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The '''Iron Ring''' is a ring worn by many engineers in Canada, serving as a symbol and reminder of the obligations and responsibilities of the profession. The ring is acquired through a ceremony available to students graduating from an accredited Canadian engineering program, or engineers from abroad who can demonstrate their eligibility for membership in a Canadian Professional Engineers' Association. The ceremony, known as [[The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer]], was developed with the assistance of English poet Rudyard Kipling after a request from Professor [[H.E.T. Haultain]], and is administered by The Corporation of the Seven Wardens Inc./Société des Sept Gardiens inc. The request was made on behalf of seven past presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada, who would become the original seven Wardens of the Corporation. | The '''Iron Ring''' is a ring worn by many engineers in Canada, serving as a symbol and reminder of the obligations and responsibilities of the profession. The ring is acquired through a ceremony available to students graduating from an accredited Canadian engineering program, or engineers from abroad who can demonstrate their eligibility for membership in a Canadian Professional Engineers' Association. The ceremony, known as [[The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer]], was developed with the assistance of English poet Rudyard Kipling after a request from Professor [[H.E.T. Haultain]], and is administered by The Corporation of the Seven Wardens Inc./Société des Sept Gardiens inc. The request was made on behalf of seven past presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada, who would become the original seven Wardens of the Corporation. | ||
==Design and | ==Design, Symbolism, and Practice== | ||
The Iron Ring presented at most ceremonies is actually made of stainless steel, although the option to receive a ring of wrought iron still exists at universities that are part of Camp One (Toronto). The rings are distributed at ceremonies held by each accredited university, operated by one of the 25 Camps of the Corporation of the Seven Wardens across Canada. | The Iron Ring presented at most ceremonies is actually made of stainless steel, although the option to receive a ring of wrought iron still exists at universities that are part of Camp One (Toronto). The rings are distributed at ceremonies held by each accredited university, operated by one of the 25 Camps of the Corporation of the Seven Wardens across Canada. | ||
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The Ring itself is small and understated, designed as a constant reminder to the wearer, rather than an aesthetic piece of jewelry. The Rings were originally hammered manually with a rough outer surface. The modern machined ring design is unique, a reminder of the manual process. Twelve half-circle facets are carved into the top and bottom of the outer surface, with the two halves offset by one facet radius. | The Ring itself is small and understated, designed as a constant reminder to the wearer, rather than an aesthetic piece of jewelry. The Rings were originally hammered manually with a rough outer surface. The modern machined ring design is unique, a reminder of the manual process. Twelve half-circle facets are carved into the top and bottom of the outer surface, with the two halves offset by one facet radius. | ||
A common myth about the Iron Ring is that the earliest rings were forged from the unusable iron and steel from the first collapse of the Quebec Bridge in 1907. During the incident, 75 of the 86 workers on the bridge were killed, and the rest injured. The collapse was attributed to poor planning and design by the overseeing engineers. This misconception may be related to the common practice of attaching a symbol of an engineering failure, such as a bolt from that bridge, to the chain that is held by the participants of the ritual. | A common myth about the Iron Ring is that the earliest rings were forged from the unusable iron and steel from the first collapse of the Quebec Bridge in 1907. During the incident, 75 of the 86 workers on the bridge were killed, and the rest injured. The collapse was attributed to poor planning and design by the overseeing engineers. This misconception may be related to the common practice of attaching a symbol of an engineering failure, such as a bolt from that bridge, to the chain that is held by the participants of the ritual. More accurately, the ring symbolizes the pride which engineers have in their profession, while acting as a constant reminder of their humility. The ring serves as a reminder to the engineer and others of their obligation to live by a high standard of professional conduct. It is not a symbol of qualification as an engineer - this is determined by the provincial and territorial licensing bodies. | ||
==The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer== | ==The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer== | ||