Manitoulin Island’s premier artist Ivan Wheale has passed away.
Wheale, an internationally renowned artist, who has works featured around the world, including Windsor Castle and government buildings in Canada, passed away early Saturday morning.
He was in palliative care, having received a cancer diagnosis earlier in the year, but before he passed, he had stated he had no regrets, and had a full life and is especially proud of leaving a legacy behind to encourage new artists in their endeavors.
Wheale was not only an artist, but he was also a teacher, avid volunteer and the co-founder of the LaCloche Foothills Annual Art Show.
On July 30th, he was presented with two certificates by Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Bill Rosenberg, the first to recognize him for his contributions to the arts from the Province of Ontario and the second acknowledging his nomination for a Queen Elizabeth II Ontario Medal for Citizenship.
He followed in the footsteps of the Group of Seven with paintings depicting the beauty of Manitoulin Island and the North Shore of Lake Huron.
Funeral arrangements are being finalized.
He was 90.
