More than 32 years after a man, motivated by hatred of feminists, fired at the École Polytechnique, killing 14 women and injuring others, in 1989, Nathalie Provost finally attended her convocation.
The survivor of this feminicide, who later became a relentless activist for gun control, received an honorary doctorate from her alma mater on Thursday at a ceremony in Montreal.
Although he has already earned two degrees from Polyexplained Ms. Provost before the event without traditional graduation ceremonies when he was a student – there was a ring ceremony of the engineer. It was therefore his first, Thursday.
On the stage at the ceremony, wearing the gown and mortarboard, he said the tragedy left a deep impression on him, but also allowed him to learn his own strengths and measure the woman I could be.
He also read the names of 14 women who died in the tragedy.
In an interview before the ceremony, he said he would reflect on the strong imprint the school left on his life – not only through the gruesome tragedy of 1989, but also through those who became his lifelong friends, and the education he received there.
” The adult I am is an engineer at heart, at heart. Even though I don’t practice classical engineering right now, I have the mind of an engineer – and I’m not a member of The Order. “
Ms. said. Provost that she returned to class less than a month after being hit by four bullets in the Dec. 6, 1989 shooting, which is widely considered the worst shooting in Canada specifically targeting women.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering a few months later, in May 1990, and he went on to obtain a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the same school in 1993.
In retrospect, he felt that by deciding to return to class soon after the tragedy, he felt he had something to prove. I think it’s kind of a way of telling the world and Marc Lépine: “You won’t stop me. You tried, but you won’t succeed”.
The honorary doctorate awarded to Ms. Provost came later in his life. Her four children, some of whom were present on Thursday, are the same age as some of the current young graduates. At age 55, he had a successful career as a civil servant and rose through the ranks. I have come to the age of wisdom, where I have a step back to what I livehe says.
PolySeSouvient
In a press release, Polytechnique said it wanted to honor this woman already is a keynote speaker and a dedicated activist on the issue of gun control in Canada, primarily through the PolySeSouvient organization.
Pierre Baptiste, Acting Director of Academic Affairs and Student Experience, pointed out that Nathalie Provost has remained involved at Polytechnique Montréal and has always encouraged young people in engineering, especially women.
She said that today, 30% of the school’s engineering students are women – an increase she attributed to the share of women like Nathalie Provost who serve as role models for the next generation.
Si Ms. Provost, who effectively turned a fierce gun control campaign after the killings, said he felt the guts of the new federal gun bill, which includes an import freeze. , the purchase, sale or transfer of handguns in Canada.
An imperfect but perfect bill, he says, a task he wants to tackle.
The engineer in me will tell you that it is harder to resist the force of inertia than to create motion and be in kinetic force.
He believes much more needs to be done – on gun control, but also on other issues, including gender discrimination and gender -based violence. Equality between men and women is something we must continue to fight for. This is not a closed casehe says, citing as an example the abortion debate in the United States.
Nathalie Provost believes the young engineers graduating this year are likely to face fewer professional challenges than her, but will also face complex challenges. Every generation has its own challenges, but I think the generation growing up today has a tremendous challenge.he believes.
After decades of activism, Ms. still doesn’t feel it. Provost the need to stop narrating him-as long as his testimony can contribute to better gun laws and real change.
If I don’t believe in my contribution, I can’t speak and I might have to shut up, he said. But for now, I think I can contribute something to my life and my world in general.
The Canadian Press
Source: Radio-Canada
