Messages and notes

Errol was so very generous and such a great person to be around. He had a gift for telling stories and would always seek out new and interesting ones. He also recognized the potential in us all and gave so many of us a chance to realize and develop the gifts that we have. Errol was always involving new people in filmmaking and would help whenever he could.

Errol, Tony and I worked together so often and after a while it didn't seem like work and we just would spend such wonderful times together. So it was appropriate that the last road trip that Errol and I took was to come to the Silver Wave Film Festival last November. We shared memories on the way up and the way back and the highlight was being able to spend time with so many of our friends.

Errol was a great friend and he connected us all together as if we were part of a beautiful quilt that covered the world. With Errol it didn't matter if he just met you or had known him for decades, his easygoing manner, warm smile and delightful laugh would put you at ease. Errol travelled often and he was never travelling to places, but to people. So many people and so many stories.

While we were working on editing "When Voices Rise..." Errol moved in to our house in Wolfville and I spent pretty much every waking moment with him for almost 6 months. We would stay up late talking and then head off to bed. Errol had a hard time sleeping through the night and I would hear him quietly moving around the house in the early hours, reading and making notes before he went back to bed. I would get up, make coffee and he would come downstairs and in his lovely voice say, "Good morning" and we would share coffee and breakfast as we began to talk about what we were going to do that day. Then after a shower (separately, of course) we'd head downstairs to the editing suite to begin editing.

My son John was in daycare a few days a week and he would often stay in with us, on my lap or Errol's. He'd feed John if I was on a roll with editing and would always have time for him. We'd work for a few hours or until we weren't making progress and then would take a walk downtown to have some lunch. We talked constantly while walking and having lunch and did so much work that way. Then it was back to the house and we'd continue on until we were hungry or when "Seinfeld" came on.  When my daughters Emily and Caitlin would come home from school Errol would talk with them to find out how their day went. When Carolyn arrived home Errol would always greet her and they would talk. Often in the evening we'd watch a film or do a bit more editing if we had a burning idea and always end the day by talking. Errol would come and go over the years and you were never sure when you'd talk with him or see him as plans would change often. But it was always a joy to be with him and to have someone who cared so much about what he did and the people around him.

Chris Campbell, Alumni member and Past President of the
NB Film Co-op

Reflections of Errol by his Family:
Who can forget Errol Williams? His trademark mannerisms, his ready smile, the messenger bag slung over his shoulder and his distinctive walk. Who can forget the way he signaled a punch-line or a play on words. 

Who can forget this man whose friendship was golden, whose life's work and play have become icons etched in our psyches.

Errol's achievements are so numerous that it would take volumes to tell his story......and we all know how much he loved stories.

Born on October 30th, 1951 in a very small village called the Wakapoa Mission in Guyana, Errol was a miraculous gift to his parents Joyce Williams and the late Oscar Williams. He was also a gift to his siblings: Colleen, Maureen, Ewart and Gavin.

A reflection from his mother: "he was a premature and tiny baby who was not expected to live more than a few days." However, the almighty God gave him to me and I am thankful for the 55 years I was blessed to share my life with this wonderful gift of my first son."

In Guyana, Errol attended the Anna Regina Secondary School on the Essequibo Coast but graduated from Charlestown Secondary School in Georgetown. Our family migrated to Canada in 1969 and resided in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In 1970, Errol was enrolled at the University of New Brunswick where he completed his first degree. He later attended Queen's University and acquired a second degree (B.Ed). Being the educator that he was, he went on to attain a Master's degree in Education from the University of Ottawa.

A precocious child and an avid reader, one would always find Errol coilded up in bed quietly reading. It was quite an ordeal to get him out of bed to to help with household chores.

(Errol Williams and the amazing Willie O'Ree at a press conference.)

(Errol working on Echoes in the Rink: The Willie O'Ree Story.)

Errol was great in every sense. Besides being human and humorous, he had the key qualities of a filmmaker; conviction and determination. He was not afraid to put his money on the line when it came to a project and once bought an old 16mm camera just so he could shoot test scenes for what was then called "Fire on Ice." He was grounded in reality, and knew what freedom meant. Free the Meat, Errol.

Art Makosinski, Film Co-op Alumni, based in Victoria

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Errol was a true gentleman and a genuinely warm and funny man. He never seemed to be soured by any setbacks life threw at him and always had a smile and a laugh. A great guy to talk with, work with and drink with. A sad loss for all who knew him.

Kevin Holden, Film Co-op Alumni, based in Montreal

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I only met Errol a few times so I can not speak too much about him personally.  I want to say how moved I was by his film "When Voices Rise."  It was so well made that I found encouragement as a New Brunswick Filmmaker to strive even harder.  It was such a powerful film.  I also found it so inspiring to see that change indeed can happen when we stand strong for what is right.  I should also acknowledge that the film Errol was in, 'A Parable in Black and White' was a major influence to create my film Seeds. What an amazing filmmaker and human being Errol was.  I hope we will challenge ourselves to live up to his standard.

Jeff Combs, Saint John based Film Co-op member

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I met Errol many times over the years I was Executive Director of New Brunswick Film. Errol was always a gentleman and I always enjoyed our conversations. He had found his niche in the film industry and got to tell a few of his stories. I know he had many friends at the New Brunswick Film Coop. His presence will be missed.

Ray Wilson

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Dear Tony,

Lori McCurdy just told me the news of Errol’s passing. I’m so sorry he had to leave us so early. He was such a joy to be around. I know you personally and the Film Co-op must be devastated. You have lost a prince of a man.

All my best wishes to you and the New Brunswick Filmmakers Co-operative.

Ralph Holt, Telefilm Canada

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Such a sweet, considerate, sensitive soul and a gentleman extraordinaire!

Robbie O'Neill, New Brunswick Actor
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Cat and Tony,

This is deeply sad and sudden. He's one of the reasons I wanted to move here. Meeting him in ’98 at the Atlantic Film Festival was an inspiration. I’m cryin’ at my desk.

Kris Gilbert, Marketing Manager, William F. White Atlantic
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Dear Cat Leblanc,

GIV staff are very sorry to hear the news about Errol Williams.
Please give our condolences to everyone at NB Film Co-op.

Best,
Anne Golden
Groupe Intervention Vidéo
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Hi Tony,

I just heard the news about Errol. Shocking and so sad! Seeing Errol's generous smile on location or at various festivals over the years was a true delight. I often think of you guys, keep up the great work. Errol would wantit that way.

Kent Nason
Sea to Sea Productions

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Errol was the consummate story-teller. He took epic struggles such as those faced by Willy O’Ree in Canada and Kingsley Tweed and the Progressive Group in Bermuda and committed them to film so that their legend would live on and inspire others. Errol still had stories to tell, and it is difficult to believe that his voice has been silenced.

In an interview for my master’s thesis on film and identity in 2002, Errol said that part of nation-building is finding bona fide heroes. Those who knew him and his work know that we have all found a hero and a perpetual source of inspiration in Errol himself.

Laurie Armstrong Cooper
Université de Moncton
Moncton, NB