Polytechnique Montréal has broadened its scholarship initiative in memory of the 14 women who tragically lost their lives at the engineering school 36 years ago. The Order of the White Rose scholarship, initially established in 2014 and previously granted to one female engineering student in Canada annually, has now expanded thanks to new donors. This year, 14 scholarships worth $50,000 each have been funded to support female students pursuing an engineering master’s or doctoral degree in Canada or other locations.
During a ceremony at the school, these scholarships were awarded to honor not only the victims but also their families and the individuals affected on the fateful day of December 6, 1989. Maud Cohen, the president of Polytechnique Montréal, expressed the need for additional donors to sustain this mission, emphasizing the profound impact these scholarships have in empowering female students in the engineering field.
The scholarships, symbolized by white roses and ribbons, commemorate the tragic events of that December day when a misogynistic attack claimed the lives of 14 women and injured 13 others at the engineering school affiliated with Université de Montréal. This year’s recipients of the scholarship, the 11th edition of the program, include students from universities in Quebec, Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia.
One of the recipients, Angéline Lafleur, recounted her journey from completing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and physics to pursuing a PhD in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Waterloo. Lafleur, inspired by her engineer parents and unaffected by gender biases, acknowledged the importance of these scholarships in supporting female students to achieve their aspirations in a more inclusive environment.
Reflecting on the progress made since the Montreal Massacre, Lafleur expressed gratitude for the advancements in gender equality in the engineering field. Cohen highlighted the increased representation of women in engineering programs, with the percentage of female students at Polytechnique rising from 11% in 1989 to nearly 32% today. Polytechnique’s proactive efforts in early recruitment and educational outreach have contributed to this positive shift in gender diversity within the engineering community.