The Canadian Academy of Engineering comprises over 800 Fellows who have made outstanding contributions to engineering in Canada and around the world. They have demonstrated their dedication to the application of science and engineering principles to advance social, environmental, economic and technical solutions.
The Academy is an independent, self-governing and non-profit organization established in 1987 to serve the nation in matters of engineering concern. It is a registered charity.
The Academy is an active member of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) and the Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE).
Fellows of the Academy are nominated and elected by their peers, in view of their distinguished achievements and career-long service. Fellows work closely with, and are generally members of, other national and provincial engineering associations.
The Academy was founded in 1987 and was one of the highlights of the celebration of the Centennial of engineering as an organized profession in Canada. Following discussions with existing professional and technical engineering societies and associations it was generally agreed that the establishment of a completely independent Academy of Engineering was essential – to constitute a forum for discussion and a vehicle for action, relative to national issues in which engineers may provide a unique point of view based on their training and experience.
A group of 44 prominent Canadian engineers were invited to become founding fellows of the Academy and the first meeting was held in Montreal on May 20, 1987, on the occasion of the Centennial Congress of Engineering when some 3000 Canadian engineers representing 25 Canadian engineering societies from all disciplines and regions were in attendance. The late Dr. Robert Legget was elected as the first President and the late Dr. Leopold M. Nadeau agreed to act as Secretary / Treasurer of the newly formed organization.
Subsequently, a charter and by-laws were approved, and letters patent obtained, federally incorporating the Academy as a not for profit corporation on February 16, 1988.
Four years later, a formal Coat of Arms was granted and presented by the Governor General at its June 7, 1992 annual meeting. A logo designed from parts of the Coat of Arms was then officially adopted.
In 1991, the Canadian Academy became a full member of the International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences, which is an international federation of 26 such academies throughout the world, thereby achieving the international status reserved to a limited number of well-established engineering academies having accomplished a number of major projects.
More information on the History of the Academy and of engineering in Canada can be found here:
The mission of The Canadian Academy of Engineering is to:
The Canadian Academy of Engineering embraces the following values:
INTEGRITY – Operating openly, honestly and with professional accountability
EXCELLENCE – Celebrating creativity, technical accomplishment, entrepreneurship, collaboration and impact in Canadian engineering achievement
LEADERSHIP – Providing visionary thinking that inspires positive change and supports equity, diversity and inclusion
SERVICE – Applying a systems approach to social, environmental and economic stewardship in Canada’s interests
RELEVANCE – Providing engineering advice that is germane to the prosperity, well-being and security of Canadians
INCLUSIVITY – Promote a diverse and inclusive engineering culture in everything we do.
