[2] During World War II he enlisted as a Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps but was unable to serve abroad due to diabetes.
[4] Between 1947 and 1960, Dr. Chalmers was a key backroom supporter of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick while at the same time serving as Surgeon-in-Chief, President of the Medical Staff, and member of the Board of Directors for the Victoria Public Hospital in Fredericton.
Chalmers used his influence with PC Party Leader and Premier of New Brunswick Hugh John Flemming to upgrade medical facilities in Fredericton during the 1950s.
Chalmers used his cabinet position in the early 1970s to advocate for the new regional hospital, as well as for solutions to alcohol and drug addiction problems in the province.
He was appointed chair of the Alcoholism and Drug Dependency Commission of New Brunswick and served as a consulting emeritus in general surgery at the hospital named after him.