Innovation Summer 2025

T he Iron Ring – a symbol worn by Canadian engineers around the world – serves as a reminder of the responsibilities engineering professionals have towards the public, their clients, and the profession itself. It is intended to be worn on the bearer’s working hand, where it serves as a constant reminder of the engineer’s obligations. These include not passing on bad materials or workmanship, supporting colleagues, protecting society, and upholding the highest values, ethics, and morals. The traditional ceremony to receive the ring, called the Iron Ring Ceremony or the Calling of an Engineer, marks its 100th anniversary this year. “[The ring] means a lot to me from when I first got it to this very day,” said Leonard Shara, P.Eng., Chief Warden of the Corporation of the Seven Wardens Corporation, the national non-profit responsible for the administration, maintenance and preservation of the Iron Ring ceremony. He received his ring more than 40 years ago. “It’s wonderful to see everyone receiving their ring when they recite the obligation at the ceremonies. That’s why I love going to them and it never gets old. It’s the best part of the job.” But in recent years, prospective Iron Ring recipients and wearers raised concerns over the ceremony’s use of gendered and religious language. Rudyard Kipling, the author of the Calling of an Engineer ceremony, has been heavily criticized for his imperialist and racist views.

Innovation Summer 2025

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