Claudette MacKay-Lassonde: a name that might not be familiar to you, but it certainly should be. This icon, born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1948, challenged the status quo and shattered glass ceilings long before it became a catchy hashtag. A powerhouse in a seemingly male-only club, Claudette became a notable figure through her pioneering efforts in engineering, advocacy, and contributions to society that crisscrossed borders and ideologies. It's not surprising that her story doesn't get as much airtime in mainstream narratives that tend to glorify different kinds of activists.
MacKay-Lassonde was a front-runner in the fight for women's equality in engineering from as early as the 1970s. Armed with a desire to enact change and the intelligence to turn ideas into reality, she co-founded the first organization for women engineers in Ontario, a state renowned for promoting such essential values as hard work and cultural integrity. Her achievements in engineering weren’t just limited to her personal pursuits but extended into founding forums where women could band together against prejudices of that era. If that’s not a legacy of true empowerment, I don't know what is.
Bringing education and activism together, MacKay-Lassonde earned her Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto in 1971. She went on to earn an MBA, making her one of the select few who approached scientific disciplines with a business acumen that was hard to match. This dual expertise made her an exceptional candidate for leadership roles in corporations, such as Dow Chemical and the Ontario Hydro, where she outclassed her contemporaries.
Could we consider her a friend of progress and modernity? Absolutely. As president of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE) from 1986 to 1987, she didn’t just occupy a seat at the table—she changed the view from that seat. There’s little doubt that she was shaping policies and pushing boundaries in a time when most were more content to maintain the status quo. Yet her name isn't plastered everywhere as a model of progressive leadership. And might I say, it’s rather fascinating that her narrative isn’t hijacked to front those well-acknowledged movements.
Her legacy was immortalized when she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1992, which signifies just how big of a stamp she left on Canadian society. Moreover, in an era when a corporation was a bastion of male dominance, she climbed ladders and carved paths for those left in her wake to follow. Why then, does it take a bit of digging to discover her story? Where's her Hollywood biopic?
Perhaps it's because Claudette MacKay-Lassonde didn't fit the typical trope of a firebrand radical. She did not require grandstanding or public protests to get things done. Instead, she applied the tenets of perseverance, intelligence, and innovation to real problems. She was someone who recognized her struggle involved not just breaking ceilings but constructing new ones. Her legacy is visible in the increasing number of women engineers who now step into roles solely dominated by men in the past. Perhaps that’s not viral content, but it's the kind of brave change that isn't visible in a Facebook share.
What’s endearing is her tireless work on environmental engineering solutions in Canada long before the concept of 'going green' became vogue. Leveraging her engineering background to address real environmental challenges, she executed projects that had a long-lasting impact on both the environment and the engineering field. And do note, this was achieved without the global subsidies and tax breaks that now fuel green movements, which often end up being more about fluff than actual substance.
Though we live in a world that rewards loud slogans and captivating headlines, Claudette MacKay-Lassonde’s story is a refreshing reminder of what change, driven by commitment and intellect, truly looks like. It's a shame that today's trendy narratives offer so little room for complex, inspiring figures such as her, who didn’t manipulate media sensations but still changed the world for the better.
She passed away in 2000, but left behind a trail for others to follow, reminding us all that even in the blaring din of popular movements, there remains space for rational thought and tactical innovation. An exemplary figure, her story might just make us reconsider what modern-day advocacy should truly be about. A woman who broke molds, paved roads, and, yes, saved the environment---all without indulging in noise but simply letting actions do the talking.