myHamilton.ca | discover, participate, learn and grow

Chester Samuel Walters

Walters started work as a messenger boy at the age of 10. His financial career began as an accountant with International Harvester. From 1908 to 1915 he was a public accountant. He founded the Certified Public Accountants Association. When elected Mayor of Hamilton in 1915, at age 36 he was the youngest mayor in Canada. In 1934 he began a career in provincial administration when he became Deputy Public Works Minister. From 1935 he was Deputy Minister of the Ontario Treasury and comptroller of finances, a post he held for a record 18 years. From 1953 to 1956 he was consultant to the Ontario Treasury. He was known as the grand vizier of Ontario finance. Dr. Walters held honourary degrees from seven Canadian universities.

Born: August 24, 1878, Waterford, Ont.

Married: 1. Annabel Mary O'Connor, 2. Margaret Selkirk Thomson

Died: December 10, 1958

Buried: