Dylan YoungWhen I first heard about the McMichael Canadian Art Collection from a co-worker who had just recently visited it, I was intrigued. I mean, it’s an art gallery situated in a plot of woodland an hour away from the city!
So, I checked this place out, and I was thoroughly impressed. First, the atmosphere is perfect—serene and whimsical—and secondly, the collection is noteworthy. It’s mostly art by Indigenous artists, and every piece has me contemplating life and the world.
If you’re tired of knowing only the big-name art galleries, why not visit this underrated one? Here’s a guide to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.
Things to Know
Address: Grand Hall, 10365 Islington Ave, Kleinburg
Driving Distance from TO: About 50 minutes away
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday—10 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +19058931121
How to Get Here
By Transit: Take TTC Line 1 and stop at the Vaughan Metropolitan Center Station. Since there’s no public transportation that will take you from the station to the gallery, your best bet is to book a taxi ride. This should take about 20 minutes.
By Car: The gallery has its own parking lot. You just have to pay a flat fee of C$7 (or free if you’re a member).
Admission Fee
The general admission for adults aged 25 years and above is C$20, while senior citizens aged 65 and above have to pay C$17. For people who are 25 years old or younger, the admission fee is only C$7.
If you’re a member of the gallery, have a public guest pass, or are a child who is five years old or younger, you’ll be able to enjoy free entry to the gallery.
Membership
If you’d like to come here often, then you might be interested in becoming a member. McMichael Membership programs let you enjoy fun benefits, such as
- Complimentary year-round gallery admission and parking
- Two free guest passes every year
- Discounts on extra guest admission
- Exclusive invitations to exhibition openings and gallery events
- Members-only emails with advance notice of exclusive events
- Discounts to dine at the on-site restaurant
- 10% discount on select items inside the gallery shop
- Double discount during holiday shopping days
- Complimentary and/or discounted adult and children’s programs
If you choose the higher tiers, you can score even more perks like extra two guest passes (a total of six or eight).
Here are membership levels and their prices:
| Level Name | Description | Price for 1 Year | Price for 2 Years |
| Individual | One adult, aged 18 to 64 years old | C$65 | C$120 |
| Member Plus | One adult, plus a guest | C$80 | C$150 |
| Friend | Practicing artist, student with ID, or resident outside Ontario | C$45 | C$80 |
| Senior | One adult aged 65 years and above | ||
| Senior Dual | Two senior adults, plus up to four children aged 18 years and younger | C$70 | C$130 |
| Family | Two adults, up to four children aged 18 years and younger | C$95 | C$180 |
| Contributing | All of the benefits of Family and more | C$150 | C$280 |
| Supporting | All of the benefits of Contributing and more | C$250 to C$499 | |
| Sustaining | All of the benefits of Supporting and more | C$500 to C$999 | |
Accessibility
One thing I love about the McMichael Canadian Art Collection is that they’ve made sure to make all galleries and facilities accessible for people in wheelchairs. There’s also a wheelchair-accessible washroom on every floor of the gallery.
You’re also allowed to bring a service animal or a support person with you, free of charge. If you have other special needs, you can ask for assistance from the admissions desk. The staff will be more than happy to help you.
Gallery Guidelines
To ensure you’ll have the best experience, please be sure to follow these gallery guidelines:
- You can only carry one bag no bigger than 45 x 40 x 15 cm (18 x 16 x 6 in). Anything larger than that isn’t allowed inside the gallery. If you are bringing one, you can store it safely inside a locker in the cloakroom.
- Please do not touch the artwork pieces. Many of the pieces here are old, and even the oil from your fingertips can damage them.
- Please silence your phone or set it to the vibrate setting. This is to ensure that you won’t disturb any of the other patrons.
- You’re allowed to take photos and videos, but only for personal use. There are also places where you’re not allowed to photograph at all, so be mindful.
- If you’re coming with a group of 10 people or more, you need to book in advance.
What Collections to Check Out
The Group of Seven
– From: mcmichaelgallery
The Group of Seven Collection refers to the works by seven Canadian artists who became so well-known in the art community that they were eventually dubbed the Group of Seven.
These artists focused on showcasing Canada’s rugged wilderness in a distinctive painting style that broke away from European tradition.
Every time I come here, I have to take a few minutes to examine every piece. The style is almost abstract. The bright colours look like big blobs from a distance, but the more you stare at the painting, the more you see the landscape.
I really like the Silver Birches by Tom Thomson. The blues and the greens of the painting give off whimsical vibes.
Contemporary Art
– From: mcmichaelgallery
Even though the McMichael Canadian Art Collection initially started as a way to showcase works by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries, the gallery eventually grew to collect other art styles as well. This includes a slew of contemporary art pieces.
I love that the art styles come in a wide variety in this selection. There are the usual paintings with vivid details of beautiful landscapes, but there are also abstract paintings with geometric motifs.
You can even find interesting sculptures like rocks that are wrapped in leather! This piece, named Three Rocks, is probably my favourite because I love speculating on what it’s supposed to mean.
Inuit Art
– From: mcmichaelgallery
One of the reasons I love this gallery is the fact that it makes an effort to showcase works by Indigenous artists. In particular, they have a specific collection dedicated to Inuit art.
This collection has over 100,000 items—drawings, prints, and sculptures from the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative Ltd.
Another fascinating thing about this collection is that the works use many different materials. I recognize colored pencils and oil painting, but some pieces make use of unconventional materials like stones and mud.
Iningat Ilagiit
– From: mcmichaelgallery
Iningat Ilagiit is also a collection of Inuit art, but this one is specifically dedicated to Inuit artists from Kinngait (Cape Dorset). Inuit artists from Kinngait have been producing art for several decades, so here, you can find an archive of a whopping 80,000 items!
The illustrations tend to be on the fantastical side, especially the ones depicting creatures.
Many art pieces also feature symmetrical elements, and they’re so fun to look at. They’re almost like geometric illusions!
First Nations
– From: mcmichaelgallery
The McMichael Art Gallery doesn’t just stop with two collections for Indigenous art; they also have a third one for First Nations artists!
I admit I don’t see First Nations art often, so I’m always in awe when I come here. The forms and styles are pretty varied; for example, they have artistic pieces for ceremonial, religious, and utilitarian purposes!
Interestingly enough, First Nations art also has influences from Western tradition, like cubism and abstract expressionism. In terms of topic, artists tend to focus on their roots, so their works depict legends from their culture and their personal spiritual beliefs.
David Hartman Films
– From: mcmichaelgallery
I’m not the biggest cinephile, but this gallery has made me appreciate the art form more, especially documentaries.
The star of this gallery, David Hartman, is an award-winning documentary filmmaker in Canada, and he loves to focus on the creative process of visual artists.
I dabble in visual arts myself, and I love seeing how famed artists like Kent Monkman and Shelley Niro come up with ideas and how they bring said ideas to reality via painting or other forms of visual art. It’s like taking a peek into someone’s brain!
Exhibitions
– From: mcmichaelgallery
In addition to the permanent collections available, the gallery hosts a rotation of interesting exhibitions. These exhibitions are niche topics on art, and they’re perfect if you want a more in-depth look at a certain art style or artist.
One of the most memorable exhibitions I’ve visited is From Water to Water: A Way Through the Trees, a mural installation that explores the connection Indigenous people have with Ontario’s Lakeshore and Lake Simcoe-Georgian Bay Region.
The gallery also holds touring exhibitions from time to time. As the name suggests, these exhibitions usually originate overseas and are travelling from city to city, staying in one location for a limited time. These are perfect if you want to expose yourself more to foreign artists.
Exploring the Gallery’s Grounds
The Sculpture Garden
– From: mcmichaelgallery
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection isn’t just beautiful on the inside; the outdoors is just as mesmerizing. After all, the gallery is nestled in the middle of a serene woodland!
One highlight of the gallery’s outdoors is the Sculpture Garden. On this plot of land, you can find nine bronze sculptures that were donated by the famous artist Ivan Eyre.
My favourite is the sculpture of a woman who is lying, propped up by her forearms. She looks like a mythological creature to me. There’s just something about her that screams “mysterious” and “wily.”
Minokamik Garden
– From: mcmichaelgallery
Another garden within the gallery’s premises that you must check out is the Minokamik Garden. The garden was designed with the help and guidance of Shelley Charles, Elder of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, and it’s based on the traditional Anishinaabe teachings of the Four Directions.
This garden smells fantastic! It’s like spring, with the combination of new soil, a crisp woodsy scent from the trees, and a lovely sweetness from the flowers. Staying here for a good while almost has a restorative effect on me, which is why I come here whenever I can.
Tom Thomson Shack
– From: mcmichaelgallery
The further you walk in the gallery’s grounds, you might come across a strange building that looks modern now but definitely has historic vibes. This building is the Tom Thomson Shack, which used to be a rental space for Canadian painters.
Now, this shack is considered a National Historic Site of Canada. It’s pretty rustic with just a table, a few chairs, a bunk, and an easel in the far corner.
Coming here is such an interesting experience because I get a glimpse of what a painter’s life was like back then.
Hosting Private Functions at the Gallery
– From: eternalbliss.events
Considering just how beautiful the gallery is, I won’t be surprised if you start thinking about hosting a special event here. Fortunately, you can actually do that here, so make your dream event come true ASAP!
Weddings are most popular here. The woodland is beautiful no matter what the season, so even the simplest, most intimate wedding will feel romantic here.
Aside from weddings, you can also host birthday parties and even corporate events. The options are endless!
Ways to Support the Gallery
– From: mcmichaelgallery
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection has a noble goal and mission, and after visiting it for the first time, I felt like I wanted to give even more support. So, I was delighted to know that I can actually support the gallery in several other ways.
The first way we can support the gallery is through donations. You can donate online or via cheque, and if you want to do this regularly, you can set up a monthly donation. All donations that are C$25 and above are tax-receiptable, so keep that in mind!
Volunteering is another way of supporting the gallery. If you’re an art enthusiast, you can be a docent who leads interactive tours of the gallery’s collections and current exhibitions. Volunteers also help in any of the gallery’s events, such as the fundraisers.
Moonlight Gala
– From: mcmichaelgallery
Moonlight Gala is the gallery’s annual fundraising event, and it’s quite the special one. I like to joke that this kind of feels like a Bridgerton ball, just more modern and no ball gowns (unfortunately).
This gala is an evening full of live music and dancing, and there’s also good food and wine. It’s also the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people. I’ve lost count of how many new friends I’ve made here.
Where to Shop: The McMichael Gallery Shop
– From: mcmichaelgallery
If you want to bring home a souvenir from this gallery, stop by the on-site gallery shop. It’s home to all sorts of Canadian and art-themed gifts—from typical stationery products to artwork reproductions and unique artisan items!
I personally love getting the home decor items here. The art prints spruce up my bare apartment walls, while the throw pillows brighten up my living space.
This shop also has books about Canadian art history! I picked up a gigantic book about Tom Wilson’s works, and it’s so fascinating seeing Wilson’s iconic multimedia reflections on his childhood upbringing, as well as guitars with colourful beadwork.
Where to Dine: CABIN
– From: mcmichaelgallery
Operating Hours: Tuesday, Thursday to Sunday—11 am to 4 pm
Contact Number: +19058931121
Don’t worry if you ever get hungry during your visit! This gallery has its own restaurant named CABIN, and it serves your favourite comfort foods.
My go-to order is the Cabin cheeseburger—a classic burger with juicy prime beef patty, caramelized onions, and aged cheddar. It’s savoury and slightly greasy, but I have no complaints because it’s so filling!
This dish is also served with thick salty fries and gochujang aioli that adds a nice spicy kick to every bite.
