W. A. C. Bennett
|
The Honourable W. A. C. Bennett PC OC |
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|---|---|
| 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 |
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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 September 6, 1900 Hastings, New Brunswick |
| Died |
February 23, 1979 (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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