David Spiers

The Galt Collegiate Institute, built while he was mayor, has been described as a A fitting monument to the steady character and civic usefulness of David Spiers, who came from Scotland at the age of nine.

Spiers started his business career in the Andrew Elliott and Company store, became a manufacturer and bought the local electric and gas plants. He owned and operated an oatmeal mill and was associated with a number of firms, including the Galt Art Metal Company of which he was president. He was an original promoter of the Galt, Preston and Hespeler Railway.

Spiers served on the town council for twenty-five years and was mayor from 1880 to 1882. A member of the collegiate board for forty-three years, including twenty-eight years as chairman, and president of the hospital board for eighteen years, he was untiring in his efforts to advance the interests of his community.