Bennett, Willard Erlandson : Willard Erlandson Bennett was born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1898. He attended Lisgar Colleagiate Institute (Ottawa) and Royal Military College in Kingston. He served as a Lieutenant, Canadian Field Artillery, in both Canada and England between July 1918 and March 1919. Upon his discharge, Mr. Bennett attended the University of Toronto, receiving a BA.Sc in Civil Engineering, Railroad Option in 1923.
From 1919 until 1922 Mr. Bennett worked for the Dominion Land Survey and the Dominion Water Power Branch on various projects, including on the Niagara River. In May of 1925 her joined the Nippissing Central Railway, working on the construction of the branch line from Swastika to Larder Lake, Ontario. From 1926 to 1933 he was employed by Morrow and Beatty Ltd., Engineering Contractors, and worked in various capacities on railroad and power projects. It was during this time that Mr. Bennett work on the Chats Falls Hydro Electric Power development, further developing a speciality in rock excavation. At this point, Mr. Bennett decided to return to university and in 1934 he was granted a Masters Degree in Applied Science - Mining from the University of Toronto.
In 1934, Mr. Bennett secured a position as Construction Superintendent at Lamaque Gold Mines. From 1942 to 1944 he served as officer commanding the 27th Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers, retiring to the reserve of officers in May of 1944. Mr. Bennett returned to Lamaque Mining Company until 1946, when he worked for various mining promoters and developers, including Aumaque Gold Mines, Heva Gold Mines, Mic-Mac Mines, Ltd. And Louvicourt Gold Corporation. From 1949 to 1955, he was General Superintendent at Steep Rock Iron Mines Ltd, in Atikokan, Ontario.
In 1955, Mr. Bennett started his own company, W.E. Bennett and Associates Ltd., Management and Consulting Engineers. Mr. Bennett retired in 1982, and died on October 21, 1985.
