Polytechnique to launch White Rose Campaign to commemorate 1989 massacre
Posted November 27, 2025 1:12 pm.
Last Updated November 27, 2025 1:16 pm.
Polytechnique Montréal announced Thursday that it is launching its 12th annual White Rose Campaign to raise funds to encourage women into the engineering field.
The fundraiser will run from Nov. 29 to Dec. 6, the anniversary of the 1989 massacre during which 14 women were murdered.
“The White Rose Campaign has become a catalyst for achieving greater participation of young women in engineering,” said Maud Cohen, president of Polytechnique Montréal, said in a press release Thursday. “We appeal to the public to support the campaign and help us achieve this goal.”
The proceeds from the campaign will support girls aged 7 to 17 to attend Folie Technique science camp aimed to introduce them to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects, the press release said.
“Community support through donations helps us transform young Quebecers’—especially girls’—interest in science and engineering into careers,” said Julie Doucet Lamoureux, executive director of Folie Technique.
The campaign was started in 2014 on the 25th anniversary of the massacre.
Donations can be made by purchasing “virtual white roses” on the campaign website.
The 2025 campaign will include presentation of the Order of the White Rose scholarships worth $50,000 to 14 Canadian female engineering students pursuing graduate students.
The scholarship award ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 1 at the Lorne-M.-Trottier Atrium in Polytechnique’s campus.
Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State in the federal government and a survivor of the massacre and Martine Biron, Quebec’s Minister of Higher Education are expected to attend the event.
Several other events are planned leading up to the anniversary on Dec. 6:
Nov. 26 to Dec. 8: A photo exhibition paying tribute to the 14 women were killed in the massacre
Dec. 4 and 5: Wearing of white ribbons National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
Dec. 6: Laying of wreaths in front of the commemorative plaques; the flags to be flown half-mast from dawn to dusk in front of the school’s Main Building.
More details can be found on the
