Among these treasures are the works of William Kurelek, perhaps one of the most famous of Ukrainian Canadian artists.

William Kurelek was born in 1927 in Whitford, Alberta and graduated from the University of Alberta in 1949.
He studied at various art schools in Canada, Mexico and England. In 1960 he returned to Canada and began to paint on themes relating to Ukrainian pioneer life in Canada. He lived and worked in Toronto.
His works can be found in many institutions across Canada including the National Gallery of Canada. In 1976 he received the Order of Canada. He died in 1977.

This Prairie artist dedicated his career to documenting his personal vision of Canada. His illustrated books testify to a passionate love of the land, and of its people's historical, cultural and religious heritage. In words and pictures, Kurelek celebrates the lives of Canada's ethnic groups, referring often to his own childhood and Ukrainian ancestry.