Moonlight Gala 2022 Raises Record Amount in Support of The McMichael Canadian Art Collection

June 8, 2022, KLEINBURG, ON – The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is pleased to announce the success of its signature fundraiser, the Moonlight Gala, which returned triumphantly in 2022 following a three-year hiatus during the pandemic. This year’s edition raised over $750,000 in support of the art of Canada and educational programming, a record-breaking amount in the history of the McMichael.

The Moonlight Gala is one of the Canadian art world’s most significant events and raises money that directly supports the conservation, exhibition and educational activities of the Gallery. This year, over 700 guests filled the McMichael grounds under a cloudless sky, making it the best-attended Gala to date. Guests included Gala co-chairs Debra Fenwick and Laura Mirabella, Honorary Chairs John and Katia Bianchini of Hatch, Honorary Patron the Honourable Maurizio Bevilacqua, P.C. Mayor, City of Vaughan, as well as artists, art dealers, donors, and corporate leaders from around the country. Guests enjoyed fine VQA wine and food stations under the stars, spectacular musical performances, private tours of the McMichael’s current exhibitions, and above all, the company of so many who are united by their love of the art of Canada.

For the first time, the gala also featured a fine art auction with work by top tier Canadian artists including Ed Burtynsky, Wanda Koop, John Hartman and Margaux Williamson. The wildly popular auction, offered online with works on view in the Thomson Shack, raised more than $140,000. As a capstone to an extraordinary evening Mayor Bevilacqua also announced a generous donation of $100,000 that will go directly towards supporting the Gallery’s exhibitions and programming.

“After three years of social distancing, I was deeply moved by the outpouring of affection and support from the community as we reunited in support of the McMichael and the art of Canada. I’d like to thank our co-chairs, patrons, guests, sponsors, and staff for their continued support and for making the 2022 Gala a record-breaking success,” said Ian A.C. Dejardin, Executive Director of the McMichael. “The unmatched generosity of the community will allow us to continue to produce world-class exhibitions of Canadian art and dynamic educational programming. We look forward to seeing you again in this special place. Be sure to mark Saturday, June 3, 2023, on your calendars for next year’s Moonlight Gala, and don’t forget the dancing shoes!”

The 2022 Moonlight Gala was made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, notably: Hatch, TD, RPIA, Deloitte, RBC, RBC Dominion Securities, TACC, Aird & Berlis, Bazil Developments, Canadian Shield Capital, Capgemini, Castlepoint, CIBC, Cidel Asset Management, Clairvest Group Inc., Davies, Armland Group, Bayview Wellington Homes, Kalex Valuations, Zzen Group, and many others.

Media wishing to request high-resolution images of the McMichael and/or the Moonlight Gala 2022 are asked to contact Sam Cheung at scheung@mcmichael.com or 905.893.1121 ext. 2210.

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ABOUT THE MCMICHAEL CANADIAN ART COLLECTION

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is an agency of the Government of Ontario and acknowledges the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and the McMichael Canadian Art Foundation. It is the only major museum in the country devoted exclusively to Canadian art. In addition to touring exhibitions, the McMichael houses a permanent collection of more than 6,500 works by historic and contemporary Canadian artists, including Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, Indigenous artists and artists from the many diasporic communities. The Gallery is located on 100 acres of forested landscape and hiking trails at 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, north of Major Mackenzie Drive in the City of Vaughan. For more information, please visit mcmichael.com. 

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