My dad is a civil engineer. He graduated from Leeds University in 1957 and, even at 89, he still proudly calls himself an engineer. He wears the Iron Ring, a silver band worn on the little finger to symbolize a lifelong commitment to professional ethics. It is a daily reminder to uphold high standards and serve the public responsibly, with its rough facets reflecting the challenges of the profession.
The Ring symbolizes a Canadian engineer’s commitment to ethics, responsibility, and humility, reminding them of their duty to public safety and high standards. Inspired by the Quebec Bridge collapses of 1907, which killed 75 workers, and 1916, which killed 13 more, it serves as a reminder of the real-world consequences of engineering decisions.
When we moved to Canada in the 1980s, my dad had to complete additional training to join l’Ordre des ingénieurs so he could legally work in Quebec. Membership was mandatory to practise. That meant proving his education and experience, passing exams, and agreeing to follow strict ethical rules. Civil engineers design and build bridges, roads, and infrastructure where mistakes can cost lives. Every calculation, every material choice, and every decision must ensure safety, stability, and reliability because millions of people depend on that work every day. The Order of Engineers exists to make sure those who practise are qualified, responsible, and accountable so the public can trust the work is safe.
From a young age, I learned to associate work and public responsibility with training, education, and an ethical code. My dad’s calculations were quite literally shaped by the weight of people’s lives.
Builders of Technology
When my husband, Darren, and I started our IT company in 2007, I was definitely new to tech, but Darren had been trained and working in IT in the UK for 15 years before arriving in Canada. As we started working with both professional and personal clients, I was surprised to learn that anyone could call themselves an IT professional. Lines of code were already shaping the digital world and increasingly affecting physical lives. Personal data was visible, traceable, and not always handled ethically. We often faced difficult questions. Should we intervene? Should we contact the police? Should we offer support when no one had asked for it? We had direct access to people’s lives and yet there were no shared standards, no formal ethical framework, and no safeguards for people who did not speak the language of technology.
There is no Order of Information Technology.
Order of Information Technology
Let’s imagine (and pretend that software engineering, computer science, neuroscience etc were easy to wrap up under IT).
An Order of Information Technology would license professionals whose work affects public safety, legal rights, and critical systems such as AI in healthcare, autonomous vehicles, and financial algorithms. It would set clear standards, enforce a code of ethics focused on safety, fairness, and privacy, and require ongoing training. High-risk systems would be reviewed or audited, and specialists could earn recognised certifications. Governed by technical experts alongside public representatives, the Order would provide accountability and trust, much like engineers certifying bridges or physicians approving medical devices.
If there were an Order of Information Technology in Canada (and even better, internationally), it could feel familiar in spirit to l’Ordre des ingénieurs. Instead of bridges and buildings, its members would be legally bound to manage systems that shape daily life, from algorithms guiding decisions to public services, equitable access, and information itself. Like engineers, information technologists would be responsible for protecting people through the systems they build. A symbolic marker, like the Iron Ring, could serve as a daily reminder that lines of code, mathematical models, and manipulation of data carry real consequences for real people. Entry into the Order would mark the shift from technical skill alone to public responsibility, calling technologists not only to innovate, but to protect the public, knowing their decisions can shape safety, rights, and trust at scale.
And, just like my dad, I am sure all who become members of the Order of Information Technology will be proud to be part of a community committed to ethics, responsibility, and protecting the public through their work.
And to show off their shiny rings.
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