Located on 100 acres of forested land along the Humber River, the McMichael is a major public gallery uniquely devoted to collecting the art of Canada.
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is located on the original lands of the Ojibwe Anishinaabe People. It is uniquely situated along the Carrying Place Trail which historically provided an integral connection for Aboriginal people between Ontario’s Lakeshore and the Lake Simcoe-Georgian Bay Region. As an institution, McMichael recognizes the importance of acknowledging the original territories of the Ojibwe Anishinaabe First Nations people.
The McMichael’s permanent collection consists of over 6,500 artworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, their contemporaries, and First Nations, Métis, Inuit and contemporary artists who have contributed to the development of Canadian art.
Located on 100 acres of forested land beside the Humber River, the McMichael is an ideal day-trip out of Toronto combining great scenery with great art. I try to get out to visit at least once a year to continue a family tradition my grandparents started by taking me regularly as a young child. It was at the McMichael I was introduced to the Group of Seven and Tom Thompson, Emily Carr, Bill Reid and many other notable Canadian artists. My great-uncle, an avid collector of Inuit art, would sometimes join our family trips and would lead us on his own personal tours of the extensive First Nations, Métis and Inuit art collections.
The McMichael reopened to the public July 31. With spacious galleries and ample grounds to explore, visitors can feel confident social distancing while taking in the exhibitions. Or, there are a range of online art classes, virtual exhibition tours, recorded talks and studio visits to enjoy from home no matter where you live.