Doris McCarthy

ARTS AND CULTURE

At 96, Doris McCarthy is one of Canada’s greatest living artists, prolific in her output. With a special passion for landscape, McCarthy has explored and painted across the World. Her unique vision moves us into a new era of Canadian landscape painting. Her many achievements include being appointed as the first woman President of the OSA; receiving the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario; receiving five honorary doctorates; being named the first Artist of Honour at the McMichael Canadian Collection; and, being honoured by the University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus with the naming of The Doris McCarthy Gallery. In addition to her national recognition, McCarthy has been a great advocate for the arts in her beloved community of Scarborough. McCarthy designed Scarborough’s flag; was a founding member of the Scarborough Arts Council; is a recipient of Scarborough’s Civic Award of Merit; is the namesake of Scarborough’s Doris McCarthy Trail; and, was the inspiration for an enormous piece of public art by the lakeside. The public art installation was created to honour McCarthy’s important relationship to Scarborough. In 1999, McCarthy donated her beloved Scarborough property, Fool’s Paradise, along with a $500,000 endowment, to Ontario Heritage. Ontario Heritage will take over the property after McCarthy’s death. By this gift of her home, McCarthy has inspired the creation of Scarborough’s first international artist retreat. McCarthy has lived at the same Scarborough address for over 50 years!