December 27th, 2025 - A Landmark Exhibition Explores Winter as a Defining Thread of Canadian Identity

Jean-François Bélisle has spent his first two and a half years as director of the National Gallery of Canada largely out of the spotlight — a quiet approach that has helped steady an institution coming off years of upheaval. He assumed leadership at a moment when staff morale was shaken and donor confidence strained, following abrupt firings and leadership turnover that had unsettled one of Canada’s most important cultural institutions.

Bélisle stepped into the role after a turbulent period marked by strategic overhauls and internal conflict. His predecessor’s tenure had been short and controversial, and the gallery he inherited was filled with uncertainty. With only a dozen directors in the gallery’s 145-year history, Bélisle’s appointment stood out not just for its timing, but for his background: unlike recent leaders, he had not previously held a senior role at a major national museum.

Instead, Bélisle came from a respected regional institution in Quebec and brought with him experience organizing exhibitions, working with foundations, and supporting Canadian artists and the domestic art market. That background shaped his early priorities. Rather than imposing sweeping changes, he focused on listening, rebuilding trust, and encouraging collaboration across departments.

That approach was evident in his handling of “Winter Count: Embracing the Cold,” the first major exhibition fully overseen during his tenure. What began as a modest idea — a small selection of winter paintings — evolved through curator collaboration into a sweeping exploration of how artists across cultures and generations have engaged with cold climates and northern landscapes.

The exhibition grew into a major show featuring 164 works across many media, including painting, sculpture, clothing, photography, video, and Indigenous materials such as tepee covers. Artists represented come from across the world’s colder regions, and several works had never before been shown publicly in Canada. The scale and ambition marked a sharp contrast from the project’s humble beginnings.

The artworks range from monumental historical pieces to intimate contemporary works, reflecting both shared experiences and deeply personal interpretations of winter. Bélisle emphasized that the exhibition’s strength lay in its collective vision — individual perspectives coming together to form something larger, much like musical notes forming a symphony.

For Bélisle, the success of “Winter Count” symbolized more than a strong exhibition; it reflected a shift in institutional culture. What could have remained a minor side project instead became a defining moment, demonstrating how patience, collaboration, and openness can restore momentum to a major national museum.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Apropos (preposition, ap-ruh-POH) - Apropos is used as a preposition to mean "with regard to." It is frequently used in the phrase "apropos of."

Example: Sean interrupted our conversation about politics and, apropos of nothing, asked who we thought would win the basketball game.

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