Micheline Bouchard facts for kids

Micheline Bouchard is a very important Canadian engineer. She is known for being a pioneer for women in engineering. In 2000, she made history by becoming the first woman to lead the Canadian Academy of Engineering. She also worked for a big power company called Hydro-Québec.

Becoming an Engineer

Micheline Bouchard loved learning about how things work. She studied at L’École Polytechnique de Montréal. In 1969, she earned her first degree in engineering physics. This field combines engineering with the study of how things move and interact.

Later, in 1978, she went back to the same school. She earned a master's degree in electrical engineering. This means she became an expert in electricity and electronic systems.

Micheline Bouchard's Career Journey

Micheline Bouchard started her career at Hydro-Québec. She worked there for 18 years. During this time, she took on more and more important jobs. She even became an assistant to the president!

After Hydro-Québec, she moved to other big companies. She held senior leadership roles at places like CGI Group, the DMR Group, and Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd. These roles involved helping businesses grow and develop.

In 1998, she became the president and CEO of Motorola Canada Ltd. This was a huge achievement! She was later promoted to a vice president at Motorola Inc.. From 2002 to 2006, she led another company called ART Advanced Research Technologies Ltd.

Leading Engineering Organizations

Micheline Bouchard was a trailblazer for women in engineering leadership. In 1978, she was only the second woman to be elected to lead the Order of Engineers in Québec. This is a group that guides engineers in the province.

Then, in 1992, she was the second woman to become president of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers. This group is now known as Engineers Canada.

Her biggest achievement in leadership came in 2000. She became the first woman president of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. This is a very respected group of top engineers. She was also the first woman to lead any of the major engineering academies around the world!

Micheline Bouchard has always encouraged more women to join the engineering field. Her success has helped show that women can be great leaders in business and engineering.

Serving on Company Boards

Micheline Bouchard has also served on the boards of many important companies. Being on a board means she helped guide these companies. Some of the companies she advised include Telus Corporation, Ford Motor Company of Canada, and Canada Post Corporation. She also helped guide the PSP (Public Sector Pension Investments).

Awards and Special Recognition

Micheline Bouchard has received many awards for her amazing work. In 1995, she became a Member of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honors a Canadian can receive. In 2011, she was also named a Knight of the National Order of Québec. These awards recognize her great service to Canada and Québec.

In 2009, she was named a Fellow of Engineers Canada. In 2015, she received their gold medal, which is a very special award. That same year, she also won the Grand Prix d’Excellence from the Order of Engineers of Québec. She was also named one of the "Top 100 Most Powerful Women."

Micheline Bouchard has also received awards like the Woman of the Year (Business) Award in 1981. She was a YWCA Woman of the Year in 1994. In 2000, she received a Wired Woman of the Year award. Several universities have given her honorary doctorates. This means they recognized her contributions even though she didn't study there.

Micheline Bouchard was married to another engineer, Jean-Paul Sardin. She has a son and a daughter.