william arthur scott goss was born in london, ontario on 4 march 1881. he moved to toronto in 1883, where his father, john goss, worked in the newspaper and publishing industries. when his father died, goss, age 10, began work as an office boy in the city engineer's office. he was promoted to clerk of street repairs in 1899 and worked as a clerk and a draughtsman for nearly twenty years. then, in 1911, he was promoted to head of the photography and blueprinting section and became the city of toronto's first official photographer.