Ridleians of Distinction - M - Z
Q - R
Redelmeier, William '71
From Richmond Hill, Ontario, Bill Redelmeier was a student at Ridley from 1967-1971. After graduating from Ridley, he first attended York University for science and then transferred to the University of Guelph to study agriculture. From this study of agriculture, Bill, together with his partner, Marilyn, evolved Bill’s family cattle and cash cropping business in Richmond Hill to a roadside vegetable stand in the 1980s to, in 1983, the “Pumpkin Patch” farm market to, in 2005, the now award-winning Southbrook Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Starting with a 74-acre investment in the heart of Ontario wine country, their holdings were doubled, in 2008, to approximately 150 acres of prime viticultural land. Southbrook Vineyards now boasts an award-winning LEED Gold building designed by architect Jack Diamond. Both the vineyards and the winery have received certifications, including LEED, biodynamic and organic certification – demonstrating leadership and commitment to the environment and to quality wine making. In 2010, Bill conceived of and organized the “Seriously Cool Chardonnay” event in Ontario and the United Kingdom to promote and showcase Ontario’s Chardonnay wines on an international platform. Bill is a board member of the Vintners Quality Alliance (Ontario), the Wine Council of Ontario, and Fruit Wines of Canada. Southbrook has received many awards, including the 2011 Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence, the Niagara Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2012 for Environmental Enterprise and 2012 Winery of the Year at InterVin International Wine Awards. In 2018, he received the Organics Achievement Award at the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) Expo East.
P.O. Box 3013, 2 Ridley Road St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 7C3 Canada 905 684 1889
With more than 700 students from 60 countries, the largest boarding programme in Ontario and the third largest in Canada, Ridley College is a truly international, co-educational, day and boarding school of the world that prepares students for the world. It has provided enriching learning and life-shaping experiences focused on the arts, academics, and athletics since 1889. Ridley’s Lower School offers JK-Grade 8, its Upper School consists of Grade 9-PG, and Ridley graduates attend some of the top universities and colleges around the world. Ridley is the only co-ed independent boarding school in Canada and one of only three in North America authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum programme.
