Alumni

The idea of a ceremony for the Obligation of Canadian Engineers dates back to 1922, when seven past-presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada attended a meeting in Montreal with other engineers. Rudyard Kipling responded to a call from the seven engineers with The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer, to be administered by the Corporation of the Seven Wardens Inc. It was instituted with the simple end of directing newly qualified Canadian engineers toward a consciousness of their profession and its social significance, and indicating to more experienced engineers their responsibilities in welcoming and supporting the newer engineers when they are ready to enter the profession.

The Obligation Ceremony is not connected to any other engineering organization nor to any university, although many of them support the idea of the Obligation and may participate in the administration of the Ceremonies. 

Reference: The above was adapted for this site

Iron Ring - Contact List

The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer has a history dating back to 1922, when seven past-presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada attended a meeting in Montreal with other engineers. One of the speakers was civil engineer Professor Haultain of the University of Toronto. He felt that an organization was needed to bind all members of the engineering profession in Canada more closely together. He also felt that an obligation or statement of ethics to which a young graduate in engineering could subscribe should be developed. The seven past-presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada were very receptive to this idea.

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.”

The object of the Ritual can be stated as follows: The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer has been instituted with the simple end of directing the newly qualified engineer toward a consciousness of the profession and its social significance and indicating to the more experienced engineer their responsibilities in welcoming and supporting the newer engineers when they are ready to enter the profession.

The Ritual is administered by a body called The Corporation of the Seven Wardens Inc./Société des Sept Gardiens inc. The seven past-presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada in 1922 were the original seven Wardens. The Corporation is responsible for administering and maintaining the Ritual and in order to do so creates Camps in various locations in Canada. The Ritual is not connected with any university or any engineering organization; the Corporation is an entirely independent body. The Ritual has been copyrighted in Canada and in the United States.

The Iron Ring has been registered and may be worn on the little finger of the working hand by any engineer who has been obligated at an authorized ceremony of the Ritual of the Calling of the Engineer. The ring symbolizes the pride which engineers have in their profession, while simultaneously reminding them of their humility. The ring serves as a reminder to the engineer and others of the engineer’s obligation to live by a high standard of professional conduct. It is not a symbol of qualification as an engineer – this is determined by the provincial and territorial licensing bodies.

The deadline to complete the Application process below is Friday, January 25, 2019. 

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Print and complete the External Application Form  & complete the online payment by clicking here. Your application will not be reviewed until we receive your payment.

If you are from camp XIII and you have misplaced your ring follow the steps below to receive your replacement.

1. The cost to replace your Iron Ring is $30.00.

2. If you would like to pay by credit card please use our online tool ring replacement request and we will send you a replacement ring in the mail to the address provided. Please allow 7-10 business days for this process.

3. If you would like to pay by cash or cheque please come to the office (JHE A201D) anytime between 8:30 am to 4:30 pm to receive your replacement on the spot.

4. We accept payment in Canadian funds only - cash, Visa/Mastercard/Amex or cheque made payable to "Kipling". Please do not email credit card information.

Replacement refund Policy:

Rings may be exchanged for a different size, we are unable to offer refunds

Iron Ring Exchange:

To exchange your Iron Ring for a different size at no cost, please mail in your ring indicating the new size you would like sent to you OR come by the Engineering Alumni Office (JHE A201D) to exchange your ring on the spot.

If you have any questions or for more information regarding your Iron Ring replacement, please contact Carm Vespi.

The actual ringing of the candidate may be done by any obligated engineer of your choice who has taken the obligation a minimum of 10 years ago. The intent of this requirement is to have Engineers of some experience, welcoming and encouraging you as a new Engineer. Submit the Presenter form no later than Friday March 1, 2019.

Seven Camp Wardens will be in attendance at the ceremony to present the rings to graduating engineers who do not have presenters. In this case, the Presenter form does not need to be filled out.

IMPORTANT: If there is a possibility that a special circumstance exists concerning the individual you intend to ask to ring you, you must explain the circumstance in a written notice and submit it along with the Presenter form to the Engineering Alumni Office no later than Friday February 1, 2019 to be approved by the Camp Wardens.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If your proposed Presenter has not been Obligated (i.e. has not received their Iron Ring at a prior Ritual of the Calling of An Engineer), they cannot present an Iron Ring, or otherwise participate in, the Ceremony.  This requirement stands even if your proposed Presenter is a Professional Engineer, but has not been Obligated.   It is mandatory that a Presenter must be an Obligated Engineer.  No exceptions.

Please fill out the presenter form can be found here

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Connect with the McMaster Engineering community over the phone, online, and in person. As a member of this community, you will be able to make meaningful connections, share your expertise, and gain knowledge. We look forward to welcoming you onto the platform! 

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As alumni of McMaster Engineering, we would like to give you the opportunity to mentor our students by hosting a casual chat with students about your experiences as an engineer at McMaster University and in the workforce! You can even pick your own topic of discussion.

For more information visit our event page

If you want to mentor our students and host a chat, click here

Dr. Seth Dworkin developed his passion for mechanical systems while studying Engineering at McMaster University. Driven by that passion, he completed his Bachelor’s degree summa cum laude, and went on to pursue a Masters and PhD at Yale University. There, he developed a keen sense of environmental responsibility, and began embarking on a career to impact positive change. While working as a lecturer and NSERC Postdoctoral fellow in Mechanical Engineering at U of T, he discovered a love for teaching, and began shaping his career path through academia. Seth joined the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Ryerson University, where he is currently an Associate Professor. He manages a large research program which has trained over 40 research assistants at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels, produced 38 journal papers, delivered 80 conference presentations, and received over $3 million in research support. His work is impacting the fields of clean air and renewable energy through new techniques in high-performance computer simulation. He has developed software for the inexpensive design of geothermal heating and cooling systems, which has already penetrated the geothermal industry and is in use today. Through awards from CFI, and working with Compute Canada, Dr. Dworkin uses computational infrastructure of over three-thousand CPUs for alternative energy and emissions research, making his one of the largest high-performance computing labs in the country.

After graduating with a Masters in Materials Engineering from McMaster University, Shane gained experience working at Dofasco, Bodycote and Liburdi Turbine Services. In 2008, he started Steel Image which specializes in a unique process of metallurgical failure analysis and in‐situ metallography. He is currently the Chair of ASM Ontario (Materials Society) and regularly speaks at events on failure analysis and in‐situ metallography. Shane is also an artist, bringing art and technology together in a gallery exhibit of metals and materials taken through an electron microscope.

James Politeski is a growth-driving senior executive. Recognized for his leadership skills and strategic vision, he has dedicated his career to growing and transforming businesses within the consumer electronics industry.

He is Group President of Home Appliances, Consumer Electronics, Commercial Sales and Monark Premium Appliances at Sears Holdings in Chicago. Prior to joining the Sears team, he was President at Samsung Electronics Canada.

In a changing retail landscape, James is driving transformation towards a member and customer focused approach to retail. With over 20 years in sales and marketing leadership roles, he is known for building high performance teams and growth-based cultures.

James holds a Mechanical Engineering and Management degree from McMaster University, and actively supports his alma mater as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board.

James’ commitment to education is deep. For the past couple of years, he has been a judge and speaker for McMaster Electrical and Computer Engineering Final Year Capstone Projects. He is also on the Board of The Learning Partnership, a national charitable organization dedicated to championing a strong public education system in Canada.

James is a dedicated supporter of the Canadian Cancer Society and has been a team leader for the Relay for Life since 2006.

His career has allowed him the privilege of working and travelling abroad, and James is fluent in French. James, nous sommes très fiers de vous!

What I most appreciate about James is his passion about the power of positive culture and his belief that the potential in people and teams should be unleashed. He relies on optimism, creativity and perseverance to successfully implement change.

Friends and colleagues of James have the utmost respect for him. His leadership is inspiring, and everyone who knows James will attest to his positive influence on them.

As mentioned by his friend Ken Fredeen, James lives by the mantra that “if it can’t be measured, it’s not worth doing.” Well, the impact of James’ own life and career can certainly be measured – with positivity, enthusiasm and great success.

Howard Shearer, the son of Jamaica’s third Prime Minister the late Hugh Shearer, came to Canada as an International student to study at McMaster University where he earned a  bachelor’s degree  in electrical engineering in 1977.

After working at a number of high-tech firms after graduation, Howard moved in 1984 to Hitachi Canada Limited, an International Japanese firm. He moved through the ranks to Chief Executive Officer and President to Chief Executive today.

Considered, a dynamic executive, Howard has not only led Hitachi to success these past 15 years, he has also played a leading role in the community. Mr. Shearer serves on the boards of the following 
non-profit and public sector organizations: the Canadian Nurses Foundation, the Principal's Advisory Council (University of Toronto at Mississauga), the Canadian Studies Advisory Committee (University College, University of Toronto), and Governing Council of the University of Toronto. Mr. Shearer also is a member of other professional organizations, including the Energy Council of Canada, the Canadian Nuclear Association and the Canadian Nuclear Society.
He served on the McMaster Board of Governors and is currently on the Faculty of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board.

His ambition is to make Canada a global powerhouse in smart systems and big data. He believes that it’s important that Canada build capacity in the digital world right across the spectrum from smart homes, connected vehicles to medical devices.

Although well established as a Canadian business executive Howard continues to maintain his ties to his home country. He is a key player in the Jamaican Canadian Initiative for Disaster Resilience and Response (JCIDRR) chaired by former Canadian Prime Minister John Turner.

Jamaicans and Canadians alike are being mobilized to assist the country in the event of a natural disaster. The organization is committed to putting in place expertise and financial support to "equip Jamaica with an up-to-date counter-reaction to disaster and avoid the type of situation that Haiti has gone though in the last several years".

Howard volunteers his time on several committees and councils. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Hitachi Power Systems Canada Ltd. He has been Director of Metrolinx since July 2012. He also has been a Member of HCL's Board of Directors since 1999. Mr. Shearer served as Director of the Independent Electricity System Operator.

Through the partnership with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy where he serves as Director, he is on the forefront of the nuclear renaissance in Canada. He is advocate for the need for future qualified graduates in nuclear engineering and technology.

Howard is described by his associates as having a common-sense, hands on approach to his work, which has gone a long way in defining his enthusiasm, and his strong technical and leadership skills. To this end, Howard Shearer is recognized as one of the Faculty’s most accomplished alumni.

Sean Donnelly is the President & CEO of ArcelorMittal Dofasco after serving previously as Vice President, Manufacturing and Vice President, Technology and a series of other positions since he joined the company in 1981.

After graduating from McMaster with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Sean has spent his entire career at Dofasco, and has really made his mark, using his outstanding business leadership and management skills to successfully lead Hamilton’s steel company through its technical and manufacturing transitions. 

Tireless advocate for the steel industry, Sean is leading ArcelorMittal Dofasco on the forefront of the steel making renaissance in Canada. Identifying a need for future qualified engineers and technology, he was, and continues to be a strong promoter in the development of academic partnerships. Sean believes that it is important to blend the strengths of industry and universities to train skilled human resources for the current and future needs of Canada. McMaster is proud to be associated with ArcelorMittal Dofasco through its Engineering programs. 

Recognized with numerous awards over the years, Sean and his team are proud of winning innovation accolades for its automated steelmaking process. One such project makes Dofasco home to the most automated basic oxygen furnace in the world, according to the company by increasing output of ultra-low carbon and advanced high-strength steels to meet future market demand.

"To have the most automated basic oxygen furnace in the world and the first such furnace that does not require manual sampling of the hot metal is a tremendous achievement,” said Sean Donnelly, when he was vice-president manufacturing at ArcelorMittal Dofasco.

This is an example of an innovation that has been inspired in Hamilton and has found its way to other plants around the world.

His ambition is to make ArcelorMittal Dofasco a global driver of manufacturing innovation. He believes that it is important that Canada build capacity in manufacturing and that we need to build a policy forum by blending together engineering, social science and business awareness. 

Considered a dynamic community leader, Sean is a member of several Boards, including McMaster University Board of Governors, McMaster Innovation Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens. He was an active member on the Faculty of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board.

Paula Claudino has a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and Management from McMaster University and Master of Applied Science in Renewable Energy Engineering and Policy from Carleton University. She is a Professional Engineer with a career in industrial energy management and has had the opportunity to work with industries ranging in size from small and medium enterprises to large industry and mines in various countries, including Canada, Singapore, Bangladesh, South Korea, the U.S.A. and Brazil, as well as the European Union. She is fluent in English, French and Portuguese, and since moving to Germany in 2016, has been working on her German.

Barry Hill put his two McMaster engineering degrees to excellent use for nearly three decades as he helped build power generating stations for Ontario Hydro. His greatest legacy, however, involves his work on the farm he operates with his wife Cheryle. Hillsfield Farms is a 2,000-acre grains and oilseeds farm on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory where Barry and Cheryle have helped introduce new crops and agribusiness opportunities to the area.

A member of the Six Nations Farmers Association, Barry has also served as a board member of the Food Systems Partnership and of Two Rivers Community Development. He has been president of both the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) and the Brant County Federation of Agriculture as well as a founding director of the Integrated Grain Processors Cooperative and a leader in the organization of the First Nations Agri Group co-op.

He is a frequent contributor to newspapers including the Brantford Expositor, writing on issues from energy to agriculture, and he was the first Native instructor at Six Nations Polytechnic when it opened in 1993. A recipient of the Six Nations Community Treasures Award, Barry was named Brant County Farmer of the Year in 2011 and he was a finalist in the 2014 BMO Farm Family Awards.

Barry is also the organist at Her Majesty’s Royal Chapel of the Mohawks in Brantford and at St. Paul’s Church in Ohsweken.

Walter Butler has travelled the world with the U.S. Navy, played an influential role in the emerging field of microelectronics over the last half century, and dedicated himself to the advancement of scientific research and discovery. When Walter graduated from McMaster in 1970, he was the University’s first student to earn a PhD in Electrical Engineering. Walter is the co-holder of 30 patents and has published more than 30 technical papers.