Annual Report 2025-26

This past year has been an exciting and meaningful one for WAG-Qaumajuq. As Chair of the Board of Governors, it has been a privilege to witness how the Gallery continues to evolve – not only as a home for art, but as a vibrant gathering place for community, creativity, learning, and connection.

One of the most remarkable things this year was the energy throughout the building. Programs like WAG Wednesday Nights quickly became a welcoming midweek gathering for the community, while Canada Life Free Sundays continued to make the Gallery accessible to thousands of visitors and families throughout the year. Across exhibitions, film festivals, workshops, artist talks, and community partnerships, WAG-Qaumajuq has continued to create meaningful opportunities for people to come together through shared experiences.

CRAFTED was once again a major highlight of the year. The event’s celebration of creativity, fashion, artistry, and local makers is truly inspiring, and it has been exciting to see it continue to grow through our partnership with CBC. Alongside events such as the Home Tour, Art in Bloom and Gallery Ball, CRAFTED reflects the important role WAG-Qaumajuq plays not only in presenting art, but in supporting artists, strengthening community, and amplifying creative voices.

I am also especially proud of the work this year to strengthen accessibility and inclusivity across the institution. From the successful elevator replacement project to the launch of Indigenous Language Tours and continued progress toward equity and representation, these initiatives help ensure WAG-Qaumajuq remains welcoming, relevant, and accessible to all.

Behind every exhibition, program, and initiative is an extraordinary group of people whose dedication sustains this institution. On behalf of the Board of Governors, I would like to sincerely thank the staff, leadership team, volunteers, donors, members, community partners, and my fellow Board members for their continued care, commitment, and generosity.

Together, we are helping ensure that WAG-Qaumajuq continues to thrive as an important cultural institution and a place where art can inspire conversation, creativity, learning, and connection for generations to come.

Aynsley Cockshott
Chair, Board of Governors

It has been another exciting and impactful year at WAG-Qaumajuq. Thanks to the support of our community, donors, members, partners, staff, volunteers, and visitors, the Gallery continues to grow as a place for art, learning, dialogue, and connection.

This year’s exhibitions reflected an extraordinary range of artistic voices and experiences. In May 2025, we opened our first solo exhibition in Qaumajuq: a major retrospective of more than 100 works by Inuit artist Abraham Anghik Ruben, curated by Heather Campbell alongside Darlene Coward Wight and presented by the Richardson Foundation. The exhibition sparked meaningful conversations around Inuit culture, language, and storytelling and was embraced by visitors and school groups alike.

Throughout the year, we also presented exhibitions drawn from our permanent collection, including Crying Over Spilt Tea, a matter of time, and Staycation: The Art of Being Here. Together, these exhibitions highlighted fan-favourite artworks and rarely seen works from our vaults while celebrating the richness of Manitoba’s artistic community. We were saddened by the passing of Manitoba artist Aganetha Dyck, and to honour her contribution to the artist community, we exhibited her cherished work from our collection.

Other exhibitions included Forbidden Colours, a solo exhibition by Syrian-Kurdish artist Bistyek exploring themes of identity. Prior to the show opening, we worked with Bistyek to commission the artwork, The Lion, The Boy and The Sun, a large-scale acrylic painting that hangs just outside his exhibition in Gallery 3. Taking over Galleries 1 and 2, we tend to care, is an artistic intervention by nêhiýaw and Métis artist, Carrie Allison presented in partnership with Urban Shaman.

This year, 41 artworks entered the WAG-Qaumajuq collection, with continued focus on acquiring works by racialized and Indigenous artists. New acquisitions included works by Black artists Esmaa Mohamoud and Ekene Emeka Maduka; First Nations artists Lita Fontaine, Dana Claxton, and Michelle Sound; and important additions to our Inuit art collection. Alongside acquisitions, our team continued essential conservation and collections stewardship work to preserve these works for future generations. Thanks to a generous donation by Margaret Hucal, Canadian Voyageurs by Francis Anne Hopkins was fully restored with the help of intern Kaeli Wood and WAG-Qaumajuq Conservator, Vitaliy Yatsevych.

Our partnership with the Government of Nunavut continued to grow with the return of our cultural exchange visit and artist residency program featuring Leo Karetak of Rankin Inlet, Joshua Qaumariaq of Iqaluit, and Becky Mearns of Pangnirtung. We also secured support from the Winnipeg Foundation to continue advancing our Equity Action Plan and to establish a new Indigenous Partnerships Coordinator position.

This fiscal year we launched Indigenous Language Tours, regularly welcoming Indigenous knowledge keepers and elders into the Gallery to share perspectives on artworks, language, and culture. At the beginning of 2026, we introduced WAG Wednesday Nights, offering free admission and special programming every Wednesday evening thanks to support from Power Corporation of Canada. We were also pleased to celebrate the seventh year of Canada Life Free Sundays, continuing to provide free admission on the second Sunday of every month.

One of the year’s most significant accomplishments was the successful replacement of the freight and passenger elevators in the WAG building. Original to the building’s 1971 design, the new elevators significantly improve accessibility throughout the Gallery and help ensure WAG-Qaumajuq can continue serving visitors for years to come.

Community partnerships and public programming remained central to our work this year. Highlights included professional development workshops with Winnipeg School Division students and teachers led by artist Takashi Iwasaki, as well as collaborations with the African Movie Festival in Manitoba, FascinAsian Film Festival, Flash Photography Festival, and many other community organizations.

CRAFTED 2025 was a major event, thanks to a new partnership with CBC celebrating the hit CBC, Netflix, and APTN series North of North. Meanwhile, Gallery Ball raised nearly $300,000 in support of youth programming, including school tours, art classes, family programming, and free admission initiatives for youth and Indigenous peoples. And the successful return of the Home Tour, presented by the Associates of the WAG was a highlight, combining art and community in Headingly.

Throughout the year, WAG-Qaumajuq continued to evolve as a gathering place. Alongside returning favourites such as rooftop concerts, films, and sunset yoga, we introduced new experiences including wrestling events, breathwork sessions, and meditation programming – reinforcing that the Gallery is truly a space for all.

Together, we welcomed approximately 102,000 visitors this year. Every visit, conversation, workshop, and shared experience contributes to the energy and vitality of this institution and to our shared belief in the importance of art and culture in our lives.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support WAG-Qaumajuq and the work we do together. Your generosity and engagement help create opportunities for learning, creativity, reflection, and connection across our communities every day.

Bill Elliott,

Deputy Director & CFO

See the image below, or view the Financials PDF

Our financial statements were audited by KPMG LLP. This summary fully complies with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations. The complete audited financial statements for the year April 1, 2024-March 31, 2025 are available upon request.

The Winnipeg Art Gallery is grateful to the many individuals, corporations, foundations, friends, and all levels of government that support the WAG’s exhibitions, education programs, and fundraising initiatives. Supporters like you create incredible WAG experiences for the whole community to enjoy – thank you!

The following list recognizes the monetary, in-kind, and works of art contributions received between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, as well as our ongoing government and media support. We apologize for any errors or omissions (in this case, please email gifts@wag.ca).

*Indicates total contribution includes artwork. † Indicates monthly donors.

Government of Canada
Canada Council for the Arts
Prairies Economic Development Canada

Province of Manitoba
Manitoba Arts Council

City of Winnipeg
The Winnipeg Arts Council

Government of Nunavut

Louis Riel School Division
Seven Oaks School Division
Winnipeg School Division

$100,000 – $249,999
TD Bank Group
The Winnipeg Art Gallery Foundation

$75,000 – $99,999
Canada Life
Cowley Abbott
Digital Museums Canada
Margaret Hucal
Power Corporation of Canada

$50,000 – $74,999
The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation
Leon A. Brown Ltd in honour of Ruth Anne Shnier
Tachane Foundation Inc.
The Winnipeg Foundation

$25,000 – $49,999
Associates of the WAG
Stephen and Hazel Borys*
Estate of Kathleen F. Campbell*
Canada House
Cholakis Dental Group
Dorothy Ann Naylor Fund
Epp Siepman Engineering
Indigenous Art Acquisitions Fund
Johnston Group Inc.
Michael Nesbitt
WAG Legacy Fund

$10,000 – $24,999
A.K. Prakash Foundation
The Asper Foundation
Caren Davis
Graham C. Lount Family Foundation
George Warren Keates Memorial Fund
Brian and Lois Klaponski
Estate of W.A. Ross MacFadden*
Shirley Ann Richardson Annual Giving Trust Fund
Estate of Shirley A. Richardson*
Thor and Natalie Richardson
Settlers Foundation
Sussex Realty
Bob and Heather Williams
Anonymous*

$5,000 – $9,999
Anish Healing Centre
Birchwood Automotive Group Ltd.
Canadian Museums Association
Geoff Crysdale
Culture Days Manitoba
Event Light*
Felix and Gisele (Lavimodiere) Bertalanffy Fund
Michael Sydney Gray
Suzie Holt
Innovair Group
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation*
Mayberry Fine Art*
McFadden Benefits & Pension Ltd
Payworks
The Polar Foundation
Qualico Developments
RBC Royal Bank
Richardson International Ltd
Henriette Ricou and Dr. Jure Manfreda
Southern Chiefs Organization
Superior Finishes Inc.
The Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Inc.
Anonymous*

$2,500 – $4,999
Alpha Masonry
The Bill and Margaret Fast Family Foundation
Jennifer Blumenthal and Danny Bubis
Connie and Don Borys
Leigh Bridges*
Canadian Council of Archives
Cardinal Capital Management Inc.
Conseil Économique et Coopératif de la Saskatchewan
Duboff Edwards Schachter Law Corporation
De Fehr Foundation Inc.
Kate Everett
Liivi Forster
Sarah Fuller*
Simon Hughes*
Independent Jewellers (IJL)
The Jessiman Family
Nadia Kmet and Rocco DiBiase
Sidney J. Kroker*
The Leonard Foundation
MacDon Industries Ltd.
Ron and Sandi Mielitz
MJO Management Inc.
Kristin Nelson*
Dominique Rey and Lancelot Coar*
Edward Schwartz
Scotia Wealth Management
Shakespeare in the Ruins*
Soul Gallery*
Southeast Nunavut Company Ltd.*
Takao and Anona Tanabe
University of Winnipeg
Estate of Enid May Whalley
Maurice Yacowar*

$1,000 – $2,499
5468796 Architecture
Sangeet Bhatia
Jock and Monique Bockstael
Tim and Shelly Borys
Oliver Botar*
Helen Bowen
Amanda and Randall Burrell
Canadian Museum for Human Rights*
The Cardinal Foundation
Judith Casselman*
Yoko Chapman
Kevin Chipman and Bradley Zander †
Shelley Chochinov
Aynsley and Grant Cockshott
Louise Cooke*
Daniel J. Cowan Fund
Cruise Vacations of Winnipeg*
Claude Davis and Lynne McCarthy
Ben and Shari Diamond
Drs. Mary Lynn and Harry Duckworth
Herbert Enns and Maem Slater-Enns
Renee Ethans
Ashleigh Everett and Stuart Murray
Dr. Daryl and Shirley Hoban
ICOMOS Canada
Joan Kennedy
Murray and Jacqueline Kilfoyle
Alexis Kochan
José and Rudolf Koes
Tina Larson and Frank Szafranski
Sean and Michelle Lawton
Helen Leeds
Bernard Léveillé and Moira Swinton
Daniel Levin and  Lilian Bonin
Keith and Linda Levit*
Dr. Ann E. Loewen
John MacAulay and Shauna Radke
Sharon Martens
Judy and Ken Murray
Maura Nelson*
Jeff Neufeld and Katrina Lee-Kwen
Nola/Bar Accanto*
Peerless Garments Ltd.
Dr. William Pope and Dr. Elizabeth Tippett Pope
Sandra and Harvey Secter
Dr. Ehren Sherbo and Dr. Lauren Whittaker
Jason Smith and Lynne Skromeda
John Stefaniuk
Carol and Daniel Stockwell
Robert and Eileen Stuebing
Thomsen Charitable Trust
Ione Thorkelsson*
Melanie Tooley
True North Sports and Entertainment Ltd.*
Genevieve Twomey and Terry Johnston
Stephanie Villeneuve
Edith Wilde

$500 – $999
Robert and Ina Abra Family Fund
Joyce and Bruce Berry
Doug Blaylock and Judi Bensky
Gary and Caryl Cockshott
Cynthia Cohlmeyer
Rob Cowley
Raymond Currie and Charlene Thacker Currie
Dr. Doug Eyolfson, M.P. and Dr. Sowmya Dakshinamurti
Andrea Darnbrough and Louie Ghiz
Catherine L. David
Helen Delacretaz
The Fairmont Winnipeg*
Gail Faveri
Stewart and Patricia Fay
Lita Fontaine*
The Fort Garry Hotel*
Jeffrey Francis*
Patricia Hall and Jim Reist
Gregg and Mary Hanson
Carol Hibbert
Sue and Jim Irving
Eric Kananoja and Kristine Betker
Sean Kavanagh and Melissa Ridgen
The Keg Steakhouse and Bar*
Bryan D. Klein
Kathryn Knowles
Jean Maksymiuk and Guy Lavigne
Laurel Malkin and David Folk
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra*
Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union
Sandra Louise Marles Medical Corp.
Melanie McCannell
The Hon. Deborah J. McCawley and Otto Lang
John Paskievich*
Pam Perkins
Angus Richardson*
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre*
Sharanpal Ruprai
Barbara Scheuneman
Brenda Taylor
Fenella and Ray Temmerman
Aurora Tetrault
Paulette and Raymond Théberge
Laura Thompson
Vern and Christine Warkentin
Faye Warren
Micheal Weretyk
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Football*
Winnipeg Folk Festival*
Anonymous (3)

A special thank you to our Media Partners
Doowah Design
Esdale Printing Company Ltd.
The Sign Source
Tourism Winnipeg
Travel Manitoba
Sussex Realty
Winnipeg Free Press

2024-2025 Annual Report

2023-2024 Annual Report

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2015-2016 Annual Report

2014-2015 Annual Report