Questions about the ceremony

Where do I go? Assemble in the Queen’s Athletic and Recreation Centre (ARC) at 284 Earl St, Kingston, at least forty-five minutes prior to your ceremony. Once in the ARC you will be directed through the checkin process.

How long is the ceremony? About an hour.

What guests can I bring? You may bring a maximum of three guests who are not previously Obligated Engineers to the ceremony. (Depending on demand, there may be space for additional guests.) Guests require tickets, which are free. You may also bring any number of guests who are previously Obligated Engineers; these guests do not require tickets provided they are wearing their Iron Ring. Due to space limitations, we request that engineers who receive their rings in earlier ceremonies that day not attend the later ceremonies.

How do I get guest tickets? After the close of registration we will validate all registrants. Once that is complete (late February or early March), each confirmed candidate will receive an EventBrite link entitling them to three tickets. General ticket reservation will be open until 12 March. Please take only the tickets you need. Starting 13 March you may reserve up to two additional tickets (for a total of five), space permitting. If you would like more than five tickets, contact queens@camp3.ca, rmc@camp3.ca or seniorcandidates@camp3.ca as appropriate, after 13 March. Additional tickets will be provided on an as-available basis.

When do guests need to arrive? Guests should arrive at the ARC at least thirty minutes prior to the ceremony.

What happens before the ceremony? You will be issued with an envelope containing your Obligation Certificate and ring. Do not put the ring on. You will do this as part of the ceremony. You will then be directed to a designated seating area in the ARC. Shortly before the ceremony you will be marshalled on the floor of the ARC, where you will stand on either side of a chain that will be laid out on the floor.

Can I leave once I have my ring? No. The ring is a symbol of having taken the Obligation. You must complete the Obligation Ceremony in order to have the right to wear the ring.

What if I’m assigned to the one ceremony but need to attend a different one? We can arrange this, provided you have a good reason for your request. This could be, e.g., because there’s a guest coming to ring you who is also ringing a person at the other ceremony, and they only want to attend one ceremony. Send your request by email to queens@camp3.ca.

Who puts the ring on my finger? Any one of the Obligated Engineers in attendance may put the ring on your finger. If you have someone specific attending to ring you and are approached by someone else, simply advise them of that fact.

What am I expected to wear? Please wear formal business attire. You will be standing for approximately one hour so comfortable shoes are strongly recommended.

What if I’m unable to stand for the full Ceremony? We will have limited seating available for those unable to stand for the full Ceremony. We will have also have space for any candidates in wheelchairs or using other assistive devices.

Is the ceremony bilingual? The first two Ceremonies will be English-only. The third Ceremony will be in English with a bilingual Obligation, and poems in both English and French.

Where do I wear my ring? On the little finger of your working (writing) hand.

What if my ring is the wrong size? If your ring doesn’t fit, we will be doing exchanges as follows:

If you do not exchange your ring at one of these times, you can purchase a replacement.

What if I lose my ring? You can purchase a replacement ring.

What happens if the Camp determines I’m not eligible to take the Obligation after registering? You will receive a full refund on your credit card.