Maitland Banting died in Ancaster at the home of his son, Dr. Peter M. Banting, on Friday, May 23, 2003, one week shy of his 92nd birthday. He was the eldest of four brothers whose parents were Gowan (Jim) Banting and Gertrude Fitzgerald Banting.

Both Maitland and his wife, Aline Myles Banting (d. 1998), were prominent Hamilton artists who exhibited widely. They co-founded The Contemporary Artists of Hamilton, a group that encompassed all the art forms and was active from the 1940s through to the 1970s.

Maitland forwent higher education to support a young family during the Depression. He later studied at McMaster University, graduating at the age of 68 with a degree in Philosophy.

His working career included positions as Advertising manager at Canadian Canners Ltd and Apparatus Advertising Manager at Canadian Westinghouse. After retiring from Westinghouse, he worked at Trans-Canada Pipelines and advised small Ontario businesses in communications and management. Maitland was a co-founder of the Canadian Industrial Advertisers' Association.

From the age of l7 he was an active member of the Hamilton Association for the Advancement of Literature, Science and Art, serving on its Executive and various committees for many years, including a season as President (1969-1970). He created a writing award for area high school students that was recently renamed The Maitland Banting Silver Quill Award, in honour of his longstanding record of service to the Association. In addition, he held the title of Honourary President of HAALSA for many years.

Maitland was a true gentleman and a gentle man who exuded loving kindness. He had a great sense of humour, an easy-going and accepting nature, a solid sense of integrity and a strong faith.

Adapted from a text provided by Peter Banting

From the President's Letter to Members, August 2003

Our enthusiasm for a new season is tinged by sadness at the loss of Maitland Banting, our Honourary President, who died in May at the age of 91. Maitland had been a member of the Association for 75 years, held many offices including President, and was on the Executive up until his death. He was a major instigator and protector of the Association's first literary award, the Silver Quill, which was renamed the Maitland Banting Silver Quill Award in his honour. He was a gentleman who loved to learn, to marvel at the wonders of the world, to converse and to discuss ideas. Not a bad example for any of us. May the Association continue in the tradition Maitland set. Our thanks to those members and friends who have made donations to the Association in Maitland's memory.

Aurelia Shaw, President 2003-2004