Amid recent threats to Canadian sovereignty, the Ontario government has invested $50 million into the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Plans are underway to expand the facility and the grounds in Kleinburg. This capital investment in the 70-year-old art gallery is the province’s first in 43 years.

“In the coming years, we will be restoring and revitalizing this national treasure, ensuring its long-term sustainability and prosperity for the benefit of all Canadians,” said Sarah Milroy, executive director and chief curator at McMichael. “In a time when our nation seeks spaces to come together, the McMichael is that place – a place to share our stories, embrace our differences and celebrate the connections between us.”

The upgrades will increase capacity for existing programs and special events in what is currently the largest publicly funded art gallery focused exclusively on Canadian and Indigenous art. There is a permanent $750-million collection of more than 7,000 artworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, as well as First Nations, Métis, Inuit and contemporary artists who have contributed to the development of the art of Canada.

“With increasing attacks on Canadian sovereignty from President Trump, now is exactly the right time to double down on investments that promote Canadian symbols, values, and our core identity,” said Stephen Lecce, Member of Provincial Parliament for King-Vaughan. “This historic investment marks a new chapter for the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the home of the Group of Seven, as we reimagine and renew this historic institution and create a space that inspires learning, creativity, and patriotism.”