From Struggling Student to Engineering Graduate: How a Service Dog Changed Everything
Victor Bal will graduate from Polytechnique Montréal with a mechanical engineering degree this month. His journey to university was not straightforward—he once struggled to pass elementary school. Now, at 27, he credits much of his success to Kopeck, his service dog trained for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Bal faced academic challenges early on. He took six years to complete high school and another four for junior college. His bachelor’s degree then required five years instead of the usual four.
Kopeck, an eight-year-old Labrador/Bernese Mountain Dog cross, was paired with Bal through Quebec’s Mira foundation. The dog is trained to detect stress signals, nudging or making noises to refocus his owner. With Kopeck’s support, Bal became one of the first students at Polytechnique Montréal to attend classes with an ASD service dog.
Over time, the pair gained recognition on campus. They are now seen as ‘champions’ of accessibility services, which over 1,000 students used this year. Kopeck will even join Bal on stage during graduation—a rare moment for a service dog at a university ceremony.
Bal’s achievement marks a milestone: he is among the first Mira ASD service dog recipients to earn a university degree. Bal’s graduation highlights the impact of tailored support in education. Kopeck’s presence helped him navigate academic pressures and complete his degree. Their story also underscores the growing role of service animals in making higher education more accessible.
