His Honour Ashley Chester is retired after having spent most of his professional life in the development of social, cooperative and affordable housing in the Toronto market and, later in Vancouver, as manager of project development with BC Housing.

His Honour was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1946. His father, Tom Chester, was a golf professional and his mother, Margot Chester, served as editor of a chain of community newspapers. He studied politics and economics at the University of Manitoba, during which time he worked as a journalist and as editor of a newspaper in Thompson, Manitoba.

A voracious reader of non-fiction– particularly history, biography, politics and global affairs– he also indulges an interest in the history of golf. He especially enjoys time spent with the Vice Regal Canine Consort, MacDuff Austin-Chester, a charming and self-confident West Highland White Terrier.