Engineering traditions in Canada
Encyclopedia
Engineering
traditions in Canada
are diverse. Many of the traditions are practiced at the engineering departments of Canadian universities, where student organisations continue to practice traditions started by other engineers in previous years.
Haultain wrote to Rudyard Kipling
, who had made reference to the work of engineers in some of his poems and writings. He asked Kipling for his assistance in developing a suitably dignified obligation and ceremony for its undertaking. Kipling was very enthusiastic in his response and shortly produced both an obligation and a ceremony formally entitled "The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer."
Kipling had long been the literary hero of engineers, having published the poem "The Sons of Martha" in 1907. In the poem, Kipling identifies engineers with Martha and her children, who continue to do the chores necessary to keep the household running rather than sit at the Lord's feet.
Although some later engineers would read Kipling's poem as condemning engineers to being second-class citizens compared to managers, those of Haultain's generation were pleased to take "The Sons of Martha" as their defining text.
The first Iron Ring ceremony was held at the University of Toronto in 1925, with the first rings made of "hammered iron" that Kipling called "cold". Although some say the writer used the adjective because the structural material did not forgive the mistakes of engineers working in it, another poem of his puts it in a different and more positive context:
The iron ring's circular shape has been said to symbolize the continuity of the profession and its methods and the circle is also an appropriate symbol of the iterative engineering design process. The iron ring ceremony has reputedly come under criticism in recent years for being sexist, archaic, and relying on Judeo - Christian principles.
The original rings were said to have been fabricated from the wreckage of the Québec Bridge
, which collapsed during construction in 1907. Although this is generally thought to be false, the Québec Bridge is still held as significant. That bridge, whose 1,800 foot main span was to be the largest cantilever structure in the world, collapsed under its own weight because of an error in the design engineer's calculations. The bridge was redesigned, but suffered a second accident in 1916, when its centre span fell while being hoisted into place. Finally, in 1917 the bridge was completed and stood across the St. Lawrence River as a symbolic gateway into Canada. The engineers sometimes regard the bridge as a reminder to Canadian engineers to take care with their designs and to persevere in the face of adversity.
s after graduation. Professional status entails both responsibilities as well as privileges, and is not, as some may think, the automatic result of graduation. In every province of Canada and every state in the USA, it is by law mandatory for an Engineer to be registered with the appropriate association before he or she may practice as a Professional Engineer. In Canada, registration as a Professional Engineer is granted only to those whose personal qualifications and technical experience, as well as academic training can be proven to the satisfaction of the Council of the Association of Professional Engineers in their province. This is a matter of law and not choice in order to protect the public. Upon graduation, engineering graduates are permitted to apply for the status as an Engineer-in-Training as the next step in becoming a fully qualified Professional Engineer. By law, only Professional Engineers can call themselves by the name "Engineer".
In a related field, accreditation of baccalaureate
programs in Computer Science
, Software Engineering
, and Management Information Systems are performed by the Canadian Information Processing Society
. In Canada some professionals in the software development field are as certified as Information Systems Professional
(ISP) while others prefer to be accredited as a Professional Engineer under the discipline known as Software Engineering.
is considered a mascot, sometimes called the "Patron Saint of Engineers" or "Goddess of Engineering", and is the subject of the traditional engineering drinking song "Godiva's Hymn
". The University of Toronto
and McMaster University
hold annual "Godiva Weeks". In the past, engineering departments would sponsor a naked female (or costumed male) to ride a horse across campus. The practice has declined in recent years.
shell from the Lion's Gate bridge, as well other bridges around Vancouver, by engineering students at the University of British Columbia
.
engineers) purple using the medical dye Gentian Violet, especially during events such as Frosh Week.
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
traditions in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
are diverse. Many of the traditions are practiced at the engineering departments of Canadian universities, where student organisations continue to practice traditions started by other engineers in previous years.
Calling of an Engineer
- Main article: The Ritual of the Calling of an EngineerThe Ritual of the Calling of an EngineerThe Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer is a ritual for students about to graduate from an engineering program at a university in Canada. Participation may also be permitted for Canadian professional engineers and registered engineers-in-training who received training elsewhere. The ritual is...
Haultain wrote to Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
, who had made reference to the work of engineers in some of his poems and writings. He asked Kipling for his assistance in developing a suitably dignified obligation and ceremony for its undertaking. Kipling was very enthusiastic in his response and shortly produced both an obligation and a ceremony formally entitled "The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer."
Kipling had long been the literary hero of engineers, having published the poem "The Sons of Martha" in 1907. In the poem, Kipling identifies engineers with Martha and her children, who continue to do the chores necessary to keep the household running rather than sit at the Lord's feet.
Although some later engineers would read Kipling's poem as condemning engineers to being second-class citizens compared to managers, those of Haultain's generation were pleased to take "The Sons of Martha" as their defining text.
The Iron Ring
- Main article: Iron RingIron RingThe Iron Ring is a ring worn by many engineers in Canada as a symbol and reminder of the obligations and ethics associated with the profession. Obtaining the ring is an optional endeavour, as it is not a prerequisite to becoming a Professional Engineer...
The first Iron Ring ceremony was held at the University of Toronto in 1925, with the first rings made of "hammered iron" that Kipling called "cold". Although some say the writer used the adjective because the structural material did not forgive the mistakes of engineers working in it, another poem of his puts it in a different and more positive context:
- Gold is for the mistress - silver for the maid!
- Copper for the craftsman cunning at his trade.
- "Good!" said the Baron, sitting in his hall,
- "But Iron - Cold Iron - is master of them all!"
The iron ring's circular shape has been said to symbolize the continuity of the profession and its methods and the circle is also an appropriate symbol of the iterative engineering design process. The iron ring ceremony has reputedly come under criticism in recent years for being sexist, archaic, and relying on Judeo - Christian principles.
The original rings were said to have been fabricated from the wreckage of the Québec Bridge
Quebec Bridge
right|thumb|Lifting the centre span in place was considered to be a major engineering achievement. Photo caption from [[Popular Mechanics]] Magazine, December 1917...
, which collapsed during construction in 1907. Although this is generally thought to be false, the Québec Bridge is still held as significant. That bridge, whose 1,800 foot main span was to be the largest cantilever structure in the world, collapsed under its own weight because of an error in the design engineer's calculations. The bridge was redesigned, but suffered a second accident in 1916, when its centre span fell while being hoisted into place. Finally, in 1917 the bridge was completed and stood across the St. Lawrence River as a symbolic gateway into Canada. The engineers sometimes regard the bridge as a reminder to Canadian engineers to take care with their designs and to persevere in the face of adversity.
Certification
Many engineering students become Professional EngineerProfessional Engineer
Regulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protect the safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the...
s after graduation. Professional status entails both responsibilities as well as privileges, and is not, as some may think, the automatic result of graduation. In every province of Canada and every state in the USA, it is by law mandatory for an Engineer to be registered with the appropriate association before he or she may practice as a Professional Engineer. In Canada, registration as a Professional Engineer is granted only to those whose personal qualifications and technical experience, as well as academic training can be proven to the satisfaction of the Council of the Association of Professional Engineers in their province. This is a matter of law and not choice in order to protect the public. Upon graduation, engineering graduates are permitted to apply for the status as an Engineer-in-Training as the next step in becoming a fully qualified Professional Engineer. By law, only Professional Engineers can call themselves by the name "Engineer".
In a related field, accreditation of baccalaureate
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
programs in Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
, Software Engineering
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
, and Management Information Systems are performed by the Canadian Information Processing Society
Canadian Information Processing Society
The Canadian Information Processing Society is the Information Technology professional society in Canada.The society certifies and regulates the Information Systems Professional designation in most provinces....
. In Canada some professionals in the software development field are as certified as Information Systems Professional
Information Systems Professional
The Information Systems Professional , or Informaticien professionnel agréé , is a professional designation issued by the Canadian Information Processing Society . Introduced in 1989, the professional designation is recognised by legislation in most provinces of Canada...
(ISP) while others prefer to be accredited as a Professional Engineer under the discipline known as Software Engineering.
Lady Godiva
At numerous engineering departments at Canadian universities, Lady GodivaLady Godiva
Godiva , often referred to as Lady Godiva , was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who, according to legend, rode naked through the streets of Coventry in order to gain a remission of the oppressive taxation imposed by her husband on his tenants...
is considered a mascot, sometimes called the "Patron Saint of Engineers" or "Goddess of Engineering", and is the subject of the traditional engineering drinking song "Godiva's Hymn
Godiva's Hymn
Godiva's Hymn is a traditional drinking song for engineers. It was originally sung by students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; although students there still recognize it, disapproval from the administration has marginalized its presence...
". The University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
hold annual "Godiva Weeks". In the past, engineering departments would sponsor a naked female (or costumed male) to ride a horse across campus. The practice has declined in recent years.
Pranks
Several engineering departments at Canadian university have a tradition of pulling technical pranks or practical jokes. Perhaps most famous amongst these is the hanging of a Volkswagen BeetleVolkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
shell from the Lion's Gate bridge, as well other bridges around Vancouver, by engineering students at the University of British Columbia
Engineering Undergraduate Society of the University of British Columbia
Engineering Undergraduate Society , is the engineering society at the University of British Columbia. It organizes Engineering department events but is perhaps best known for practical jokes it has played in the past, including hanging the frame of a Volkswagen Beetle off bridges...
.
Songs
Over the years engineering departments at universities in Canada have come up with various songs, some now obscure but others, such as the Engineers' Hymn, still in frequent use.Purple
The color purple plays a significant role in the traditions of engineering schools across Canada. This fascination with purple is commonly attributed to the story of the sinking of the Titanic, in which the purple-clad engineers remained on board to delay the ship's sinking.Purple is also the colour of the Engineering Corp in the British Military. It is common for engineers across schools in Canada to dye themselves (and their leather jackets, in the case of Queen's UniversityQueen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
engineers) purple using the medical dye Gentian Violet, especially during events such as Frosh Week.