John and Bernice Williams Family
As partners, with their children Angela, Tyler and Andrew, in North Prairie Developments Ltd., John and Bernice Williams aren’t merely home builders. They are community builders, too.
Through philanthropy, the Williams family is committed to making the province a vibrant and nurturing place to live.
To acknowledge the family’s generous, $100,000 donation to Remai Modern, the reception desk in the museum’s light-filled atrium will be named for them.
It is a fitting connection. The museum’s architect, Bruce Kuwabara, has described the atrium as “the living room of the city.” In a sense, the Williams family is helping to roll out the welcome mat for visitors in 2017, when Remai Modern opens.
“It’s important for us to give back to the community we’ve been part of for a long time,” says John.
Adds Bernice, “We’re grateful for all the support our business has been given, and this is our opportunity to support the community.”
John acknowledges that it takes many individuals, including visionaries, designers and board members, who work hard to make a project such as Remai Modern come together. Similarly, cities require many diverse venues to attract people and grow.
The Williams family has also been inspired by the vision of Fred Mendel, the entrepreneur who founded the Mendel Art Gallery. “It is nice to see Remai Modern built on that legacy,” John says.
“Special people like Fred Mendel and Ellen Remai inspire all of us to give back to our wonderful community.”