Born in Montreal, P.Q. on December 11, 1948. Son of Group Captain (D.S.O.) and Mrs. C. G. William Chapman of Ottawa. Mr. Chapman, now retired, was senior Counsel in Almonte where he has practiced law since 1976, after having completed articles with Macdonald, Affleck on Sparks Street in Ottawa.
Bill lived in the Toronto area where he attended St. Andrew’s College (Aurora), graduating as an Ontario Scholar and recipient of the Headmaster’s Medal, Board of Governors Medal and Lt. Governor’s Award in 1967. In addition to a brief course of study at Alliance Francaise in Paris, France he attended Glendon Hall of York University where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy. Thereafter, he pursued graduate studies in law at Dalhousie University (Halifax).
While studying at Osgoode Hall for the Bar Admission Course, he was a Don at Devonshire House, University of Toronto, where he founded the first debating society of Devonshire House. During his preparatory years of study and later in law school, he was active in public speaking and debate, including Trinity College School (Port Hope), Hart House (University of Toronto) and the McGill International Debating Tournament (Montreal) in which his team ranked third out of 120 participants. He also won the Sir Winston Churchill Medal for Oration. Later in life he was a Judge at the 25th Annual “International Independent Schools’ Public Speaking Competition”.
His love of Almonte has included over the years active participation in many local groups, including St. Paul’s Anglican Church (Warden), Almonte Board of Management (Chairman), Business & Professional Association (President), Elizabeth Kelly Library Foundation (a founding Trustee), Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (Policy and Procedure), Mississippi River Power Corporation (Director), 1st Lanark Highlanders (Major – Adjutant), Mississippi Lodge No. 147, A.F. & A.M. (Master, Secretary and Historian) and Mississippi Masonic Hall Inc. (President). He has completed and published a history of the local Masonic Lodge from its Charter in 1861 to 1994. He also wrote an anecdotal autobiography entitled Sepia. Public speaking engagements have been undertaken for local community organizations, Algonquin College (elective and credit courses) and business management and estate planning seminars. He was a social member of the Mississippi Golf Club, Appleton.
