Q: Where and when do the Obligation ceremonies take place?
The ceremonies only take place once a year. The next ceremonies will be:
Ceremony | Location | Date |
University of Toronto Students | To be announced | Saturday, March 4, 2023 |
Toronto Metropolitan University Students
|
To be announced | Saturday, March 25, 2023 |
York University Students | To be announced | Thursday, March 23, 2023 |
Ontario Tech University Students
|
To be announced | Saturday, March 11, 2023 |
Senior Candidates | To be announced | Wednesday, November 15, 2023 |
Q: I would like to apply to take the Obligation and get an Iron Ring. How do I do this?
If you graduated from an engineering program outside of Canada, or did not attend a ceremony at the time of your graduation from an accredited engineering program in Canada, you must attend an Obligation Ceremony as a ‘senior’ candidate.
You will need to demonstrate that you have met the educational requirements for engineers in Canada by providing evidence of licensure as a Professional Engineer with a provincial engineering licensing body. Your registration number is required for this purpose.
If you are registered as an Engineer in Training (EIT) with a provincial engineering licensing body, you will need to contact the Registrar’s office of the licensing body to obtain a letter stating that the academic requirements of an accredited undergraduate engineering program have been met. You will have to send this letter to us under separate cover after completing your application.
Please visit your local jewellery store to determine the correct ring size for the ‘pinky’ finger of your working hand.
To apply to attend a ceremony as a senior candidate, please complete the online Application Form. The cost for the application is $50 including HST.
Q: I completed my Masters or PhD in engineering. Can I apply to take the obligation and get an iron ring?
Participants in an Obligation ceremony must meet the academic requirements of an accredited undergraduate engineering program. You will need to demonstrate that you have met the educational requirements for engineers in Canada by providing evidence of licensure as a Professional Engineer with a provincial engineering licensing body. Your registration number is required for this purpose.
Q: When is the deadline to apply to attend an Obligation ceremony as a ‘senior’ candidate?
Your application must be submitted using the on-line application together with payment between November 1st and January 31st for the senior ceremony to be held in early May. Candidates will receive a response in March or April.
Q: Can I invite a guest to the Obligation Ceremony to present my ring to me?
Yes, but invited Ring Presenters must be obligated engineers (and wearing their iron ring on the day of the ceremony) and have at least four years experience since graduation in order to be eligible to present a ring to another candidate.
Family members acting as invited Ring Presenters must meet the requirements noted above. Professors and other members of the university teaching staff cannot act as Ring Presenters to their own students (unless they are a relative of the student. e.g. parent, grandparent, spouse, etc.) AND meet the requirement for invited Ring Presenters noted above.
The provisions noted here are required to ensure a mentor-candidate relationship between the Ring Presenter and candidate. Only one guest per attendee is permitted due to space limitations.
Q: I’ve lost my iron ring. What is the process to get it replaced?
Fill out the online Ring Replacement Form.
Replacements will not be processed without payment. After you complete the form, you will be prompted for payment using a credit card. The cost is $30, which includes shipping and HST.
Applicants 80 years of age or older may replace a lost ring at no charge. Please contact the Camp Office at (416) 946-3281.
Q: I’m not sure I have my original Obligation Certificate. Will the small oath card, my PEO membership, or a copy of my degree suffice?
No. Your unique Obligation Number is required as proof that you have attended a ceremony. The Obligation Number can only be found on your Obligation Certificate. We can look up your obligation number if you have lost your certificate. The Obligation Certificate would have been granted to you after the ceremony, and will be an approximate size of 8.5 x 11 and titled “The Ritual of the Calling of An Engineer”. It will be signed by the Camp Secretary, yourself, and will hold your unique Obligation Number. If you have lost your Certificate and would like to have it replaced, please contact your Camp. Only your original Camp can replace your Obligation Certificate.
Q: Can I replace someone’s Iron Ring for them as a surprise?
No. Only an obligated engineer may replace his/her own ring.
Q: Can I send someone to pick up my Iron Ring?
We generally discourage people from doing so. However, if you fill out the replacement form, and provide us with a formal letter, indicating the name of the person who will be picking up your ring, your ring will be replaced for you at our office.
Q: How do I exchange my ring if it no longer fits or is damaged?
You may bring (or mail) the your ring to the Camp One Office which is hosted on the University Of Toronto campus at 35 St. George Street, Room 116 and exchange it on the spot during the office hours listed on our home page. Rings may be exchanged at no charge. Please contact the Camp office at (416) 946-3281.
Q: I would like to exchange my ring, but I want to keep my old ring. Can I do that?
The camp does not allow obligated engineers to own more than one ring. If you would like to exchange your ring, you must relinquish the one that you have.
Q: I don’t know my size, do you have it on record?
We do not have the ring size for all candidates on record, and we cannot rely on the ones we have, as your ring size may have changed. If you are coming into the Camp One office, we can size your finger at the office. Otherwise, please go to a jewellery store and ask them to size the ‘pinky’ finger of your working hand (there should not be a charge).
Q: Are there any guidelines for sizing my ring?
Yes, please take note of the following:
- Your finger’s size will be affected by time of day, temperature, humidity, exercise and other factors. Your fingers tend to swell later in the day.
- It is best to measure your ring size later in the day, at room temperature. Never measure when your hands are cold; allow them to warm to room temperature.
- The ring must fit over the knuckle and sit comfortably at the base of the finger. The correct size will require you to twist once or twice to get it off the knuckle; otherwise, your ring will fall off when your hands are wet or cold.
- If the ring slips easily over your knuckle when removing it, try a half size smaller.
- If you are not used to wearing a ring, the proper size may feel a bit uncomfortable at first. Please allow two weeks before requesting an alternate size.