05 December 2025

White roses honour the memory of the 14 young women who lost their lives on December 6, 1989. Created in 2014 in tribute to the victims, and resolutely forward-looking, the Order of the White Rose now aims to build a true community of women leaders in engineering.

Honouring the Victims and Advancing Women in STEM

December 6, 1989 remains one of the most devastating days in Canadian history. On that day, an armed man entered École Polytechnique de Montréal and murdered 14 engineering students explicitly because they were women. Another 14 people were injured. This attack shook Canada and continues to shape conversations about gender-based violence, equity in STEM, and the responsibility we all share in building safer, more inclusive learning and working environments.

Each year, Polytechnique Montréal honours Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, and Annie Turcotte—​fourteen young women whose lives and dreams were unjustly cut short. Through commemorative ceremonies, the White Rose scholarship program, and ongoing community engagement, Polytechnique affirms its commitment to equity and a future where all engineering students can thrive.

The ripple effects of the tragedy continue to be felt across engineering disciplines, including mining. Women entering mining still navigate barriers such as underrepresentation, outdated gender norms, and workplace culture that can feel unwelcoming. Remembering the Polytechnique massacre reminds us of the importance of intentional work to ensure engineering spaces are safe and equitable. When women’s voices are missing, industries lose talent, insight, and critical perspectives that advance safety and better decision-making across the mining lifecycle.

As Canada’s trusted authority for the minerals and metals industry, the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum (CIM) supports this work. Through Women in Mining initiatives, mentorship programs, student support, and efforts to expand accessible professional development, CIM helps strengthen pathways for women across the sector. Our focus is on advancing knowledge, sharing leading practices, and connecting Canada’s mining community through our technical societies, branches, and events.

On December 6, we honour the memory of the 14 women whose lives were taken and reaffirm our commitment to a safer, more equitable future. By supporting women in mining and across STEM, we help ensure that the next generation of engineers can pursue their professional ambitions free from hatred and fear, and contribute to a strong, responsible, and innovative industry.

Read about outstanding achievements of women in the mining industry, past and present