Kenneth S. Benson was born in Vancouver and attended school on the Westside of the city, graduating from Grade 13 at King Edward High in 1956. He entered the Commerce-Law option at the University of British Columbia, and graduated with his LL.B. in 1962. In order to pay for his university education expenses, he worked throughout university driving trucks for Dairyland Milk Foods.
After graduation he articled with Ellis, Dryer and Company, and had intended to stay with the firm. However, he was invited by Dean George Curtis to an interview with a large oil company that was seeking a newly called lawyer. The Atlantic Refining Company hired Benson, and he moved to Calgary. After 6 months in Calgary he was sent for Management Training in Texas, inspiring Benson's dream of one day owning a residence on the Gulf of Mexico. After returning to Canada, Benson wanted to gain more experience in the practice of law, and joined Guild, Yule and Company. There he practiced corporate, commercial, and mining law until he was head-heading by Bulkley Valley Forest Industries Limited to help deliver their goal of building the world's largest forest products complex.
After 4 years of being responsible for all aspects of the development of the town of Bulkley Valley, the undertaking was sold to Noranda Mines, and Mr. Benson joined Cominco Ltd. in their Law Department. His work with the company over 10 years included issues related to the construction of major projects in Greenland, NE England, and Alberta, as well as US-Canada Trade Proceedings. These proceedings required Benson to travel from Vancouver to Washington, DC 93 times over three years.
In 1985, Kenneth Benson joined Cominco's parent, Canadian Pacific Enterprises Ltd., as Vice President Administration and Secretary. The company ultimately merged with its parent, becoming the 2nd largest corporation in Canada at the time, and Benson was appointed Vice President Personnel and Administration of the merged Canadian Pacific Limited. He continued to live in Calgary and commuted weekly to Montreal for 18 months. Reason eventually prevailed and Benson moved to Montreal and resided there for 10 years, until taking early retirement from the company in 1996.
Throughout his career, Kenneth Benson has served on countless corporate boards as well as numerous charitable organizations. He has volunteered extensively for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, for 9 years as the Alberta representative on the Board of the Mounted Police Foundation, and as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Advisory Committee of Prominent Canadians for the 125th Anniversary of the March West. Benson is particularly proud of having had the opportunity through his various contributions to meet Her Majesty The Queen on 4 occasions.
He eventually fulfilled his goal of purchasing a residence on the Gulf of Mexico in 2000, when he bought a condominium in Pelican Bay, Naples, Florida. He splits his retirement in Calgary, at the condo, and spending some time each year travelling Europe.
He advises law students who seek exciting careers with large, international corporations to "be flexible as to the work assigned, be prepared to travel extensively, have strong written and presentation skills, and, if necessary, move residences." Those who wish to assume non-legal executive roles must "have the capacity to be a quick study, have the constitution of an ox, think strategically, assume risks and" he says, "above all, make numerous hard decisions in a fully an directly accountable environment."