William C. McBrien
Encyclopedia
William C. McBrien was a Canadian business owner and civic administrator. He was a long-serving chairman of the Toronto Transportation Commission
.
He was born in Orangeville
, Ontario
and moved to Toronto as a young boy. He began a hardware business at age 15. He served overseas with the Canadian Expeditionary Force
in the Great War, rising to the rank of Major in the 12th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops. On his return to Canada he worked in the real estate business, and became active in civic affairs. He served on the Toronto Board of Education
as member and Chairman, and later was appointed to the Toronto Harbour Commission
. In 1930 he was appointed as one of three members of the Toronto Transportation Commission. He was Chairman of the TTC in 1931-1932, and then from mid-1933 until his death. During the Second World War he served in Canada as a Lieutenant-Colonel commanding a reserve unit of the Royal Canadian Engineers.
He guided the TTC through the difficult years of the Great Depression
and the Second World War. He strongly supported the TTC’s construction of Canada’s first subway, which opened three months before his death. He was chairman during the transformation of the Toronto Transportation Commission from a local transit operator to a regional operator, the Toronto Transit Commission
, upon the formation of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto
in 1954.
The TTC headquarters building at Davisville subway station
, opened in 1958, is named the McBrien Building
in his honour.
Toronto Transportation Commission
Before 1954, the Toronto Transit Commission was called the Toronto Transportation Commission.-History:Toronto's first public transportation company was the Williams Omnibus Bus Line and owned by undertaker Burt Williams. The franchise carried passengers in horse-drawn stagecoaches along Yonge...
.
He was born in Orangeville
Orangeville, Ontario
Orangeville is a town in south-central Ontario, Canada, and the seat of Dufferin County.-History:Before European settlers, Orangeville was thought to be a native hunting ground...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and moved to Toronto as a young boy. He began a hardware business at age 15. He served overseas with the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
in the Great War, rising to the rank of Major in the 12th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops. On his return to Canada he worked in the real estate business, and became active in civic affairs. He served on the Toronto Board of Education
Toronto District School Board
Toronto District School Board, also known by the acronym TDSB, is the English-language public school board for Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
as member and Chairman, and later was appointed to the Toronto Harbour Commission
Toronto Port Authority
The Toronto Port Authority is a Canadian port authority responsible for management of the harbour of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, including the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport...
. In 1930 he was appointed as one of three members of the Toronto Transportation Commission. He was Chairman of the TTC in 1931-1932, and then from mid-1933 until his death. During the Second World War he served in Canada as a Lieutenant-Colonel commanding a reserve unit of the Royal Canadian Engineers.
He guided the TTC through the difficult years of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and the Second World War. He strongly supported the TTC’s construction of Canada’s first subway, which opened three months before his death. He was chairman during the transformation of the Toronto Transportation Commission from a local transit operator to a regional operator, the Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
, upon the formation of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto
Metropolitan Toronto
The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto was a senior level of municipal government in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area from 1954 to 1998. It was created out of York County and was a precursor to the later concept of a regional municipality, being formed of smaller municipalities but having more...
in 1954.
The TTC headquarters building at Davisville subway station
Davisville (TTC)
Davisville is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 1900 Yonge Street at Chaplin Crescent/Davisville Avenue...
, opened in 1958, is named the McBrien Building
William McBrien Building
William McBrien Building is the administrative headquarters of the Toronto Transit Commission. Designed by Charles B. Dolphin and opened in 1958, the 7-storey building is located at 1900 Yonge Street above the Davisville subway station. The building is named for former TTC Chairman William C...
in his honour.