Every man's dream
Guysborough - The first time Glynn Williams came to Guysborough was by bicycle. Today, he flies here aboard his own plane.
Williams, the owner of The Rare Bird Pub, DesBarres Manor and Skipping Stone Gallery, says he was hooked when he first rode into town 25 years ago while on a cycling tour of Marine Drive with his wife.
"I fell in love with the area," says Williams. "Nova Scotia is a beautiful place."
The successful businessman found a summer home in St. Francis Harbour and has been returning ever since.
As well as his latest venture as pub owner, Williams is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Reliance Aerotech. He is a professional engineer, chartered financial analyst and spent 25 years on Bay Street, Toronto's financial district. Not to mention his many hobbies and obsessions like music, flying, birding and a keen interest in local history. Williams is fascinated with the history of the DesBarres family of Guysborough and the beer brewing history of the area. The Rare Bird is carrying on the tradition of brewing, with three specialty brews of its own.
"In 20 years, every year I've learned something new about Guysborough," says Williams.
He bought the properties a couple of years ago from developers who had originally restored the old buildings.
"The downtown in Guysborough needed some tender loving care," says Williams. Last year was the first season The Rare Bird was opened under Williams ownership.
Although he admits the restaurant/hospitality industry is a tough business, Williams is optimistic about his investments.
"The objective is to develop culture and arts and showcase the essential Nova Scotia," says Williams. "We want to showcase the culinary arts - we have an excellent chef here in Sean Zwarun - showcase the local crafts with the Skipping Stone and visual arts as well with the sculptures in the Gallery." And then there's the east coast music.
"The Rare Bird is a place to play in a nice setting," says Williams. "I'm taking this pretty darn seriously. This is a success, or will be - depending on how you measure success."
Williams says his approach to the businesses is hands-on. He comes to Guysborough once a month to check in.
"Our approach versus prior approaches is that I'm here a lot. There's attention to detail, and I'm fairly patient, almost to a fault."
And patience is a necessity in this business.
"Guysborough has not been discovered," says Williams. "It's a brutal industry. Businesses fail. This is a tough industry and people don't know Guysborough, but the bottom line is customer service and exceeding people's expectations."
Jack of all trades
Williams not only owns the pub, he performs there too. On July 15 and 16, Williams and his band, The Binder Brothers will perform at the Rare Bird. The friends have been playing together since high school.
"We love music, but music is a tough business too," says Williams. "When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was just play the sax - I played eight hours a day. Then I had a chat with my dad - he was an engineer - I think I made the right decision," Williams says with a laugh.
The Binder Brothers won first place every year they competed at "Bay Stock" on Bay Street in Toronto, an event organized by Williams.
"We challenged bands on Bay Street to a battle of the bands about seven or eight years ago," says Williams. " We sold tickets and accepted donations. The first year we raised $100,000 and drew a crowd of 800 people."
In the five years he was chairman of Bay Stock, the event raised a half million dollars for youth charities.
Although he never chose it as a career, Williams remains passionate about music. He has encouraged his children to learn the piano and takes pride in offering local musicians a venue in the Rare Bird to practice their craft.
"The musicians who play at the Rare Bird - they're all so committed to music," says Williams.
Business is business
Although Williams says the nature of the tourism/hospitality industry is a challenge, he is optimistic about prospects for the village and for the county.
In order to be successful, Williams says: "We have to look at things to create and transcend our geography. Things we manufacture - our ideas - that's key. Like Mulgrave Road going to New Zealand. That's a great thing."
Today, Williams and friend and brewmaster Mike Nicholson are filtering the brews - there's the humming bird the rare bird, and the rare hawk. Williams says he's pretty close to living a dream.
"To be able to fly in and land in Guysborough Harbour, motor up to the dock, walk up to the deck and into the pub and pour a beer you've made yourself is every man's dream, well, most men's dream.
"Like any human adventure there are days when you say, why am I doing this? And then there are days like this, out on the patio," Williams says as he looks up to the sunshine. "We're making a contribution to Guysborough citizens."
Perhaps the reason Williams named his pub the Rare Bird is most telling about his character.
"I love rare birds - the osprey - there's a great industrious bird," says Williams.
Rare indeed.
