The Women’s Auxiliary to the Vancouver Art Gallery established in 1943 was originally known as the Ladies’ Auxiliary to the Vancouver Art Gallery. It was developed as a way to undertake the work that was beyond the scope of the officers and executives of the gallery. On September 24, 1979, after receiving its first male members, the Women’s Auxiliary voted to re-name itself the Volunteer Committee to the Vancouver Art Gallery. It retained this name for 18 years. After broadening its operating mandate in 1997, it re-established itself yet again in 1998. A new constitution was developed with fundraising as the main focus while at the same time seeking new ways to engage Gallery members. The group is currently named the Associates to the Vancouver Art Gallery.

The mandate of the associates is “to operate in accordance with the policy and priorities of the Vancouver Art Gallery, to be devoted to raising friends and funds for the Vancouver Art Gallery through social, educational, and service enterprises, and to foster wider cultural interest in the community, and to develop public awareness of the activities of the Vancouver Art Gallery.”

The volunteer organization has been responsible for various entertainments, lectures, and meetings over the years. Some of their many contributions include: Beaux Arts Balls, How to Look at Pictures, Christmas Creations, Do You Own a Canadian [Contemporary] Painting?, Home and Garden Tours, Art in Bloom, Heirloom Discovery Days, Town Tours, Painting Classes, and Art Rental and Sales [Picture Loan]. A noteworthy contribution of the Women’s Auxiliary to the Vancouver Art Gallery was the Gallery Shop beginning in 1963. Funds were also raised to purchase materials for the Gallery Library.

Various committee’s and associations were established as an offshoot of the Auxiliary group. Some of these include: the Education Committee, the W.A. Junior Committee, the Docent program, and the Alumni Association.

Titles:

Women’s Auxiliary to the Vancouver Art Gallery 1943-1979
Volunteer Committee to the Vancouver Art Gallery 1980-1998
The Associates to the Vancouver Art Gallery 1998-present

Presidents:

Mrs. J. P Fell 1943-1947
Miss H. Darling 1948
Mrs. R. Travers 1949-1950
Mrs. M. Caple 1950-1951
Iby Korner 1952-1953
Winnifred Philpott 1954-1955
Jean Turnbull 1956-1957
Dorothy-Jane Boyce 1958-1959
Jean Martin 1960
Estelle H. Warren 1961-1962
Grace Cameron 1963
Peggy Martin 1964
Nancy Paterson 1965-1966
Anne Tornroos 1967-1968
Sheila Casson 1969-1970
Thelma Plant 1971-1972
Noreen Anderson 1973
Cathie Miller 1974-1975
Claudia MacDonald 1976
Mary Zentek 1977-1978
Jane Wollen 1979-1980
Robin Gray 1981-1982
Brigitte Freybe 1983-1985
Ethel McIntosh 1986-1987
Dagmar Gabay 1987-1989
Sheila Mingie 1989-1991
Judy Daughney 1991-1993
Phyllis Buell 1993-1994
Joan Bawlf 1994-1997
Cathy Scott 1997-1999
Grace Robin 1999-2002
Gloria Smith 2002-2004
Lynne Du Moulin 2004-2006
Judy Lindsay 2006-2008
Annick Boisset 2008-present