Governor General recognizes Vaughan-based McMichael's chief curator

Her colleagues at McMichael's aren't 'surprised,' given Sarah Milroy's impressive track record

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 10, 2020

Friday, Nov. 27 was a big day for Sarah Milroy, the chief curator for the Vaughan-based McMichael Canadian Art Collection.

It was the day when Gov. Gen. Julie Payette recognized Milroy’s work and made her a member of the Order of Canada for promoting the nation’s art and artists through her roles as “editor, publisher, critic and curator.”

The Order of Canada is a centrepiece of Canada's honours system for citizens who have made great contributions to society.

So what enabled Milroy, who joined the McMichael on Sep. 18 as its chief curator, to get this recognition?

Well, Milroy has previously worked as the chief art critic for the Globe and Mail from 2001 to 2011 and, from 1991 to 1996, as the editor and publisher of Canadian Art.

In recent years, she has worked with Ian Dejardin on groundbreaking exhibitions of Emily Carr ("From the Forest to the Sea: Emily Carr in British Columbia," 2014), David Milne ("David Milne: Modern Painting," 2018) and L.L. FitzGerald ("Into the Light: Lionel LeMoine FitzGerald," 2019), and has just opened her survey exhibition "Early Day: Indigenous Art at the McMichael."

Over the years, Milroy has also contributed to scholarly publications on Gathie Falk, Mary Pratt, Greg Curnoe, Micah Lexier and Jack Chambers, and writes frequently on Inuit and Indigenous art in Canada.

Her forthcoming exhibition and publication for the McMichael, "Uninvited: Canadian Women Artists in the Modern Moment," set to debut in the summer of 2021, is highly anticipated.

In addition, Milroy is a member of the Human Rights Watch Canada Committee and a board member of the Art Canada Institute. She lives in Toronto with her husband Tom.

'NO SURPRISE'

Milroy is so good, her McMichael’s colleagues aren’t even surprised.

“On behalf of the McMichael Board of Trustees, I congratulate Sarah Milroy on her hugely well-deserved appointment to the Order of Canada,” said Andy Pringle, chair of the board of trustees.

"While it comes as no surprise to those (of) us who have worked with Sarah and long admired her tremendous dedication to championing the art and artists of Canada, both at the McMichael and throughout her long career, we are delighted to see her achievements recognized in this way.”

Lisa MacLeod, minister of heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries, congratulated Milroy as well.

“I am proud to congratulate Sarah Milroy for being appointed to the Order of Canada,” said MacLeod.

“I would also like to thank her for her commitment to Canada’s artists, and providing the people of Ontario with the opportunity to experience our rich and diverse artistic history.

“Ontario offers the world in one province, and the iconic McMichael Canadian Art Collection provides Ontarians with the unique ability to experience Canadian heritage and culture through art.”