Artwork by Alumnus Oryst Sawchuk donated to Sudbury Secondary School

The memory and legacy of the late Oryst Sawchuk will live on at his alma mater thanks to a generous donation of his original artwork to Sudbury Secondary School. A highly respected architect and artist, Oryst Sawchuk attended Sudbury’s longest serving high school in the 1940s.

Bridging the past with the present, Visual Art students gathered in the school’s foyer on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 10 am to participate in the unveiling.

The 11 by 16 painting of Elm Street circa 1949 depicts the Nickel Range Hotel, which is the title of the piece. Oryst Sawchuk brought “The Nickel Range Hotel” to life using pen, ink and watercolour. The result is a vibrant historical scene in bold yet muted colours that stand the test of time.

“Oryst was passionate about Sudbury, its people and its history,” said partner Vicki Gilhula. “He advocated for a healthy downtown and the importance of preserving heritage buildings for future generations. He would be so pleased to have his art proudly displayed in a place that nurtured his interest in art and design while he was discovering his calling in life.”

“We are thrilled to feature an original piece of art by Oryst Sawchuk at Sudbury Secondary School,” said Principal Heather Downey. “Oryst Sawchuk contributed to our community’s history through his art and his architecture. He is one of our most prominent graduates and we are so pleased that this beautiful piece of art has found a new home at his school.”

Born in Winnipeg in 1928, Oryst Sawchuk was raised in Sudbury. Although he travelled extensively, he lived most of his life not far from the school in the city’s West End.

After high school, Oryst Sawchuk studied at the University of Manitoba, graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture, and a Master Degree in Community Planning. He practised architecture with Sawchuk Peach Associates in Sudbury, Architects-Planners from 1957 to the year of his death in 2019. Oryst Sawchuk designed the Sudbury Transit Terminal and Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School.

As a member of the Sudbury and District Chamber of Commerce in the 1960s, Oryst Sawchuk championed the establishment of the art gallery in the Bell Mansion, now known as the Art Gallery of Sudbury.

In February 2010, he was recognized with the “Community Builder of Excellence in the Arts” award by Northern Life newspaper. In 2013, he received the Province of Ontario “40+ Volunteer Service” pin and certificate for his contribution to community arts and culture.

The Nickel Range Hotel was located where the downtown Shoppers Drug Mart is today.

Built in 1914, the five-storey hotel had a ballroom on the second floor. It was a popular place for residents and visitors.

When the hotel opened at the staggering cost of $75,000, the Sudbury Journal newspaper called it “a magnificent structure built in the Renaissance architecture style.”

The grand hotel hosted the city’s prestigious guests including Canadian writer Stephen Leacock and American writer Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway, who was a reporter for The Toronto Star at the time, stayed at the Nickel Range in 1923 when he was covering a story in Sudbury.

The Nickel Range was originally owned by D. M. Morin, who had made a fortune in mining. Former elevator operator Alvarez Rouleau later bought the Nickel Range and managed the hotel with his sons. The hotel was torn down in 1976.

Sudbury’s Alex Trebek recalled in his memoir that his father George, a Ukrainian immigrant, worked at the hotel as a pastry chef. The host of TV’s “Jeopardy”, who died in 2020, got his first job at the hotel helping out in the kitchen and working as a bellhop. Alex Trebek is among Sudbury Secondary School’s famous alumni.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171 ext. 7217