Executive Council
Justice
September 8, 2014
Building Housing Corner Brook Courts Named in Honour of Former Premier
The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced that the building in which the Corner Brook Law Courts are situated has been named after former Premier Danny Williams, Q.C. Premier Marshall was joined at the ceremony today by the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Justice, Danny Williams, Q.C., and members of the local judiciary.
“Prior to becoming the ninth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Danny Williams had a long and distinguished legal career. As premier, he led the province through a period of unprecedented prosperity and growth. As a result, this Newfoundland and Labrador is stronger than ever. Danny was also a strong constituency person as the MHA for Humber West for almost a decade and as proponent of this court facility. It is fitting that we honour him in this way.”
- The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
A Rhodes Scholar, Danny Williams was first elected as the MHA for the District of Humber West in June 2001 and became Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador in October 2003, a post which he held for more than seven years. Prior to entering politics, Mr. Williams was a successful lawyer for almost 30 years and a founding partner of the firm Williams, Roebothan, McKay and Marshall. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1984. A brief biography of Mr. Williams can be found in the backgrounder below.
“While it may have been in the political realm where Danny became known to many in the province, it all began with his distinguished legal career. As a lawyer who worked on some of this province’s highest-profile cases, he had a reputation for being tenacious and smart. I believe this is a fitting tribute for all that he has done on behalf of residents of this district and the province as whole.”
- The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Justice
The building housing the Corner Brook Law Courts officially opened on May 3, 2010. It consists of seven courtrooms and houses all levels of the Supreme Court and the Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador. This is the second time since 2001 that a court house has been named for a former politician and prominent member of the legal community. In November of that year, the courthouse in Grand Bank was named after former Minister of Justice and Chief Justice, T. Alex Hickman.
“From an early age, I truly admired my father’s commitment to his legal career and he instilled within me a passion that led to me serving more than 30 years in that profession. So, to see this building named after me is such an extraordinary honour – not just as a former premier, but also as a lawyer. It is particularly poignant for me as this building is here in Corner Brook; a community that supported me as their representative for more than ten years. I am genuinely humbled by this distinction and I thank Premier Marshall and the government for bestowing it upon me.”
- Former Premier, Danny Williams
During the official naming ceremony, Premier Marshall and Danny Williams unveiled an artist’s representation of the exterior of the Danny Williams Building as it will appear.
QUICK FACTS
- The building housing the Corner Brook Law Courts has been officially named the Danny Williams Building after the ninth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Danny Williams, Q.C., worked as a lawyer in Newfoundland and Labrador for almost 30 years before entering politics in 2001. He was elected as Premier in 2003.
- The building was officially opened in May 2010 and houses Supreme and Provincial Courts.
Photo:
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Media contacts:
| Milly Brown Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3960 MillyBrown@gov.nl.ca |
Kevin Guest Press Secretary Office of the Premier 709-729-4304, 730-2320 kevinjguest@gov.nl.ca |
| Luke Joyce Director of Communications Department of Justice 709-729-6985, 725-4165 lukejoyce@gov.nl.ca |
Elizabeth Matthews elizabethjmatt@gmail.com 709-749-1399 |
BACKGROUNDER
Biography of Danny Williams, Q.C.
Danny Williams attended Memorial University where he received a degree in political science and economics. In 1969, he was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship and attended Keble College, Oxford, in the United Kingdom and received a degree in Arts in Laws. Upon returning to Canada, Mr. Williams enrolled at Dalhousie University where he earned a Bachelor of Laws Degree before being called to the bar in Newfoundland and Labrador in 1972. While attending Dalhousie, he led a group of businesspeople to seek the first cable licence in Newfoundland and Labrador, and ultimately built Cable Atlantic into one of the largest telecommunications companies in Atlantic Canada. Mr. Williams was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1984 and practised law for almost 30 years, including a period as a partner with the law firm Williams, Roebothan, McKay and Marshall. In 2011, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from the University of Prince Edward Island. In 2001, he was chosen as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador and was subsequently elected as the MHA for Humber West in a by-election in June of that year. Mr. Williams was elected as the ninth Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador on October 21, 2003, and held that post until his resignation in November 2010.
2014 09 08 11:15 a.m.