Polytechnique Montréal is enhancing its scholarship initiative in memory of the 14 women who lost their lives at the engineering school 36 years ago. The Order of the White Rose scholarship, established in 2014, previously granted one scholarship annually to a female engineering student in Canada. However, this year, new contributors have come forward to sponsor 14 scholarships, each valued at $50,000, for female students pursuing engineering master’s or doctoral degrees in Canada or abroad.
These scholarships, created to honor not only the victims but also their families and other individuals affected on December 6, 1989, were presented during a ceremony at the school. Maud Cohen, president of Polytechnique Montréal, expressed the need for additional donors to sustain the initiative beyond the current 14 scholarships, as only four are currently funded for this year.
The tragic events of that December day 36 years ago, when a perpetrator driven by anti-feminist sentiments took the lives of 14 women and injured 13 others at the engineering school affiliated with Université de Montréal, are symbolized by white roses and ribbons. Scholarship recipients of the 11th edition of the program are enrolled at universities in Quebec, Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia.
Angéline Lafleur, one of the recipients, completed a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and physics at the University of Ottawa and is now pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Waterloo in electrical and computer engineering with a focus on quantum technologies. Reflecting on the impact of the 1989 Montreal Massacre, Lafleur emphasized the progress made in supporting women in engineering and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to honor the victims through her academic pursuits.
Cohen highlighted the increasing number of women in engineering, noting that while women comprised around 11% of the Polytechnique student body in 1989, the current percentage of female students in the bachelor’s program is nearly 32%. The representation of women in engineering programs across Quebec has also risen from approximately 7-8% to 16% over the years. Cohen emphasized Polytechnique’s efforts in early recruitment and outreach to promote STEM education among young students.
The scholarship recipients, including Lafleur, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to connect with fellow awardees, share experiences, and celebrate the advancements made in supporting women in engineering. Lafleur emphasized the importance of remembering and learning from past tragedies while acknowledging the positive strides taken in the field.