Barney Danson

Barney Danson

Barnett Jerome (Barney) Danson, PC CC (February 8, 1921 – October 17, 2011) was a Canadian politician and Cabinet minister.

Barney Danson was born to a Jewish family in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood. He joined The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada in 1939 as the Second World War broke out, rose to the rank of Lieutenant and served until he was severely wounded in the Battle of Normandy, and lost an eye. He maintained an interest in the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and its library for the blind and visually impaired until his death.

He returned to Canada and joined his family's insurance business before entering the plastics industry with his own company, the Danson Corporation. He also served as president of the Society of the Plastics Industry of Canada.

In 2002, his autobiography, Not Bad for a Sergeant: The Memoirs of Barney Danson, was published.