The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer

The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer has been a uniquely Canadian tradition for almost 100 years and is organized and guided by the Corporation of the Seven Wardens.

The Obligation Ceremony in which Iron Rings are presented to graduating Engineers and other qualified candidates, is held in every Canadian community that has a University Engineering program.  Over 440,000 Canadian engineers have undertaken the Obligation and received their Iron Rings in ceremonies across the country since 1922.

Camp 18 administers The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer in Calgary. We held our first Obligation Ceremony in 1969. The Wardens of Camp 18 are all engineers of some standing in the local community who have all volunteered to help maintain the spirit of this tradition.

Please go to the Next Ceremony page for the details of how to register for the next event.

If you lost your ring, go to the Ring Replacement page.

If you would like to replace a ring that doesn’t fit very well, go the Ring Exchange page

The Iron Ring

Iron Rings are worn by most Canadian engineers, reminding those who wear it – and those interested in the practice of engineering – of their ethical obligation to live and work to a high standard of professional conduct and public service.

The Iron Ring is not a symbol of legal qualification or registration to practice, which is the exclusive responsibility of provincial and territorial licensing bodies.

The Obligation

At the ceremony, prior to receiving their iron ring, candidates will recite in unison, in the presence of their peers, the following Obligation:

I, (insert your name), in the presence of these my betters and my equals in my Calling, bind myself upon my Honour and Cold Iron, that, to the best of my knowledge and power, I will not henceforward suffer or pass, of be privy to the passing of, Bad Workmanship or Faulty Material, in aught that concerns my work before mankind as an Engineer, or in my dealings with my own Soul before my Maker.

MY TIME I will not refuse; my Thought I will not grudge; my Care I will not deny, towards the honour, use, stability and perfection of any works to which I may be called to set my hand.

MY FAIR WAGES for that work I will openly take.  My Reputation in my Calling I will honourably guard; but I will in no way go about to compass or wrest judgment or gratification from anyone with whom I may deal. And further, I will early and warily strive my uttermost against professional jealousy and the belittling of my working-colleagues in any field of their labour.

FOR MY ASSURED FAILURES and derelictions, I ask pardon beforehand of my betters and my equals in my Calling here assembled; praying that in the hour of my temptations, weakness and weariness, the memory of this my Obligation and the company before whom it was entered into, may return to me to aid, comfort and restrain.

More information about the history of the Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer is available on our About page and also at the Corporation of the Seven Wardens website.