In a powerful expansion of a legacy program, Polytechnique Montréal has welcomed 14 new inductees into its Order of the White Rose. The initiative, which provides a substantial $50,000 scholarship to each recipient, has been dramatically enlarged this year for both symbolic and practical reasons, moving from a single annual award to a cohort of exceptional women.
A Sisterhood Forged in Memory and Purpose
The Order of the White Rose was established in memory of the 14 women murdered at Polytechnique on December 6, 1989, because they were women studying engineering. By expanding the program to 14 recipients, the institution creates a living, supportive sisterhood that honours their memory through action and achievement.
"Creating this cohort of leadership will support them in being leaders in the future roles that they choose," explained Maud Cohen, President of Polytechnique Montréal. The 14 scholars, who met for the first time on December 1, 2025, are intended to forge lifelong bonds as they advance in a field still dominated by men.
Meet the 2025 Inductees: Pioneers Across Engineering Disciplines
The new members of the order represent a diverse array of engineering specialties and backgrounds, united by excellence and a commitment to improving their fields and the world.
Angéline Lafleur, an electrical engineering PhD student at the University of Waterloo, will speak for the group. A Franco-Ontarian from Ottawa, she noted the isolation she sometimes felt as one of few women in her classes. "I don't want others to have to face that," she said, expressing excitement about collaborating with her new peers.
The cohort includes Rabab Azeem (Queen's University), now at the University of Toronto, who focuses on ethical AI for healthcare; Megan Chang (University of Waterloo), a mechatronics engineer with dreams of aviation; and Grace Ciarniello (University of Alberta), whose childhood curiosity about sand led her to nanotechnology.
Marie-Ève Fecteau, a biomedical engineer from Polytechnique Montréal itself, has developed orthotics for youth with scoliosis. Ashna Jain (University of Toronto), a world traveler dedicated to sustainable systems, designed a water-transport bicycle at age 12.
Catherine Ko (University of Calgary) won international awards for creating biodegradable food packaging, while Samantha Krieg (University of British Columbia Okanagan) took an unconventional path from culinary school to a doctorate in earthquake-resilient structural engineering.
Brooke MacNeil (Queen's University) researches rehabilitation robotics for stroke patients, and Marissa Myhre (York University) overcame personal challenges to pursue space engineering and now mentors women in recovery.
Kaitlyn Root (University of Guelph) develops sustainable bioplastics and green energy solutions. Hanna Sigurdson (University of Toronto), now at Harvard, pioneers microrobotics and advocates for diversity in engineering.
Angela Wang (McGill University) creates assistive technologies for people with locked-in syndrome, and Ruth Yu (University of British Columbia) designs low-cost biomedical devices, including a wearable to monitor tetanus spasms.
Building a More Inclusive Future for Engineering
The expansion of the Order of the White Rose is a direct response to the ongoing need for greater gender diversity in engineering. For many inductees, seeing few other women in their classrooms was a common experience. This program aims to change that narrative by providing significant financial support and, crucially, a powerful network.
"I’m just really first of all excited to meet them and hear their stories," said Lafleur, anticipating the collaborations and mutual support that will arise from this new sisterhood. The formal induction ceremony for the 14 scholars took place on Monday, December 2, 2025, marking a significant step in Polytechnique's enduring commitment to honouring the past by empowering the future of women in engineering.
