History Committee
Preserving Canada's Engineering Legacy
Welcome to the CSME History Committee. Canada has a rich history in mechanical engineering that has benefited the economy and standard of living. We recognize, record, and publicize significant Canadian mechanical engineering achievements and heritage—for members, students, and the public.
Mission & Vision
Vision statement
Canada has a rich history in mechanical engineering which has greatly benefited the country's economy and standard of living. The purpose of the CSME History Committee is to recognize, record, and publicize Canada's significant mechanical engineering achievements to promote interest in the discipline and the value it has contributed to society.
Mission (summary)
We support preservation and organized information about Canadian mechanical engineering history—including that of the CSME—and promote it through the CSME Bulletin, the website, mini-symposia at Congress, and coordination with the Ontario Tech Library archive.
Committee Mandate
- •Preserve and organize information about Canadian ME history (including CSME) and promote it—for example brief articles in the CSME Bulletin, historical essays on this site, and mini-symposia at Congress.
- •Coordinate archival work with Ontario Tech Library, and commemorate achievements (such as plaques for landmark projects and publications like From Steam to Space).
- •The Chair recruits a small volunteer group, meets virtually as needed, and serves as a voting member of the CSME Board of Directors.
- •The Chair (or nominee) represents CSME on the EIC History and Archives committee (quarterly teleconferences).
Key Activities & Initiatives
Our current projects celebrate and preserve important moments in Canadian mechanical engineering history.
Gartshore Pumping Station
Peterborough Lift Locks
Canada Arm
From Steam to Space
Memorials & Remembrance
Honoring the memory of those who shaped and advanced Canada's mechanical engineering profession.
National Day of Remembrance (Montreal)
December 6, 1989
December 6 is Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. On December 6, 1989, a gunman killed 14 women and wounded 10 women and four men at the École Polytechnique—the engineering faculty of Université de Montréal—and four of the deceased were mechanical engineering students.
The supplementary document "A Montreal Massacre Memorial and Legacy" by Wendy C. Gentleman (CSME Bulletin, Fall 2020) is offered for educational purposes. The History Committee invites members to remember this event and reflect on inclusion and safety in the profession.National Recognition & EIC Partnership
Through the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), History & Archives work includes raising awareness of Canadian engineering history, stewardship of archival material, and coordinating with member societies' history committees—including nominations for honours such as the Order of Canada and related programs.
EIC History & Archives — mandate (summary)
The committee increases public awareness of engineering history through oversight of the Institute's archives, encouraging archival collection elsewhere, liaison with allied groups, and awareness of engineering history teaching in Canada.
It is mandated to nominate qualified individuals for the Order of Canada, provincial orders, the Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame, Historic Sites and Monuments Board nominations, and other appropriate honours—and to contribute working papers, reviews, and similar material visible on the web.
Composition (1999 onward): One representative per EIC member society, plus additional members from other Canadian engineering societies and professional historians; the chair is chosen from society representatives.
Oral history interviews: EIC's H&A committee coordinates archival interviews with senior engineers. Full interviews are public at the Ontario Tech University digital collections.
Canadian Mechanical Engineering Departments History
Department-level historical summaries compiled for the CSME community (legacy PDF list). Open an institution for the program website, the main history PDF, and any extra links published on the former site.
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Contribute to Our Archives
Help us preserve Canada's mechanical engineering heritage. We're seeking historical photos, documents, technical reports, and stories from members and institutions.
Whether you have archival materials, personal histories, or insights into significant engineering projects, your contributions help ensure future generations understand the evolution of our discipline.
Submit Historical ContentCommittee Chair
Ian Frigaard
Ph.D., MCSME — University of British Columbia
Membership: TBD
Contact the Chair to discuss archival contributions, heritage recognition, or partnership with the Ontario Tech archival program.