Today, the Faculty of Engineering commemorated the tragic loss of 14 female engineering students whose lives were cut short 35 years ago at École Polytechnique de Montréal (now known as Polytechnique Montréal).
The event paid tribute to these young women, mourned their loss, and confronted the ongoing reality of violence against women and girls. Among the speakers was Julia Evans, a third-year Biomedical Engineering student and president of EngSoc, the Faculty’s student society. She noted her work as president is rooted in fostering safety, respect, and equality for women in STEM fields.
“To truly have equity in our society, and in engineering environments, we must allow young engineering students the opportunity to feel safe doing what they love,” Evans said. “As president, I advocate every day to allow undergraduate engineers safe spaces to learn, work and express themselves.”
Evans also highlighted the critical role of education, challenging biases, and promoting fair opportunities in supporting non-male-identifying students. Her message resonated deeply, inspiring attendees to reflect and take action.
The ceremony concluded with a moving tribute: 14 members of the engineering community each lit a candle in honour of one of the women who lost their lives in the massacre. A 15th candle was lit to recognize those whose lives were forever changed by the tragedy. The event closed with a moment of silence, symbolizing unity and remembrance.
Go to Honouring the Victims of Gender-Based Violence for the full story.
