Historical events and the role that one adopts, in society, are factors that sometimes determine the major achievements that a person makes, during their lifetime. Recognition of the contributions made, by an individual, to their country, community, or their fellow human beings are at times measured in the form of medals and honours, bestowed upon them by government.

A biographical overview of Bernard Arthur Bonser, including documentation of medals and honours appointed to to him, serves as testimony of his legendary lifetime achievements to the public service. He was a great human being and very talented in many respects. This is verified by his wide spectrum of significant achievements.

Biographical overview of Bernard Arthur Bonser
Born in the City of Toronto, on November 10, 1923, he attended Duke of Connaught Public School, Kew Beach Public School and Danforth Technical High School.

In June of 1941, Ben enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve and at the early age of 17, he was called to active duty, in August 1941. Ben's service in the Royal Canadian Navy, during the period from August 7, 1941 to August 31, 1945, included dangerous convoy activity in the North Atlantic, European, and Mediterranean Theatres of World War II. He was assigned to a gun crew as a seaman aboard the destroyer HMCS Annapolis and the frigate HMCS La Hulloise.

Shortly after returning home from WWII, Ben Bonser joined the Toronto Fire Department on April 15, 1946. His badge number was 983.

At an early stage in his career with the Toronto Fire Department, Ben Bonser became very active in the union, following in his father's footsteps, who was an international representative for the Carpenters' Union. Ben Bonser held elected positions with the Toronto Fire Fighters' Association, Local 113, from 1950 to 1971. His 21 years of service with Local 113 included being President from 1959 to 1963.

During his union career, he was selected to attend a Canadian Labour Congress course at McGill University. He was the second Canadian fire fighter to be chosen. Subsequently, Ben travelled throughout the United States and parts of Canada teaching collective bargaining with an emphasis of using skill rather than strikes to resolve disputes. He presented arbitration briefs for many smaller Locals, who were underpaid, and achieved great success.

In 1956, Ben was a key negotiator for the Toronto Fire Fighters' Association, Local 113, when they wanted the City of Toronto to change the fire fighters workweek from 56 hours to 42 hours.

Since negotiations between Local 113 and the City were unproductive, Local 113 took the issue to arbitration. On February 4, 1957, the Arbitration Board ruled in favour of 113. Consequently, 264 additional fire fighters were hired and the new 42-hour workweek was inaugurated on August 26, 1957.

Ben was promoted to the rank of Captain on October 13, 1961.

In 1964, he became the 13th District Vice President for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). He was a driving force to establish an IAFF office in Canada. He successfully presented arbitration briefs for many smaller Locals, who were underpaid, and worked long hours.

Ben's ability to present a position in negotiations or meetings was always a very soft and effective approach, that usually left the other side believing he was making concessions, yet in the final outcome, he often accomplished his goal, without malice or hard feelings.

In 1966, Mississauga Fire Fighters, frustrated with long hours, low wages, poor employee benefits and unsuccessful at negotiating reasonable improvements filed for arbitration. Consequently, IAFF vice president Ben Bonser prepared and presented the arbitration case. The award established and confirmed the historical comparisons for Mississauga Fire Fighters and gave them a 9% raise to $6595 per year for a 48-hour workweek with direction to reduce their workweek to 42 hours in 1967.

The Toronto Fire Department promoted Ben Bonser to the rank of District Chief on August 25, 1967.

He assisted in a very serious Montreal fire fighters strike and brought it to a fair conclusion. He was also a principle union officer in 1970 that was involved in the amalgamation of Port Arthur and Fort William Fire Departments into one Thunder Bay Fire Department. This was regarded as a real classic, and has been used as an example in other parts of the IAFF.

Throughout his exemplary career, Ben participated in numerous fire related activities at the national and international levels and he was recognized as a leading advocate of the Canadian fire services. Some additional activities that he was involved with are as follows:

• Member, Associate Committee of the National Fire Code, National Research Council, Ottawa, 1965 to 1971.
• Chair, Board of Trustees, John P. Redman Fund, IAFF, sponsors of Symposia on Occupational Health and Safety, 1968 to 1977.
• Vice-President and President, Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, 1974 to 1983. Member, Associate Committee of the National Building Code, National Research Council, Ottawa, 1976 to 1982.
• Member and Chairman, Associate Committee on Research for the Fire Service, National Research Council, Ottawa, 1982 to 1988.
• Member, Board of Directors, National Fire Prevention Association, 1985 to 1988.
• He served on many technical sub-committees with the Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada.

On February 26, 1971 he was promoted to Deputy Chief. Thus in 1972, Ben relinquished his position with the IAFF.

Following the historic Eaton's Fire on May 9, 1977, which was Toronto's largest conflagration since the Great Toronto Fire of April 19, 1904, Deputy Chief Ben Bonser reached the climax of his distinguished fire service career. He was appointment as Fire Chief of the City of Toronto on May 20, 1977.

In 1982, he led a fire service delegation to the People's Republic of China, Japan, and Hong Kong, and hosted a reciprocal visit of representatives from the People's Republic of China Fire Service. This resulted in an exchange of scientific and technological information on fire service matters. In 1986, Ben revisited the Pacific Rim as a member of a City of Toronto sponsored trade delegation. During this visit, the City of Toronto signed a Twinning Agreement with the City of Chongqing Fire Service. In 1987, he returned to China with a delegation of five Toronto Fire Department members to conduct seminar programs in Beijing and Chongqing and hosted a reciprocal visit of Chinese Fire Officials to Canada in 1988.

On December 23, 1985, Fire Chief Ben Bonser was appointed to Canada's highest civilian honour, as a Member of the Order of Canada, for his leadership role in the fire service at the National and International level. His investiture to the Order of Canada was on April 9, 1986 with the statement, “Chief of the Toronto Fire Department, he has, through his devotion to professional organizations at all levels and as President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, furthered the cause of fire safety in Canada. His stature in this field was confirmed by his selection as leader of a Canadian fire services delegation to China in 1982, and as Head of the Canadian delegation to the International Fire Chiefs of Asia Conference in Tokyo.”

In 1986, Ben was also appointed to the Order of St. John.

When questioned about his awards of recognition, he was typically modest and said it was for the fire service, not for him individually.

After serving the City of Toronto for more than 41 years, Fire Chief Ben Bonser retired on January 31, 1988.

In recognition of his contribution to many fire service organizations he was rewarded, at the time of his retirement, with Honourary Life Memberships in the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the International Fire Chiefs of Asia Association.

His favourite charities were those that traditionally had developed strong ties with the fire service, namely Muscular Dystrophy Canada, St. Johns Ambulance (past Chair), the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Good Neighbours' Club (past Chair), and various Hospital Burn Centres.

Following his retirement from the Toronto Fire Department, Ben continued to exercise his fire service knowledge and experience by joining a consulting firm, Fire Cross Consultants Incorporated, as a senior consultant, from 1989 to 2002.

Ben Bonser passed away peacefully, at St. Michael's Hospital, on January 26, 2005.

Bernard Arthur Bonser goes down in history as a great Fire Chief for the City of Toronto and acclaimed as a leader in the Canadian fire service industry in both management and labour.

Ben Bonser touched many hearts and affected the careers of many fire fighters by his exemplary role as an advocate of the development of the fire service in Canada and other parts of the world.

Ben was an extraordinary man that leaves a great legacy. For service to his country and community, he was appointed to the following medals and honours:

• Order of Canada - 1985
• Order of St. John - 1986
• Federal Fire Service Medal Exemplary Service Medal and 40 year Service Bar.
• Ontario Fire Service Medal 1946-1988
• 1939-1945 Star
• 1939-1945 King George Service Medal
• 1939-1945 Voluntary Service Medal
• The Atlantic Star and France/Germany Bar
• The Italy Star
• Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Medal 1952-1977
• Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal 1952-2002
• Canadian Confederation Medal 1867-1967
• 125th Anniversary of Confederation of Canada Medal - 1992