Cory Trepanier is the international local boy we have just lost.
WHO WAS CORY TREPANIER?
A Caledon citizen and internationally acclaimed artist, film maker and explorer! He was born in Windsor, Ontario, in December,1968, and we just lost him on November 5, 2021. He attended Humberview Secondary School, and then Sheridan College for four years to study illustration. Until 1997 he freelanced as an illustrator for advertising agencies, magazines and government, after which he followed his passion to paint nature full time.
Most of us are familiar with him as part of the local fall arts tours, where we were fortunate enough to visit his home and be welcomed into his barn studio, but his legacy stretches far beyond the hills of Caledon – reaching international acclaim for both his multidisciplinary works and his passionate adventuring.
It speaks to his serious outdoors achievements to say he was a member of the Explorer’s Club, The Royal Canadian Geographical Society and also considered one of Canadian Geographic’s Top 100 Living Explorers, The Canadian Chapter of The Explorer’s Club’s awarded him its highest honour, the Stefansson Medal. In 2018, he was inducted to Caledon’s Walk of Fame, joining with such names as Norman Jewison and Farley Mowat.
THE CALL TO NATURE
Cory took inspiration not only from the outdoors, but from everything around him. His art inspired Canadians of all ages to connect with and appreciate the natural world. In the words of his daughter, Sydney, “Everywhere he turned he was able to find something beautiful and fascinating”.
Cory Trepanier first started painting in and around Caledon. I remember going to his open houses in those early years and falling in love with a small rural barn scene, which quickly became a treasured piece in my very own Caledon home.
The Trans Canada Trail figured in a big way in Cory’s life. Local Trail events could count on his eager presence. In fact, any Trail event anywhere, drew his attention. A 2019 highlight, was Cory hosting an event in Toronto and six other Canadian cities, with his friend and mentor Robert Bateman, where they shared tips and ideas for sketching plants, animals and landscapes to help connect people more to nature.
Ever expanding his inspiration, Cory took 4 seasonal trips along the coast of Lake Superior and Georgian Bay, which eventually comprised the Coast To Canvas Project. His wife, Janet, and two young daughters often with him, Cory lived the outdoor life for a month at a time recording on canvas and film what he saw through his artist’s vision. The exhibition of some 30 oils and a one-hour documentary called A Painter’s Odyssey, took place in 2004. It was the first film he and Janet made. His loving wife, Janet, was his integral partner to both the everyday and big picture operations of his artistic endeavours, a fact he always boasted.
Two years later he headed north – way north! Starting in 2006, Into The Arctic Project: An Artist’s Journey to the North, became a multi-year painting project. This consisted of three extensive Arctic painting/filming expeditions, where he also made significant relationships with the Inuit and their age old-wisdom. I remember him talking about having a gun with him for protection in case of polar bears or wolves at one presentation, because he indeed did venture into some very remote locations to capture the beauty of Canada. This, carrying 120 pounds of supplies! More than 50 paintings and three films were the result.
Of one trip, his daughter Sydney said, “I remember one time, when we were on our Arctic expedition in 2018… my Dad and I were in our tent after a long day of hiking. We were both exhausted from trekking the tundra and a little over tired from not sleeping well the previous night. We were just hanging out and Dad said why don’t we play a game on your phone before bed, so I pulled out my phone that had 10% battery left and no service (I brought it only to play games on until it ran out of battery). We were playing some scrambled word game where you had to find as many words as you can with a certain set of letters, and for some reason we both couldn’t think of more than two words! We were so tired that we could only come up with gibberish which then made us both laugh uncontrollably, full belly laughter that almost hurts your stomach from how hard you’re laughing. We laughed like maniacs for over an hour in a tent in the middle of the Arctic wilderness.”
For four recent years that exhibit has been touring internationally, from the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. and across North America, to the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. Cory was also honoured with an audience with Prince Albert II.
CORY TREPANIER, FILM MAKER AND MENTOR
Cory Trepanier’s acclaimed films have been broadcast on numerous networks nationally and internationally. These include CBC as well as Bravo. He has won awards and nominations for them including at the Canadian Screen Awards (formerly the Geminis). As an educator, he joined with Canadian Geographic Education in 2019, for Into The Arctic Film Trilogy K-12 teachers guide. This way the films are available for free to teachers and students in Canada and beyond, to educate in geography, environmental and social sciences, humanities, Indigenous culture, history, survival, and the arts.
Locally, international education visionary and fellow Caledon Walk of Fame inductee, Marilyn Field, recalls how Cory worked with her in Caledon East Public School, and inspired about seventy 11 to 14 year olds to paint their own interpretations of the north, after hearing his stories of hordes of mosquitoes in his face and paintbrush and being surrounded by Arctic wolves.
Just before Cory passed away [or lost his battle with cancer], Cory exercised his irrepressible energy and passion and published a 300 page coffee table book, Into The Arctic: Painting Canada’s Changing North, that documents the last 15 years and 60,000 kilometres of travel to the remote arctic areas, as well as critical cultural and environmental changes now happening there. People with the stature of artist Robert Bateman, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, The Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, and respected Inuit leaders contributed alongside Cory’s own essays. Few authors also can claim the prestige of having the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, John Geiger (CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society), Eleanor McMahon (CEO of the Trans Canada Trail) and Ron Hallman (President & CEO, Parks Canada), at the October 23rd book launch at Cory’s barn studio. In addition, The Joseph-Elzéar Bernier Medal, was awarded to him by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. The medal is normally a silver piece, but they gave a special edition made of gold to highlight Cory specifically – as in their opinion, he was one of the people most suited to receive it. The Lieutenant Governor commented, “May we all continue to follow your brilliant example in our everyday lives, and as citizens of this Earth”.
Says his family, “Cory’s adventurous and generous spirit shone brightly, and his legacy will forever continue in the hearts of all who knew him and his work. Cory was and always will be, our North Star”. “Cory’s Art represented the wilderness that resides at the heart of our collective humanity. Let us always remember the example he set, that anybody who follows their dreams with passion and conviction creates an undeniable light for others to follow”.
WRITTEN BY: DIANA JANOSIK-WRONSKI
