OMERS celebrates Canadian creativity through local art
September 8, 2025
From June to July, OMERS hosted a very special installation: In celebration of Canadian artists.
As part one of a series of events spotlighting Canadian artists whose work is inspired by themes that reflect OMERS values and the diversity of our communities, OMERS partnered with The Artists' Network, a Canadian, member-led, not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting visual artists in the business of art. Its mandate is three-fold:
Provide members with opportunities to show and sell their work.
Help artists build the business skills required to operate their business successfully.
Build a community for artists to connect.
For over a month, OMERS head office in Toronto featured numerous pieces on display, offering employees a unique opportunity to engage with art in a personal, reflective space – and to support local artists through the purchase of their work.
Each piece was featured in a digital catalogue that included details about the artist and the meaning behind their specific work. Employees could access this information and explore purchase options by scanning a QR code displayed alongside the artwork. “We were so thrilled with the opportunity to showcase some of our talented local artists,” said Lisa Litowitz, who serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for The Artists' Network. “Especially at this moment in Canada, the response to the theme was incredible! We reviewed over 100 works of art and had to select only 10! The exhibit looked amazing and we look forward to another!”
The series also featured artwork by Patrick Hunter, a two-spirit, Ojibwe painter, showcasing Canada from his perspective. Hunter has previously painted a mural in one of the office buildings in Oxford’s portfolio, honouring the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.
“Through this series, our goal is to foster wellness, inspire creativity and build connection, while celebrating the communities, values and diversity that define OMERS and Oxford,” says Zoe Grace, Senior Specialist, Investment Communications at OMERS who served as a co-lead on this project.
While this first exhibit celebrated Indigenous Peoples History Month in June and Canada Day on July 1, there are also plans to hold two more installations in the near future, alongside OMERS Employee Resource Group Celebration Days as well as during International Women’s Day in March 2026.
“We’re excited to see this series grow, shine light on local artists in our community and create a meaningful space for employees to connect,” adds Zoe.