Polytechnique Montréal has announced the launch of its 12th annual White Rose Campaign, aimed at promoting women’s participation in the engineering field. The campaign will take place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 6, commemorating the 1989 tragedy where 14 women lost their lives.
Maud Cohen, the president of Polytechnique Montréal, emphasized the importance of the White Rose Campaign in encouraging young women to pursue engineering. She called upon the public to support the initiative to help increase female representation in the field.
Funds raised during the campaign will enable girls aged 7 to 17 to attend the Folie Technique science camp, where they will be introduced to STEM subjects. Julie Doucet Lamoureux, the executive director of Folie Technique, expressed gratitude for the community’s donations, emphasizing the impact on inspiring young Quebecers, particularly girls, to consider science and engineering careers.
Initiated in 2014 on the 25th anniversary of the massacre, the White Rose Campaign allows supporters to contribute by purchasing “virtual white roses” on the campaign website. Looking ahead, the 2025 campaign will feature the presentation of the Order of the White Rose scholarships, providing financial support to 14 Canadian female engineering students pursuing graduate studies.
The scholarship award ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 1 at Polytechnique’s Lorne-M.-Trottier Atrium, with notable attendees including Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State in the federal government and a survivor of the massacre, and Martine Biron, Quebec’s Minister of Higher Education.
Leading up to the Dec. 6 anniversary, various events are planned, such as a photo exhibition honoring the 14 victims, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, and the wreath-laying ceremony in front of commemorative plaques at the school’s Main Building.
For more details on the White Rose Campaign and related events, visit the campaign website.
