William John Bennett

William John Bennett

William John Bennett, businessman (b at Schreiber, Ont 3 Nov 1911; d at Montréal, Qué 23 Apr 1991). A graduate of the University of Toronto, Bennett became private secretary to C.D. HOWE in 1935 and served as Howe's executive assistant in the Department of Munitions and Supply during WWII. In 1946 Bennett was appointed VP and general manager of Eldorado Mining and Refining Ltd, a crown corporation responsible for producing uranium. Under Bennett, Eldorado brought its Beaverlodge uranium-ore deposit into production in 1953.

As president of both Eldorado and Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd in the 1950s, Bennett directed the development of Canada's NUCLEAR ENERGY industry. He retired from Eldorado and AECL in 1958, becoming VP of the Iron Ore Company in 1960 and president in 1965. Bennett recruited future PM Brian MULRONEY to Iron Ore in 1976 and was succeeded as president of the firm by Mulroney upon his retirement in 1977.