For the 7^th edition of the Week of the White Rose, which takes places from November 30, to December 6, 2020, Polytechnique Montréal is appealing to its community as well as the general public, inviting them to offer virtual white roses, thereby helping to build the next generation of female engineers.

Each year, this fundraiser gives young girls from less affluent backgrounds the opportunity to participate in Folie Technique activities, to pique their interest and foster passion for the sciences and engineering.

Since its establishment in 2014, the Week of the White Rose has raised over $100,000 – a sum that enables thousands of young girls to attend in-class science workshops, and to participate in Folie Technique science summer camp. This non-profit organization can’t keep up with the demand, however, and “100% girls” groups are so popular, the organization struggles to meet its many registration requests.

How you can help

• 1 rose ($10): Pays for a female summer camper's lunch for a week, when they attend Folie Technique.
• 14 roses ($50): Pays for science experiment equipment for a “100% Girls” group.
• 25 roses ($200): Pays for a young girl to participate in Folie Technique science summer camp.

Applying for a Folie Technique summer camp bursary

To submit an application, parents and teachers can send an email to: folietechnique@polymtl.ca wherein they briefly describe the candidate and indicate the reasons why the student wishes to attend Folie Technique summer camp.

Women and Engineering

While they represent over half of Canada’s population, women are still underrepresented in engineering – where there are stimulating, well-paid jobs. According to Engineers Canada, less than 13% of practising engineers are women. In 1989, during the anti-feminist attack, women comprised 17% of Polytechnique’s student body. As of Autumn 2020, women are just over 29% of Polytechnique’s student body, and reach parity in certain specialities such as biomedical engineering and chemical engineering. To view the statistics that demonstrate the evolution of the women engineering students at Polytechnique, or to learn more about measures that have been implemented to encourage female students, please visit: Women and Engineering.

- 30 –

OTHER COMMEMORATIVES ACTIVITIES

Order of the White Rose Scholarship

Thursday, December 3 at 9:30 am, Polytechnique will hold the sixth edition of the Order of the White Rose award ceremony. This $30,000 scholarship honours and encourages a Canadian female engineering student who intends to pursue graduate studies anywhere across the globe.

Journalists who want to attend the live virtual ceremony and take part in the question period and individual interviews (to take place immediately after the ceremony), should send their contact information to the following address to receive a connection link: media@lab-espacecreatif.ca.

The media and general public can attend the virtual ceremony live or in differed time, at the following address: https://youtu.be/eHqii6AucdM.

40 women /40 weeks

For 40 weeks, and starting on International Women’s Day - March 8, to December 6, 2020 - Polytechnique Montréal has published a series of video clips starring professors and master educators, all working in engineering.

Answering question posed by interviewer Catherine Perrin, these women engineers address the theme Polytechnique Montréal: Engineering in Her Voice - these women share their passion for teaching and research, while explaining how they’ve helped transform the world using scientific advances in their varied engineering specialities such as: sustainable development, cyber security, energy, artificial intelligence, water quality, health, the environment, aerospace, and telecommunications.

These women professors and master educators were so enthusiastic about the project, that additional clips will be posted during the week of December 6, 2020. Watch the video clips here: https://www.polymtl.ca/femmes-genie/40-femmes-40-semaines.

Virtual Concert

As part of the LE QG Festival, Québecois pianist and composer Viviane Audet will perform a special concert in support of the Week of the White Rose, and to celebrate the launch of her new album Les filles montagnes. Ticket sales will be donated to Folie Technique.

Laying of Rose Wreaths on Polytechnique’s Commemorative Plaque

On Sunday, December 6, at 8:30 am, a wreath of white roses will be placed on the commemorative plaque that honours the victims of the December 6, 1989 attack, placed by Polytechnique students and staff. All members of the Polytechnique community (students, staff, alumni) and the general public are invited to pass by the memorial for a moment of contemplation, at any point during the day; note that physical distancing guidelines must be followed. The plaque is located outside, on the South-West wall of Polytechnique’s Main Building.

About Polytechnique Montréal

Established in 1873, Polytechnique Montréal is one of Canada’s largest engineering education and research universities. It ranks first in Quebec in terms of the scope of its engineering research activities, and is located on the Université de Montréal campus - North America’s largest Francophone university campus. With over 52,500 graduates and over 120 academic programs, Polytechnique has trained 22% of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ)’s current membership. Polytechnique Montréal is also distinguished by its 285 talented professors, more than 9,000 students, and overall annual budget of $255 million, nearly $100 million of which is reserved exclusively for research activities.

About Folie Technique

Folie Technique is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 by Polytechnique Montréal’s engineering students. It offers young people the opportunity to explore the worlds of science, mathematics, engineering and technology by engaging in creative, interactive, and accessible activities. Folie Technique activities reach over 20,000 youth aged 7 to 17 each year.

DOCUMENTATION

Week of the White Rose website: roseblanche.org/en
Women and Engineering website: polymtl.ca/femmes-genie/en
Folie Technique website (in French only): folietechnique.com
December 6 website: polymtl.ca/december6
Clip (in French only): Témoignage d’une enseignante au sujet de la Semaine de la rose blanche
Clip (in French only): Merci des jeunes campeuses de Folie Technique