For engineers across Canada, the Iron Ring is more than a piece of jewelry — it’s a symbol of responsibility, integrity and pride. Now in its 100th year, the Iron Ring ceremony is an important rite of passage for University of Waterloo Engineering graduates, reminding them of their duty to do good work that serves society. 

Dr. Nadine Ibrahim, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo and the Turkstra Chair in Urban Engineering, describes the day she took part in the ceremony as a deeply personal and professional milestone. 

“In 2000, I graduated with a degree in civil engineering, became a Canadian citizen and took the oath to wear the Iron Ring,” Ibrahim says. “There were lots of celebrations that year, but the Iron Ring ceremony brought it all together for me — it gave my newly achieved degree purpose and meaning, and it welcomed me into a profession in Canada. 

“As one of 23 women in a class of 82, receiving the ring was a unifying moment that symbolized our cohort’s shared student journey and future responsibilities as engineers,” she recalls. “Twenty-five years later and women in engineering are still underrepresented but there are more of us, and the more diverse the profession, the better it does to uphold the Iron Ring oath for everyone.” 

The first Iron Ring ceremony took place in Montreal on April 25, 1925. Since then, the annual event which now takes place across the country reminds Canadian-trained engineers, who are registered with a professional organization, that their decisions in the field can affect public safety and well-being. Traditionally worn on the pinky finger of the dominant hand, the ring is visible to its wearer as well as to colleagues and clients. 

“Wearing the Iron Ring isn’t just a reminder for engineers, it’s a marker that others notice too. It represents our profession’s reputation for excellence, one we must live up to — whether in the boardroom, on a project site or in the classroom,” Ibrahim says.  

As an educator, Ibrahim believes this commitment to the social good is more important than ever in today’s rapidly changing and complex world. As president of the Canadian Engineering Education Association / Association canadienne de l'éducation en génie (CEEA-ACÉG) and chair of its Engineer of 2050 Special Interest Group, she is working on identifying the skills and attributes future engineers will need to be proactively effective.  

“Technological advancements, socioeconomic upheavals and climate change are putting our planet under extreme pressure,” Ibrahim says. “What’s needed now are forward-thinking engineers who can collaborate with professionals across other disciplines for productive solutions to the problems we face. 

“The practise of preventative engineering is to put in the work today that meets the needs of the future. This requires more than just technical skills, engineers need to know how to engage with people and understand multiple lived experiences.”  

In her course on sustainability, Ibrahim encourages students to grapple with tough questions such as how to design climate-resilient infrastructure in communities with limited resources. Her approach pushes them to develop a deep understanding of societal contexts before beginning any design work. While civil engineering is often associated with infrastructure like bridges and buildings, Ibrahim emphasizes its broader role in creating sustainable, inclusive communities. 

“As civil engineers we’re not just designing structures; we’re shaping the spaces where people live, work and connect,” Ibrahim says. “We’ve moved beyond simply building infrastructure to creating spaces that support the human spirit. A well-designed city isn’t just functional—it’s joyful, and that requires a human-centred approach.” 

This perspective reflects how the engineering profession is shifting in practice to include environmental sustainability, equity and cultural considerations. For Ibrahim, the enduring relevance of the Iron Ring is that it embodies this shift perfectly, uniting all wearers — past, present and future — as engineers who think about how their work affects people’s lives.  

“The ring reminds us that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves,” Ibrahim says. It connects us to a legacy of engineers who built Canada and the world over the last century — and it challenges us to think about the impact of our work over the next 100 years. I am excited to see a new generation of Waterloo engineers wear the Iron Ring proudly and lead with integrity, creativity and purpose.” 

Go to Alum’s poem celebrates the Iron Ring tradition for an inspiring tribute to the 100th anniversary of the Iron Ring. 

Feature photo (left to right): Graduating students from Waterloo's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering — Alina Zhao, Prasith Wijeweera, Catherine Teng, Justin Aide, Kim Ong with Dr. Nadine Ibrahim (centre) at their Iron Ring ceremony on February 8, 2025.

Photo credit: Casey Wagter