Alexander Paterson President of the Paterson Foundation - (CJ Goater/Acadia Broadcasting)
The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has received a large donation to assist in the construction of its waterfront art gallery.
The Paterson Foundation has donated an additional $1,000,000 towards the construction. These funds bring the foundation’s contribution towards the waterfront location up to a total of $1,250,000.
Alexander Paterson president of the foundation sees the gallery bringing more people down to the waterfront.
“This project is about more than just art, it’s also about place,” said Paterson. ” The new gallery nestle on the shores of Lake Superior holds a special significance. It will not only serve as a hub for exhibitions but also as a venue for community and family celebrations for years to come.
The Gallery is in phase 2 of it’s community fundraising campaign aimed at funding the construction of the waterfront location that is currently being built.
Phase one of the campaign was held from 2018-2019 and resulted in $2.7 million being raised.
The new gallery project was first conceived in 2009 before beginning in earnest in 2012 with an initial planned opening date in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic and waterfront environmental investigations ultimately delayed construction.
The new goal for the project is completion by the end of 2025.
Funding for the project has been provided by all levels of government and the community. An initial commitment from the City of Thunder Bay of $5.7 million has led to commitments of over $40 million from the Federal and provincial governments.
The waterfront project was originally estimated to cost roughly $50 million, but increased construction costs have push the price tag up closer to $60 million.
