In a predominantly male workshop, Valérie stands out for her determination. A student in heavy vehicle mechanics at the École des métiers de l’équipement motorisé de Montréal, she chose this field to go off the beaten path. “I wanted to go into a field where you still don’t see many women,” she explains. According to her, many women could enjoy this trade, but simply don’t dare take the leap.

Her interest in mechanics was born three years ago when she spotted a 1995 Acura NSX at a dealership. It was love at first sight, which led her to start researching the car, and little by little, curiosity turned into a passion. The desire to understand how machines work came naturally from there.

Her family initially reacted with caution, mainly out of fear of the challenges she might face in a still very male-dominated environment. Today, her mother fully supports her, aware of the challenges, but convinced the experience is worth it.

In class, Valérie feels well integrated. “I’ve never had a problem with either the students or the teachers. They’re all open-minded.” For more physically demanding tasks, she points out that the right tools and the right techniques make all the difference.

Her message to women who are hesitant is simple: “Try it! If you don’t like it, at least you will have tried.” Her dream is to one day open her own heavy vehicle mechanics shop, a place where women would feel at home and be encouraged to follow their passion.

In a year, we will return to meet Valérie again to find out where her journey has taken her.

Picture credit : Pierre Thériault