
“They take them through the whole process,” she explained. “From design to fabrication, welding, everything. It’s pretty neat.”
Once everyone was in the shallows, it became clear that some vessels would need to be taken back to the drawing board, but the majority were floating. Stephens even took a chance and joined some of the students on their crafts. The other staff were more than happy to watch from shore.
The true test came when they lined up to race from one end of the beach to the other. In the end, the crew of the monstrous pontoon construction named Gimp’s Rocket prevailed, easily outpacing the others with their large crew and homemade paddles.
“It’s a great way to give the kids hands-on experience,” said Stephens.