Date: 1941

Origin: CNE Archives

The towering figure of a man rolling up his sleeves in this poster is a detail from a large oil painting (7′ x 4′) by Toronto artist, Grant Macdonald (1909-1987)

The CNE commissioned Mr. Macdonald to create this painting for use in the poster and programme cover that year. The CNE’s theme in 1941 was “Canada’s Anwer” (its answer to fascism in Europe). Grant Macdonald used a soldier by the name of J.C. Cockburn of Toronto as his model. The Toronto Star sold prints at the 1941 CNE to benefit the Red Cross British Bomb Victims Fund. The painting was also offered for sale the same year also to raise money for the Bomb Victims Fund.

The painting ultimately wound up back at the CNE and is part of our remaining art collection.