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W.A.C. Bennett

The Honourable
W. A. C. Bennett
PC OC
25th Premier of British Columbia
In office
August 1, 1952 – September 15, 1972
Monarch Elizabeth II
Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent
John Diefenbaker
Lester B. Pearson
Pierre Elliott Trudeau
Lieutenant Governor Clarence Wallace
Frank Mackenzie Ross
George Pearkes
John Robert Nicholson
Preceded by Byron Ingemar Johnson
Succeeded by Dave Barrett
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for South Okanagan
In office
October 21, 1941 – May 17, 1948
Preceded by Cecil Robert Bull
Succeeded by Robert Denis Browne-Clayton
In office
June 15, 1949 – June 5, 1973
Preceded by Robert Denis Browne-Clayton
Succeeded by Bill Bennett
Personal details
Born William Andrew Cecil Bennett
(1900-09-06)September 6, 1900
Hastings, New Brunswick
Died February 23, 1979(1979-02-23) (aged 78)
Kelowna, British Columbia
Political party BC Conservative (1937–1951)
Social Credit (1951–1978)
Spouse(s) May Bennett
Religion United Church

William Andrew Cecil Bennett PC OC (September 6, 1900 – February 23, 1979) was a Canadian politician. He was the 25th Premier of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C. Bennett, although some referred to him either affectionately or mockingly as "Wacky" Bennett. To his close friends, he was known as "Cece".

Bennett was born in Hastings, New Brunswick, Canada, one of five children born to Andrew Havelock Bennett and Mary Emma Burns. His father was a third cousin of Richard Bedford Bennett, eleventh Prime Minister of Canada.

He left formal school in grade nine, during the First World War, to take a job in a hardware store, but would pursue correspondence courses as an adult to improve his knowledge and job potential. He joined the Air Force but the war ended before he saw active duty. At the age of 18, he and his family moved to Edmonton, Alberta and then to Westlock, Alberta, where Bennett's father operated a hardware store.

In 1927 Bennett married Annie Elizabeth May Richards, known as "May". In 1930 they moved to Victoria and then Kelowna with their two children, Anita and R.J. A third child, William ("Bill") was born in 1932. In Kelowna he joined the local Gyro Club, Masonic Lodge, the Kelowna Club, and was active in the United Church of Canada.


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