There were many recognizable faces among the dignitaries gathered at Polytechnique Montréal this week as Ruby Sinclair, a third-year mechanical engineering student from Queen’s University, was named the first recipient of a prestigious new scholarship to lift up women in engineering and turn tragedy into meaningful change.

There was Julie Lassonde, the daughter of Claudette MacKay-Lassonde, a trail-blazing engineer, Polytechnique graduate and champion of women, after whom the new bursary is named.

There was Maud Cohen, the president of Polytechnique, whose daily mission is to promote more women and diversity in engineering, at an institution galvanized by the tragic events of Dec. 6, 1989.

There were her proud parents, Rob Sinclair and Cindy Gibson, who were themselves marked by the mass shooting where 14 women were murdered and now moved to see their 20-year-old daughter carry their torch.

And there was a version of Ruby Sinclair’s younger self reflected back at her in a group of kids participating in a STEM camp at Polytechnique, who filled two rows of chairs at the ceremony wearing their bright green T shirts.

“Today is not really just about me. It’s really about what Claudette did and what she stood for,” Sinclair said. “She stood up in a time when women were wondering if they still had a place in this field. Would we ever get to learn in peace, work safely and be taken seriously? And Claudette said to every young woman in engineering: ‘Yes, you deserve to be here. You deserve to have a voice — to build and to lead and to create,’ and I will fight to make that true.”

It was one of many full circle moments on a day of symbolism and hope.

The Claudette MacKay-Lassonde........

© Montreal Gazette