This opinion piece by Dean Mary Wells of Waterloo Engineering and Dean Suzanne Kresta of the University of Prince Edward Island's Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering recently appeared in the Globe and Mail.
Nearly a century ago, Canadian engineers conducted the first iron ring ceremony, a way for the profession to symbolize its commitment to the public good following a moment of failure and broken trust.
The ceremony traces its origins to Canadian mining engineer and professor Herbert Haultain, who was deeply affected by the tragic collapse of the Quebec Bridge in 1907, a disaster that claimed 75 lives.
In the early 1920s, Haultain envisioned a future where engineers would uphold the highest standards of integrity, competence and responsibility. He believed this could be achieved through a formal commitment to ethical principles and professional conduct, leading to the first iron ring ceremony in 1925.
That ceremony is now referred to as the “Calling of an Engineer,” where graduating Canadian engineers receive their own iron ring, a simple band of stainless steel worn on the pinky finger of their dominant hand.
Just as Haultain imagined more than 100 years ago, the ring is not merely an adornment but an ever-present reminder of an engineer’s professional obligations to society. The physical presence of our rings symbolizes the ever-present moral and ethical responsibilities of the engineering profession, taken on as our students emerge into their professional lives.
This ceremony is a tradition that binds our engineering community to the values of integrity, responsibility and trust. These values have never been as important as they are today. This commitment has not only shaped the identity of Canadian engineers – it has also driven their contributions to Canada’s economic development and prosperity.
Consider the engineering feats that have defined Canada: the Confederation Bridge linking Prince Edward Island across the Northumberland Strait to New Brunswick; the oil-sands technologies balancing resource extraction with environmental stewardship in Alberta and Saskatchewan; and the cutting-edge work in artificial intelligence emerging from hubs like Montreal, Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont.
As we celebrate the last 100 years of Canadian engineering, we must also look forward. The challenges of the 21st century – climate change, digital transformation and global inequality among them – require engineers to act not just as innovators but as stewards of public trust. The iron ring is one example that underscores the ethical obligations engineers in Canada must undertake to safeguard the public and ensure their work benefits society.
A century ago, engineers primarily focused on ensuring the physical safety of the public. Today, as engineering and technology innovations shape nearly every aspect of daily life, their impact extends far beyond physical safety. Engineers must now also consider psychological well-being, environmental sustainability and the broader societal implications of technology.
Today, Canadian engineers are trained to prioritize safety, sustainability and inclusivity. This training extends beyond technical skills to encompass ethical decision-making and societal impact. Whether designing bridges that withstand extreme weather or algorithms that are fair and transparent, engineers must ensure their creations are trusted by design and, to a larger extent, by the public at large.
Canadian engineers are uniquely positioned to lead in designing and deploying technologies for the public that are equitable, reliable and ethical. Initiatives like the University of Waterloo’s TRUST scholarly network exemplify the commitment to fostering public confidence in technology through collaboration with industry, academia and government, as does UPEI’s forward-thinking Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, which centres transdisciplinary education and co-design in its collaborations with community partners and technical staff.
The iron ring ceremony’s centennial offers an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come and to reaffirm our commitment to ethical engineering. It also provides us with an opportunity to emphasize how the values symbolized by the iron ring – integrity, responsibility and trust – continue to guide Canadian engineers in having a positive effect on their fellow Canadians and the rest of the world.
As we celebrate this milestone, let us honour the legacy of Canadian engineering and inspire the next generation to uphold the principles that have made our profession a cornerstone of Canada’s success. Let us lean on the values that this simple band of metal represents, and share them with all Canadians as we look to tackle the next century of innovation challenges.
The future demands engineers who are not only skilled but also deeply committed to the well-being of society. The iron ring, with its century-old legacy, will continue to remind us of this noble calling.
Dean Mary Wells