ONTARIO TO CELEBRATE FIRST-EVER GROUP OF SEVEN DAY
THE ART GALLERY OF ALGOMA MARKS 50 YEARS (Sault Ste. Marie, ON)
As Ontario officially recognizes July 7th, 2025, as Group of Seven Day, this year’s celebration holds special significance for Sault Ste. Marie and the Art Gallery of Algoma (AGA) as the institution proudly marks its 50th anniversary. The Group of Seven, a pioneering school of Canadian landscape painters founded in 1920, forever changed the course of Canadian art.
Their bold depictions of Northern Ontario’s dramatic terrain, especially the rugged wilderness of Algoma and the shores of Lake Superior, captured the spirit of the land and helped define a national identity through art. This year’s recognition is especially meaningful for the Art Gallery of Algoma, which has been a cultural cornerstone in Northern Ontario since 1975. The Gallery is home to original works by members of the Group of Seven and plays a vital role in preserving and showcasing their legacy.
Over the past five decades, the AGA has connected thousands of visitors to the landscapes that inspired these iconic artists, helping keep their story alive. “This shared celebration is incredibly meaningful,” said Jasmina Jovanovic, Executive Director of the Art Gallery of Algoma. “The landscapes that inspired the Group of Seven are the same landscapes we live among today and for 50 years, the AGA has connected people to those stories, those brushstrokes, and that creative spirit.
”The AGA will host a series of special exhibitions, artist talks, and interactive events throughout the summer to celebrate both Group of Seven Day and its own milestone anniversary, inviting the public to engage deeply with the region’s rich artistic and cultural legacy. Since opening its doors in 1975, the Art Gallery of Algoma has played a vital role in preserving and celebrating the legacy of the Group of Seven.
With original works in its permanent collection, the Gallery has welcomed thousands of visitors to experience the art and the iconic settings that inspired it. “The landscapes of Northern Ontario were not just backdrops, they were muses for the Group of Seven,” said David MacLachlan, Executive Director of Destination Northern Ontario. “These places demand to be seen in person, and the Art Gallery of Algoma is the perfect starting point for that journey.” The AGA is part of a broader network of institutions that hold and celebrate the Group of Seven’s legacy, including the Art Gallery of Sudbury, Art Gallery of Ontario, National Gallery of Working Together to Build A Stronger Tourism Industry
Smaller galleries across the region further enrich this cultural tapestry with exhibitions and programming that celebrate the continued influence of Canada’s most iconic painters. “It is an incredibly proud feeling to know that the magnificent landscapes that we get to live in every day inspired and touched members of the Group of Seven so deeply that Algoma became the artistic catalyst to envision painting the Canadian landscape in a whole new way,” said Heather Bot, Executive Director of Ontario’s Algoma Country. “It's a privilege to live in a place that inspired a defining moment in the journey of Canadian art.”
To commemorate both milestones, the AGA will present a full summer lineup of special exhibitions, artist talks, and interactive community events, inviting the public to engage with the region’s rich artistic history and vibrant cultural future. Join the AGA on July 7th for an afternoon of art, music, community, and celebration as we honour 50 years of the Art Gallery of Algoma and the powerful legacy of the Group of Seven.
