Page 61 - enLIGHTenment October 2016

Hidden Gem

B

y all accounts, the late Allen Wilner was
a hard-working visionary who set up a

500-sq.- . art studio in the corner of a
warehouse in Montreal with one artist

and two assistants. His goal? To have in-
house artists create original works of art for interior

designers and homeowners to enjoy. The framing

for the artwork was also manufactured on-site.
A modest man, he preferred to reverse the or-

der of the le ers in his name rather than overtly
name the business a er himself. Over time, the

company expanded to include mirrors, lighting, and

accessories.
Growing up, his two sons – Jonathan and Ryan –

admired the dedication his dad had for his work
and got involved in the business on a casual basis

as most children with parents who own a hands-

on company are wont to do. Youngest son, Ryan,
recalls many dinner table discussions between Jon

and his father about the challenges and intricacies
of running a company.

As university students in Montreal, Jon – im-

pressed with the sourcing trips he took with his dad above:
to New York City and London – studied business While this mirror might look “simple” as a compilation
of circles, Jonathan Wilner explains that each ring is
in-depth while Ryan studied marketing and began hand-soldered together, which makes for a time-consuming
doing stand-up comedy, which led to a role on a manufacturing process that customers appreciate.

popular Canadian TV show.
below from left to right: Steve Rice, Jonathan and
In their early 20s, tragedy struck when their
Ryan Wilner, and Doug Karpman.

OctOber 2016 | enLIGHTenment Magazine 59