The English Montreal School Board has raised nearly C$2 million dollars for scholarships and bursaries for its students.
Formerly known as the Protestant School Board of Montreal, it had received gifts and donations of paintings over the years, often from parents, school alumni or the artists themselves.
Eventually, the Protestant School Board Culture and Heritage Foundation found itself with a collection of 110 pieces. Most were hung in the Board’s building and offices.
Twelve pieces were by A. Y. Jackson, a member of Canada’s illustrious Group of Seven, and the insurance for the collection was becoming costly.
The foundation decided to offer the paintings for sale and put the money raised toward scholarships and bursaries for students in its schools ranging from elementary to high school.
Some people protested the decision. In an interview with CBC News last December, Julian Feldman, a school board commissioner said, “This collection is the essence of the Anglo community and the discussion needs to take place in the open light, not in the smoky back rooms of the school board.”
The Heffel Art Auction in Vancouver sold 35 paintings in the spring, a subsequent on-line auction sold another 25. Some lithographs and engravings on the history of Quebec and the First World war were donated to museums, and a few pieces are still in the EMSB building. Most of the pieces have gone to private collectors.
Now it is hoped the almost C$1.8 million dollars raised, will be invested and available to students in the 2014 school year.
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