Sir Byron Edmund Walker was the driving force behind the
campaign to found a world-class museum in Toronto. Born in 1848
on a farm in Haldimand County, Ontario, Edmund Walker left
school at the age of 12 to enter the banking business. Curious
about culture and science, he became a self-taught expert in
many fields. In 1868, he joined the Canadian Bank of Commerce.
Before he turned 40 he was the general manager of the bank; by
1907, he was the president. Walker was also a great
philanthropist who took part in the foundation and direction of
many organizations, including the National Gallery of Canada,
the Art Gallery of Ontario, and the University of Toronto. While
working for the bank in New York, Walker pursued his cultural
interests, visiting galleries and museums, and developed skills
as an art collector. It was his dream to see a major museum in
the city of Toronto, equal to those he had admired in New York.
Walker used his influence and connections, and after many years
of planning and negotiating, the R