Claudette MacKay-Lassonde

Claudette MacKay-Lassonde (July 2, 1948 – June 15, 2000) was a Canadian engineer who became the first woman president of the Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO; known until 1993 as the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario, APEO).

Early life and education

Claudette MacKay was born on 2 July 1948 in Montreal to Thérèse Dufresne and Raymond MacKay. She was the eldest of 6 children (siblings: Viviane, Gilles, Robert, Johanne, Anna). She attended the École polytechnique de Montréal where she completed her degree in chemical engineering in 1971 before going on to gain a master's degree in nuclear engineering at the University of Utah in 1973. In 1983 she graduated with an MBA from the University of Toronto.

Career Through her career MacKay-Lassonde worked for a number of companies including Xerox, Hydro Ontario, the Government of Ontario and Northern Telecom. She was on the board of Enghouse Systems Limited, AGF Group of Funds, Abitibi-Price, Clearnet Communications and Aeterna Laboratories.

MacKay-Lassonde was a founder of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) and spoke at the first conference. In 1986, MacKay-Lassonde became the first woman president of the Professional Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario. During that time she created the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation in response to the murder of 14 engineering students at her alma mater in 1989. There is a doctoral award named in her honour. She created the Women in Engineering Advisory Committee and also chaired the Canadian Engineering Workforce Office. She was particularly involved in ensuring opportunities for women in the engineering profession.

The Claudette-MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion at Western University in London, Ontario is so named after a financial gift to fund the construction. There is a chair in Mineral Engineering at the University of Toronto named after her.

Personal life MacKay married fellow engineer Pierre Lassonde, and added his surname to her own. They had two children: daughter Julie and son Christian.

MacKay-Lassonde died in Toronto of cancer in 2000. 1987, Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, Carleton University 1989, Fellowship, Toronto Metropolitan University formerly Ryerson University 1990, Doctor of Science, honoris causa, St Mary's University 1992, Doctor of Science, honoris causa, University of Guelph 1992, Doctor of Engineering, honoris causa, Technical University of Nova Scotia now part of Dalhousie University 1993, Doctor of Science, honoris causa, Queen's University 1996, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, Concordia University

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