Service dog graduates from Polytechnique after four years of partnership
Victor Bal walks across the stage at École Polytechnique with his service dog Kopeck, who attended every class of his mechanical engineering degree.
When Victor Bal walks across the stage at Montreal's École Polytechnique to collect his mechanical engineering degree, his service dog Kopeck will be by his side—just as she's been for every single class.
At 27, Bal is among the first people to have benefited from a Mira foundation service dog trained to support youth with autism spectrum disorder to graduate from university. The partnership began when Bal was 12, making him one of the first students in Quebec to attend classes with an ASD service dog.
"She's my partner, she's my ally," Bal said of Kopeck. The relationship represents far more than accommodation; it's a genuine partnership that has allowed him to navigate four years of engineering coursework, exams, labs, and campus life with consistent support.
The Mira foundation, which trains service dogs for people with autism, sees Bal's graduation as a landmark moment. His presence in every lecture hall, study session, and exam room at one of Quebec's most demanding engineering schools challenges assumptions about what's possible when the right support is in place. Kopeck's work—the calm presence, the grounding during overwhelming moments, the simple act of being there—made the difference between potential and achievement. That's not sentimentality; that's the lived reality of what a trained partner can provide. Polytechnique's willingness to welcome her into every class set a precedent worth noting.