The Calling of an Engineer: The Iron Ring

History of The Calling of the Engineer and the Iron Ring

The Calling of an Engineer, also informally known as the Obligation Ceremony, is a uniquely Canadian tradition established in 1925 in response to the tragic 1907 Quebec Bridge collapse, which highlighted the dire need for ethical accountability in the profession.

The Calling of an Engineer is administered by the Corporation of the Seven Wardens/Société des Sept Gardiens and its associated Camps (sections) established throughout Canada. The Corporation is a not-for-profit Corporation, incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (“Act”).

The tradition has evolved over its 100-year history—most recently in 2024—to modernize its narrative and ensure the ritual remains inclusive and relevant for over half a million engineers dedicated to societal well-being.

Although the Obligation Ceremony is not connected to any engineering organization nor to any university, the University of Alberta Faculty of Engineering is proud to support this tradition of the engineering profession and hosts iron ring ceremonies twice a year on campus.