William (Bill) Norrie was born in Winnipeg on January 21, 1929. He was the recipient of an Isbister Scholarship and graduated with a B.A. from United College in 1950. He was the President of the University of Manitoba Students Union while a Law student in 1952. In 1953 he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and studied at Queen's College, Oxford. He completed his law degree and joined the firm of Tupper & Adams in 1955. He joined former classmates Scott Wright and Charles Huband in the firm Richardson, Taylor, Huband, Wright & Norrie where he practised until becoming Deputy Secretary of the Law Society in 1975.

Norrie began a long career in civic politics with his election to the Winnipeg School Board in 1964. He was elected to Winnipeg City Council in 1971. In 1979 he became the mayor of Winnipeg, a position he held until 1992. He helped to negotiate the agreement to establish the Forks and the North Portage Partnership. He was a strong proponent of multiculturalism and forged strong ties within ethnic communities. Upon leaving municipal politics Norrie twice acted as Chairman of the United Way campaign. He was the Honorary Consul to Japan for eight years. He was the Chancellor of the University of Manitoba from 2001-2009. Norrie died on July 6, 2012.