About THE CSME

Advancing Mechanical Engineering Since 1970

VISION: “To advance the quality and scope of mechanical engineering in Canada, and to stimulate the application of mechanical engineering for the benefit of mankind.” Since its founding in 1970, the CSME has strived to form a single organization — with a clear national identity — for Canadian mechanical engineers and technologists across the country.

1,200+

Members Nationwide

50+

Years of Service

30+

Sustaining ME Depts and Chapters

14

Technical Committees

Our Strategic Pillars

Mission Focus Areas

Knowledge Sharing

To promote the creation, exchange, diffusion of and access to technical and other information relevant to mechanical engineering for both technical and public interest.

Government Relations

To co-operate with, and provide assistance to, all levels of government and their regulatory bodies on matters concerned with engineering technology and practice.

Research & Reporting

To direct studies and make reports on matters of national, regional and local interest affected by mechanical engineering technology.

Educational Collaboration

To collaborate with universities and other educational institutions to advance the relevance and effectiveness of mechanical engineering education at all levels.

Global Networking

To foster intra-national and international contacts, and co-operation in mechanical engineering and allied fields.

Continuous Action

To do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects.

Our EDIR Commitment

The Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering (CSME) is dedicated to advancing the quality and scope of mechanical engineering across Canada. A commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation (EDIR) is essential to achieving this mission.

We invite our members, partners, and stakeholders to join us in building a future where mechanical engineering thrives through inclusivity, mutual respect, and collaborative progress.

  • Broadening Participation

    We strive to reduce barriers and provide equitable opportunities for all to advance in mechanical engineering, recognizing that diversity drives innovation.

  • Supporting Underrepresented Groups

    We champion the inclusion of marginalized groups, addressing complex intersectional barriers to foster a truly supportive and equitable environment.

  • Advancing Reconciliation

    We are committed to decolonizing practices and integrating Indigenous knowledge systems into engineering, aligning with the TRC's 94 Calls to Action.

  • Promoting Knowledge Sharing

    We disseminate technical knowledge to make mechanical engineering accessible, relevant to public interests, and reflective of our diverse society.

  • Strategic Partnerships

    We actively collaborate with fellow technical societies and stakeholders to pursue inclusive goals across the engineering profession.

Preserving Excellence

Our Heritage & Legacy

In addition to its mission and strategic priorities, the CSME plays an active role in advancing, preserving, and promoting the contributions of mechanical engineering in Canada. The Society supports initiatives aimed at documenting and recognizing significant achievements in the field, helping to ensure that Canada's engineering legacy is accessible to both the professional community and the public.

The CSME collaborates with academic and archival institutions, including Ontario Tech University, to facilitate the collection, preservation, and dissemination of engineering records. As a constituent society of the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC), the CSME contributes to national efforts that enhance public awareness of engineering history and reinforce its societal and cultural importance.

Our Journey

Organization History

1887

The Roots (EIC Heritage)

Mechanical engineering representation in Canada dates back to 1887 with the formation of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers (in those early days, Civil covered all non-military engineering disciplines, and the institution was later renamed the Engineering Institute of Canada — EIC in 1918).

1968

Strategic Transition

After decades of operating as a technical branch within EIC, a move began to establish a dedicated, autonomous society for mechanical engineering.

1970

Official Founding of CSME

The CSME is formally established as a constituent society of the EIC, marking the start of its journey as an independent professional body.

1972

Congress Inception

Inaugurated the national mechanical engineering assembly, now known as the annual CSME Congress, creating a premier platform for technological exchange among professionals.

1975

Historical Vision

Established a dedicated focus on identifying and recording Canadian mechanical engineering achievements to promote the discipline\'s societal values and improve living standards.

1999

Scientific Expansion

Hosted the first independent CCToMM M3 Symposium (Mechanisms, Machines, and Mechatronics), reflecting the dynamic growth and specialization of the Society's technical committees.

2018

Digital Transformation

Entered a new era of publication by partnering with Canadian Science Publishing for the Transactions of the CSME and fully digitizing the Society\'s historical bulletin archives.

Academic Foundations

The CSME maintains a strong network of Mechanical Engineering Departments across Canada.

View University Directory

Hall of Fame

Legacy of Leadership: CSME Past Presidents

Since 1970, each President has advanced CSME's mission to promote mechanical engineering excellence across Canada.

Clifford N. Downing
Clifford N. Downing1970
Hugh Gordon Conn
Hugh Gordon Conn1970–1971
Donald Louis Mordell
Donald Louis Mordell1971–1973
Donald Lindsay Allen
Donald Lindsay Allen1973–1974
Friedrich Paul J. Rimrott
Friedrich Paul J. Rimrott1974–1975
George Albert Aldworth
George Albert Aldworth1975–1976
André Biron
André Biron1976–1977
Gerald Seymour H. Lock
Gerald Seymour H. Lock1977–1978
Philip A. Ross-Ross
Philip A. Ross-Ross1978–1979

The Highest Honour

Distinguished Excellence: CSME Fellows

The grade of Fellow (FCSME) is the highest honor our society bestows upon its members, recognizing exceptional contributions to the field of mechanical engineering in Canada.

Be Part of Our Story

Join the CSME community and help shape the future of mechanical engineering in Canada.