Like William Blake, Frank Mayrs (1934-1994) could see “a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower.” His creativity was boundless, exploring all media from painting to videography.

For more than three decades, he helped present Canada’s face to the world, and to Canadians, through his positions as a designer with several federal government agencies. His flare and
attention to detail ensured the success of the Canadian pavilion at Expo 70 in Osaka and the pavilions for Canada, the Northwest Territories and Hong Kong at Expo 86 in Vancouver.

But while Frank was a designer by profession, by desire he was a painter.
In 1985 he left the government to paint full time, and the next 10 years were a supernova of
creativity. With his artist wife Patricia, Frank
nurtured an interest in film- making and travelled extensively throughout the Arctic.

Frank Mayrs was born in Winnipeg, one of six children, including three brothers who also paint. He died in the Gatineau Hills that he loved.

Peter Calamai