In memoriam, George Smyth

Activist art collector and philanthropist who was devoted to seeing the Coast Salish art form revived, celebrated and preserved for future generations.

The university is mourning the death of friend and benefactor George Smyth, who died on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. George and his surviving spouse, Christiane Smyth, have been dedicated supporters of the University of Victoria since 2010. Their belief in the power of art and education has opened minds, hearts and conversations. Their financial support of students, research, programming and exhibitions, in addition to extensive donations of artwork for learning and research initiatives, will have a lasting legacy on the university and beyond.

When George retired in 2000 from a successful career in technology research and development, he and Christiane relocated from Ottawa to Vancouver Island. It was this move that sparked their newly shared interest in contemporary Coast Salish art—a hobby formed while sourcing art for their home gradually became a passion and one of the reasons George became so connected to the University of Victoria. Gradually, the couple collected and commissioned prints from both emerging and renowned artists, amassing a vast collection (thought to be the largest of its kind) of contemporary Coast Salish art, named the Salish Weave Collection. Artwork from this collection has been featured in major exhibitions locally, nationally and internationally. Over two decades, the couple have helped raise international awareness of the contemporary Coast Salish art form that has historically been underrepresented in the Pacific Northwest Indigenous art landscape.

George and Christiane have been beacons of hope for many up-and-coming Coast Salish artists. They believed in our art form, and they moved beyond their belief to actions that directly supported each artist and moved their art forward.”

—Qwul’sih’yah’maht, Robina Thomas, Vice-President Indigenous

Around 2010, the Smyths widened their focus beyond art to education, thoughtfully using their collection and finances to initiate and facilitate others’ learning about Indigenous culture, art and histories. At UVic, they funded the installation of a number of donated works of art in the Cornett building and sponsored the Visiting Artist Program in Anthropology. With the Faculty of Education, they funded an artist-in-residence for the Indigenous Summer Institute. From that partnership sprung the Salish Weave School Program, which distributed box sets of prints and curriculum materials to school districts on traditional Coast Salish territories.

The endowed Smyth Chair in Arts and Engagement at UVic is a further legacy of George and Christiane’s partnership with the university. This position brings together partners and communities in support of a strong research and learning program focused on the role of art in education, public collections and exhibitions, and reconciliation in Canada. In 2022, the Smyths established the Salish Weave Indigenous Legal Scholar Award at UVic, supporting emerging Indigenous legal professionals in the Faculty of Law’s Joint Degree Program in Canadian Common Law and Indigenous Legal Order as a further commitment to contribute to the efforts of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Canada.

“George and Christiane’s vision of the power of art has translated into lasting contributions to the university,” says Andrea Walsh, the inaugural Smyth Chair in Arts and Engagement.

Indeed, they are collectors of art; moreover, they are investors in people. How fortunate we are, across campus, to have benefitted from their generosity over the many years. The thousands of minds that have been inspired, the thousands of hearts that have been moved to action, and the futures made possible through their funding and commitment to our efforts, is both inspiring and humbling.”

—Andrea Walsh, inaugural Smyth Chair in Arts and Engagement

George will be remembered by many in the university community for his generous vision, his dedication to strengthening the Coast Salish art form and for being a long- valued partner in Xʷkʷənəŋistəl | W̱ȻENEṈISTEL | Helping to move each other forward through enriching learning and research at UVic.