Media Release – Gallery Announces Major Donors to Capital Campaign

March 6, 2020

SUBJECT: Gallery Announces Major Donors to Capital Campaign
WHEN: March 6, 2020
WHERE: Thunder Bay Art Gallery, 1080 Keewatin St

John Sims, Deputy Chair of the AWE Capital Campaign, announced over $600,000 in donations to the AWE Capital Campaign toward the new waterfront art gallery.

When making the announcement Sims explained that he was committed to this community project as a volunteer member of the Board of Directors of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery because he believes “that the new Thunder Bay Art Gallery will quickly become one of the top five places Thunder Bay residents will want to bring relatives and friends when they visit our great city. The new Gallery, in the beautiful surroundings of the waterfront will be a place for everyone – a world-class facility with a nationally important collection of art from the region and afar.”

Alexander Paterson, President of The Paterson Foundation announced the Foundation’s pledge of $250,000. In acknowledgement of this important support, Gallery 2 in the new Art Gallery will be named for The Paterson Foundation. Paterson explained that “The Paterson Foundation whole heartedly supports this project. We see it as positive step in the healing of both this waterfront and this community. He also noted that his “grandfather, Senator Norman M. Paterson, the benefactor of our Foundation spent the greater part of his life interacting with our wonderful waterfront both in business and in his recreational pursuits. He would be very proud to be part of helping this project along. As would my mother and father, Catherine and John Paterson.”

Two family contributions were also acknowledged. Drs. Brian and Gail Scott have contributed $150,000 as a family to name the Lakeside Entrance. Dr. Scott said “Gail and I are pleased to support the construction of the new Thunder Bay Art Gallery. After reviewing pictures displaying how the building will appear, we were impressed with its unique, world-class architecture blending into the natural surroundings by Lake Superior. We believe it will provide a stimulating, creative environment for the art community and be a source of civic pride for all of Thunder Bay.”

The donation of $100,000 by long-time educators Maurice and Jackie Black will be recognized by naming the large Art Classroom in the facility after them. “We gain great satisfaction in making our contribution to what promises to be a stellar attraction in Thunder Bay. We feel art is an integral aspect of our city as it provides a deeper understanding and appreciation of human creativity,” said Jackie Black.

Ken Boshcoff, Greg and Carol Ann Brumpton and Cathy MacDonald have all supported the project with donations of $25,000. Corporate gifts announced today included $10,000 from TBT Engineering and $25,000 from Bruno’s Contracting. “The Gallery is gratified by the strong community support toward the campaign by many visionary people and organizations who understand the value of this project for everyone in the community,” said Gallery Director, Sharon Godwin.

Godwin noted that the Gallery hopes to see construction of the 37,500 sq/ft facility begin during the Fall of 2020 at the site on Thunder Bay’s waterfront south of the Spirit Garden on Tugboat Basin.

To date $21.8M in funding has been committed by the Federal and Provincial governments and $5.7M by the City of Thunder Bay for construction of the new Gallery. With today’s announcements $2.5M has been raised through the AWE Capital Campaign.

The $33M project budget includes expenses related to architectural design, project management, construction, site development, landscaping, contingencies, furniture, fixtures and equipment, specialized art storage and monitoring systems, fundraising and donor recognition and moving and opening costs.

The construction phase of the new Waterfront Art Gallery Project is estimated to take two years.