Barnett Jerome "Barney" Danson was born to a Jewish family in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood.
17 Facts About Barney Danson
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Barney Danson joined The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada in 1939 as the Second World War broke out.
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Barney Danson rose to the rank of Lieutenant and served until he was severely wounded, losing an eye, in the Battle of Normandy.
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Barney Danson's ailment created an interest in the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and its library for the blind and visually impaired, which he maintained until his death.
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Barney Danson returned to Canada and joined his family's insurance business before entering the plastics industry with his own company, the Danson Corporation.
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Barney Danson served as president of the Society of the Plastics Industry of Canada.
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Barney Danson's son, Tim Danson, is a Toronto lawyer known as a victim's rights advocate and for having represented the families of Paul Bernardo's victims.
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Barney Danson was unsuccessful during his first attempt at politics as an Ontario Liberal Party candidate in the 1967 provincial election in the riding of York Mills.
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Barney Danson served in that position until the defeat of the Liberal government in the 1979 general election, in which he lost his seat.
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Barney Danson received an honorary degree from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, of which he was a former chancellor.
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Barney Danson is the co-founder along with Jacques Hebert of Katimavik, the national youth volunteer programme.
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Barney Danson served as Canada's Consul General in Boston from 1984 to 1986.
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Barney Danson served on corporate and not-for-profit boards of directors such as the Canadian Executive Services Organization, Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, the Atlantic Council, the Empire Club of Canada, the Ballet Opera House Corporation, de Havilland Aircraft of Canada, Algoma Central Corporation, General steelwares, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.
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Barney Danson was named an Officer of France's National Order of Merit, and the Churchill Society's Award for "Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy".
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In 1996, Barney Danson was named an Officer of the Order of Canada and promoted to Companion in 2008.
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In 2006, Barney Danson was made an honorary Doctor of Laws by York University of Toronto.
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Barney Danson was sworn in as a Member of the Privy Council on August 8,1974, which gave him the title "The Honourable" for life.