1923–1987
Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Section 23 Lot 19
Born in Toronto, Wallace Gordon Chalmers grew up fascinated by automotives and their mechanics. His early sketches of trucks and suspension systems foreshadowed a career that would revolutionize transportation. After serving in World War II, Chalmers earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Toronto in 1950, setting the stage for his groundbreaking work.
In the 1960s, Chalmers perfected and patented a unique rubber suspension system for trucks and trailers, dramatically improving ride quality and durability. In 1970, he founded Chalmers Suspensions International, dedicated to manufacturing and distributing his innovation. The company’s success attracted the ARMBRO Group, which acquired it while retaining Chalmers as a consultant. His contributions earned him the Canadian Award for Excellence in Engineering in 1985, cementing his reputation as a leader in applied design.
Even as bone cancer afflicted him in later years, Chalmers pursued new ideas, including an innovative wheelchair with an advanced suspension to aid those with mobility challenges. He passed away on September 25, 1987, at age 64, leaving behind a legacy of ingenuity and philanthropy, supporting engineering programs at the University of Waterloo and medical research at St. Michael’s Hospital.
His monument at Mount Pleasant Cemetery is as distinctive as his career: a massive granite sculpture shaped like a radial truck tire, symbolizing his lifelong devotion to transportation engineering.
Sources:
• Mount Pleasant Group – Story Archives
