Championing the Connection of Community & Regiment

HCol William James Stewart, CBE, CD, MPP

William James Stewart was appointed Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of The Queen's York Rangers in 1944 and Honorary Colonel in 1947, a position he held for fifteen years.

Stewart served as a city alderman in Toronto from 1924 to 1930 and as Mayor from 1931 to 1934. In 1938, he was elected to Parliament as a member of the Conservative Party, representing Parkdale, and served until 1959. He also served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1943 to 1947.

He was instrumental in the restoration of Old Fort York, which by the 1930s had fallen into disrepair. He later became Chair of the Toronto Historical Board (now Heritage Toronto).

For his public service, Stewart was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.