Praise for the late Bill Norrie

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/07/2012 (5058 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“What I learned from Bill is to stay open to everybody even if you have a difference of opinion with them, to remain open to their perspective even if you couldn’t agree with them on the specific issue coming at you.”

— Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger, who served one term as a councillor under Norrie

“I admired his courage and his years of devotion to public life.”

— Susan Thompson, Winnipeg’s mayor from 1992 to 1998

“If you look at the last 60, 70 years of the city’s history, there are few politicians who accomplished as much as he did. Much of what we cherish in Winnipeg, our quality of life and culture, he was responsible, The Forks and the Core Area Initiative among them.”

— Glen Murray, Winnipeg’s mayor from 1998 to 2004

“What an accomplishment to create consensus when you have 29 city councillors. That takes a lot of skill, and obviously Bill had tremendous skill. I know how hard it is with 15 councillors.”

— current Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz

“There are lessons I have taken from him and tried to use in my own life, because they are demonstrative of an incredibly principled man.”

— Former city councillor Chris Lorenc, who served as a councillor under Norrie for nine years

“Even if you were on the opposite side of the fence on a particular issue, he was a nice guy and didn’t hold grudges.”

— Former city councillor Jae Eadie, who served under Norrie for 12 years

“There wouldn’t be a Forks-North Portage development if it wasn’t for Bill Norrie.”

— Former city councillor Ernie Gilroy, who served under Norrie for six years

“He was a great example for other people to follow.”

— Former city councillor Bernie Wolfe, who served alongside Norrie in the early 1970s

“He was honest. That was what I liked the best about him.”

— Daniel McIntyre Coun. Harvey Smith, the only current city council member who served with Bill Norrie

— compiled by Bartley Kives and Bruce Owen