William Leigh Bernard, 1845-1911, was born near Dublin, Ireland and educated at Trinity College. He came to Calgary in 1888 and worked as a lawyer. He first owned the Bonnybrook Ranch southeast of the city, then in 1890 moved to Calgary, Alberta. He was later joined by his son, Michael Charles Bernard in the law firm of Bernard & Bernard. He and his wife, Mary Morton, 1840-1928, had seven children, Barbara Mary (George), 1867-1936, Michael Charles, 1868-1937, Jane Elizabeth (Moore), 1870-1911, Isabel Wilhelmina (Hone), 1872-1961, George Morton, 1874-?, May Kathleen Bole (Hooley), 1875-?, and Edith Anne (Wilson), 1877-?. His law firm later became Howard Mackie.