Quebec’s building trade is witnessing a metamorphosis because of Sophia Lundy, one of many few Black girls normal contractors within the province. Her journey from a struggling scholar to a pioneering entrepreneur exemplifies resilience and conjures up a brand new technology of builders.
Lundy’s pivotal second got here in 2015 whereas finding out building administration at an Idaho college. Regardless of excelling in most of her lessons, she confronted problem in a single course. Her professor’s discouraging feedback about her race and gender left Lundy devastated, inflicting her to overlook a complete day of lessons.
Her fortunes modified with an internship at an organization that noticed her potential. Lundy contributed to a $180-million challenge, which led to additional alternatives, together with inserting third in a nationwide competitors amongst 150 colleges. Reflecting on this, Lundy stated, “Due to that have, right here I’m years later, nonetheless within the area, nonetheless liking it and nonetheless on the lookout for extra alternatives regardless of the challenges and the obstacles.”
At 35, Lundy has turn into a trailblazer in Quebec’s building sector whereas balancing her function as a mom of three. Her ardour for the sector was ignited by a transformative expertise in Haiti.

In 2010, following a catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, Lundy returned from New York at her mom’s urging. With solely an affiliate’s diploma in enterprise administration, she helped assess constructing injury and coordinate reduction efforts. Witnessing the worry and displacement attributable to insufficient constructing requirements deeply impacted her. “You don’t simply construct a home figuring out that you just didn’t construct a robust basis,” she stated, which fueled her dedication to developing secure, resilient buildings.
Lundy’s dedication to catastrophe reduction continued with volunteer work in New York and Paraguay, helping with rebuilding efforts after a hurricane and flooding. Her mom, Josette Bousseau, who resumed her enterprise operations to help reduction efforts, has been a serious affect on her values.
In 2019, Lundy and her husband, Mackenson Lundy, moved to Longueuil, Quebec, and based Masolu Development in 2021. Their firm promotes equitable alternatives within the building trade. Final yr, Lundy labored with Liberal MNA Madwa-Nika Cadet to amend Invoice R-20, aiming to enhance entry for Black individuals and minorities within the trade.
Regardless of her achievements, Lundy faces systemic challenges. “Establishments right here typically block you,” she stated. “Some bids are only for among the elite within the building trade.” Her focus stays on overcoming these obstacles and bettering circumstances for Black staff.
Mackenson Lundy, vice-president of Masolu Development, credit his spouse with profoundly influencing his profession. “She pushed me in a method that nobody else did,” he stated, noting her encouragement led him into the development area. The couple, who began their household whereas in faculty, now have three youngsters, together with their eldest, Sky, who’s six.
The Lundys are actually engaged on a $35-million social housing challenge aimed toward offering 200 items for Black households within the Montreal space, marking a big milestone of their mission to help their group. Mackenson has nominated Sophia for the 2024 Black Changemaker recognition, celebrating her as a job mannequin and advocate. “She has energy, she’s very good, and I would like others to see that they’ll do the identical,” he stated.
Sophia Lundy’s journey is a testomony to overcoming adversity and galvanizing others within the building trade. Her work reshapes the sector and encourages numerous people to observe in her footsteps.