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The Colonel - Some reminiscences
By James M. Dunwoody (1972)
The soldier and the businessman
By James M. Dunwoody (article written for distribution in the Canadian Credit Institute monthly newsletter, 1936)
Geoffrey Herbert Ward & Ward, Mallette – A History
By D.K. McNair (1998)
Early on, the firm recognized the desirability of having international arrangements. Firstly, to be able to service clients wanting to expand beyond Canadian borders. And secondly, with the possibility of international work leading to Canadian referrals.
In 1971, our first international arrangement was with U.K. firm, Josolyne Layton-Bennett. In 1972, we saw our second international arrangement with American firm, Lester Witte & Co.
The global BDO network now spans across 160+ countries, employing 90,000 people in 1,600 offices.
Ward Mallette was founded and led by Geoffrey Ward in 1951. They merged in 1992 with Dunwoody & Co.—founded and led by James Dunwoody.
Prior to the merger, Ward Mallette expanded across Ontario, and was said to have been the largest accounting firm started in Canada after WWII, with a significant presence in the profession. G.H. Ward & Partners became the Canadian representative of (U.S.) Seidman & Seidman, and soon thereafter the Canadian member of that international firm.
In 1980, the name of that international firm was changed to Binder, Dijker Otte & Co. (the names that make up BDO). In 1988, it became BDO Binder, at which time every country part of the network was required to add the acronym BDO to its local name. Later it became BDO Dunwoody, and then arrived at our name today—BDO Canada LLP.
Throughout his professional years, Geoffrey Ward was a contributing writer and editor to various accounting magazines and publications. He was also a speaker at Ontario and Canadian Institute conferences on management topics until the 1980s—passionately sharing his professional knowledge with communities across Canada.
We continue to foster a number of partnerships and relationships with various industry associations to expand our presence within Canada, and globally.
By the end of 1991, Geoffrey Ward initiated a merger with Dunwoody & Co. to form BDO Dunwoody Ward Mallette. Committees that brought this together had representation across the country. By the merger date, the firms involved were located across Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia.
The National firm was directed by a National Executive Committee comprised of representatives of various member firms, charged with the responsibility of administering the partnership agreement.
“Leadership in either sphere, military or industrial, demands the same qualities of organization, ability, courage, imagination, resourcefulness, and a knowledge of human nature. In both cases, the demand will always exceed the supply.”
Similar to Colonel James Dunwoody, Winnipeg-born Geoffrey Ward had a military background, serving as a lieutenant during WWII, also obtaining a Chartered Accountant designation.
As Dunwoody stated in an article he wrote in 1936, titled The soldier and the businessman:
In the early 1940s, James Dunwoody and his family moved to Toronto, where a new office was opened. A few more partners and team members were added as the firm kept growing. After 1943, the firm continued to expand with Toronto as the head office. The original Toronto partners of J.M. Dunwoody & Co. were W.E. (Bill) Butler, W. V. (Bill) Curran, and C. Bruce Magee.
Geoffrey Ward started his company in Toronto as well, having grown outward across Ontario from 1951 until the merger with Dunwoody & Co. in 1992.
Over the more recent years, we’ve built a robust digital presence and have adopted remote working arrangements early on—so our Canadian footprint is equally engaged, no matter where we are between the coasts.
“My work took me to the principal naval bases across Canada. At each base, I would endeavor to select a young naval officer who in civilian life had received some accounting experience. I would outline the revised system to them, leave them the necessary material, and continue to maintain contact with them by correspondence and occasional visits. The system and plan worked out and by the end of my six-month tenure I had no doubt as to its future success.”
At the start of WWII, James Dunwoody became the only colonel in the Canadian navy. His job was to set up a modern system of accounting and financial control for naval bases across the country. This system of travelling coast to coast and sharing knowledge across regions has been held in high regard ever since. Our 140+ Canadian offices maintain close collaboration and teamwork.
As Dunwoody recounts:
In early 1921, James Dunwoody opened an office as a practicing Chartered Accountant—with one clerk and a secretary. His only client at the time was George T. Koester, President of the Ruddy-Koester Co. Ltd. outdoor advertising agents (a subsidiary of the E.L., Ruddy Co. Ltd. of Toronto).
We currently have over 65,000 business and 85,000 individual clients across Canada.
James Dunwoody received his degree in Chartered Accountancy in 1914, lecturing CA students in evening classes at the University of Manitoba for two years prior. Similarly, early in his career, Geoffrey Ward lectured in business courses at the University of Toronto throughout the 1950s.
The early founders of what grew to become BDO in Canada understood the value of supporting students—which remained an area the firm nurtured over the last 100 years.
In a typical year, we employ a total of over 850 new grads, co-op students, and interns.
“Even in retrospect, there is something refreshingly clear and right about fighting for something you believe in.”
– Col. James Dunwoody, May 1972
The Dunwoody family emigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba from Belfast, Northern Ireland in March 1911. Eldest son, James Dunwoody, received his degree in Chartered Accountancy in 1914. After coming back from WWI, Colonel Dunwoody went back to his passion for accounting and started Dunwoody & Co. in 1921—a small accounting start-up that grew to be the BDO we know today.
Dunwoody maintained a clear vision for the firm throughout his active years, and beyond:
In this series of facts, stories, and recollections that shaped the BDO we know today, we explore the journeys of our earliest founders: Colonel James Dunwoody from 1921, and Geoffrey Ward from 1951.
10 historical facts that shaped BDO
The Colonel - Some reminiscences
By James M. Dunwoody (1972)
The soldier and the businessman
By James M. Dunwoody (article written for distribution in the Canadian Credit Institute monthly newsletter, 1936)
Geoffrey Herbert Ward & Ward, Mallette – A History
By D.K. McNair (1998)
Early on, the firm recognized the desirability of having international arrangements. Firstly, to be able to service clients wanting to expand beyond Canadian borders. And secondly, with the possibility of international work leading to Canadian referrals.
In 1971, our first international arrangement was with U.K. firm, Josolyne Layton-Bennett. In 1972, we saw our second international arrangement with American firm, Lester Witte & Co.
The global BDO network now spans across 160+ countries, employing 90,000 people in 1,600 offices.
Ward Mallette was founded and led by Geoffrey Ward in 1951. They merged in 1992 with Dunwoody & Co.—founded and led by James Dunwoody.
Prior to the merger, Ward Mallette expanded across Ontario, and was said to have been the largest accounting firm started in Canada after WWII, with a significant presence in the profession. G.H. Ward & Partners became the Canadian representative of (U.S.) Seidman & Seidman, and soon thereafter the Canadian member of that international firm.
In 1980, the name of that international firm was changed to Binder, Dijker Otte & Co. (the names that make up BDO). In 1988, it became BDO Binder, at which time every country part of the network was required to add the acronym BDO to its local name. Later it became BDO Dunwoody, and then arrived at our name today—BDO Canada LLP.
By the end of 1991, Geoffrey Ward initiated a merger with Dunwoody & Co. to form BDO Dunwoody Ward Mallette. Committees that brought this together had representation across the country. By the merger date, the firms involved were located across Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia.
The National firm was directed by a National Executive Committee comprised of representatives of various member firms, charged with the responsibility of administering the partnership agreement.
Throughout his professional years, Geoffrey Ward was a contributing writer and editor to various accounting magazines and publications. He was also a speaker at Ontario and Canadian Institute conferences on management topics until the 1980s—passionately sharing his professional knowledge with communities across Canada.
We continue to foster a number of partnerships and relationships with various industry associations to expand our presence within Canada, and globally.
“Leadership in either sphere, military or industrial, demands the same qualities of organization, ability, courage, imagination, resourcefulness, and a knowledge of human nature. In both cases, the demand will always exceed the supply.”
Similar to Colonel James Dunwoody, Winnipeg-born Geoffrey Ward had a military background, serving as a lieutenant during WWII, also obtaining a Chartered Accountant designation.
As Dunwoody stated in an article he wrote in 1936, titled The soldier and the businessman:
In the early 1940s, James Dunwoody and his family moved to Toronto, where a new office was opened. A few more partners and team members were added as the firm kept growing. After 1943, the firm continued to expand with Toronto as the head office. The original Toronto partners of J.M. Dunwoody & Co. were W.E. (Bill) Butler, W. V. (Bill) Curran, and C. Bruce Magee.
Geoffrey Ward started his company in Toronto as well, having grown outward across Ontario from 1951 until the merger with Dunwoody & Co. in 1992.
Over the more recent years, we’ve built a robust digital presence and have adopted remote working arrangements early on—so our Canadian footprint is equally engaged, no matter where we are between the coasts.
“My work took me to the principal naval bases across Canada. At each base, I would endeavor to select a young naval officer who in civilian life had received some accounting experience. I would outline the revised system to them, leave them the necessary material, and continue to maintain contact with them by correspondence and occasional visits. The system and plan worked out and by the end of my six-month tenure I had no doubt as to its future success.”
At the start of WWII, James Dunwoody became the only colonel in the Canadian navy. His job was to set up a modern system of accounting and financial control for naval bases across the country. This system of travelling coast to coast and sharing knowledge across regions has been held in high regard ever since. Our 140+ Canadian offices maintain close collaboration and teamwork.
As Dunwoody recounts:
In early 1921, James Dunwoody opened an office as a practicing Chartered Accountant—with one clerk and a secretary. His only client at the time was George T. Koester, President of the Ruddy-Koester Co. Ltd. outdoor advertising agents (a subsidiary of the E.L., Ruddy Co. Ltd. of Toronto).
We currently have over 65,000 business and 85,000 individual clients across Canada.
James Dunwoody received his degree in Chartered Accountancy in 1914, lecturing CA students in evening classes at the University of Manitoba for two years prior. Similarly, early in his career, Geoffrey Ward lectured in business courses at the University of Toronto throughout the 1950s.
The early founders of what grew to become BDO in Canada understood the value of supporting students—which remained an area the firm nurtured over the last 100 years.
In a typical year, we employ a total of over 850 new grads, co-op students, and interns.
“Even in retrospect, there is something refreshingly clear and right about fighting for something you believe in.”
– Col. James Dunwoody, May 1972
The Dunwoody family emigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba from Belfast, Northern Ireland in March 1911. Eldest son, James Dunwoody, received his degree in Chartered Accountancy in 1914. After coming back from WWI, Colonel Dunwoody went back to his passion for accounting and started Dunwoody & Co. in 1921—a small accounting start-up that grew to be the BDO we know today.
Dunwoody maintained a clear vision for the firm throughout his active years, and beyond:
In this series of facts, stories, and recollections that shaped the BDO we know today, we explore the journeys of our earliest founders: Colonel James Dunwoody from 1921, and Geoffrey Ward from 1951.
10 historical facts that shaped BDO
