SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — The Honourable Suze Youance
October 23, 2024
I want to thank Senator Martin for giving me the opportunity to deliver this statement.
Honourable senators, in January 2010, an international student presented her master’s thesis at Montreal’s École de technologie supérieure, the ÉTS, just a few days after a terrible earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, the capital of her home country. Her thesis on the seismic vulnerability of churches in Quebec was accepted and she went on to complete a PhD in engineering with a thesis on the post-seismic functionality of hospitals. After that, this newly qualified engineer quickly went to work in the field. Now an established civil engineer with over 25 years of experience in engineering, teaching and research, she has just become one of our colleagues. Welcome, Honourable Senator Suze Youance.
Her PhD from ÉTS, one of Canada’s leading universities in engineering, marks the pinnacle of her academic career. Her alma mater appointed her ÉTS Ambassador for research and innovation in 2020. She is a very talented woman with an impressive range of skills. Her expertise has also been recognized beyond our borders, as evidenced by her appointment as President of the Scientific Council of the UNESCO Chair “Women and Science for Development” in Haiti.
Suze Youance’s training and scientific rigour alone justify her appointment to the Senate, but that is not all. Senator Youance understands complex challenges and knows how to explain them to young and old alike. As host of an excellent popular science program entitled “Du génie pour la planète” on Savoir média, she has been able to engage with researchers and fellow engineers, offering her viewers a wonderful opportunity to learn about science and sustainable development. With her two children and all young people in mind — particularly young girls who choose to follow in her footsteps — she is working to improve life for future generations by providing access to science.
Senator Youance also finds time to help her community, notably as president of the Bureau de la communauté haïtienne de Montréal, which offers family support and educational services, among other things.
Our esteemed colleague, Senator Marie-Françoise Mégie, who knows her very well, describes her as collegial, a team player, a good listener and attentive to her colleagues, collaborators and fellow citizens.
Senator Youance, in choosing the subject of your master’s thesis, you undoubtedly didn’t think your expertise in earthquakes would lead you to the Senate of Canada. Know that, in anticipation of tremors of a certain nature, we could call upon the renowned seismologist in you to reinforce the foundations of our institution, which were created over a century and a half ago.
Senator Youance, all members of the Independent Senators Group congratulate you. We are eager to work alongside you to build a stronger democracy for the benefit of all Canadians.
Thank you, meegwetch.
Honourable senators, I’m delighted to provide words of welcome to our new senator from the senatorial district of Lauzon. She is an accomplished engineer, a designer, an educator and a television host.
Senators, since Confederation this chamber has benefited from the wisdom and intelligence of more than a dozen professional engineers. The first civil engineer was the Honourable Donald McDonald from Ontario, who was a senator from 1867 to 1879. He was followed by the Honourable Joseph Philippe Baby Casgrain in 1900.
Since the first session of the Senate at the outset of Confederation, engineers have sat among us. These professional engineers have freely offered this chamber their expertise in applying scientific principles to analyze, design, develop, codify, build and create solutions to complex problems.
History shows that civil engineers make great parliamentarians as they are adept at building bridges, paving the way, raising the bar and building from the ground up.
This brings me to why Senator Youance’s arrival in this place is most welcome and very timely. The new independent Senate is like a house under construction, and the presence of an award-winning civil engineer to help guide this transition to the next steps is truly needed. We have made some important renovations and fixes, but we are far from done. We are going to count on Senator Youance to apply her analytical eye to make sure that this new structure that we have collectively built will withstand the test of time.
Senator Youance, on behalf of my colleagues in the Canadian Senators Group, I welcome you to the Senate of Canada. Your new colleagues look forward to your contributions.
