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‘We need operational funding to do some hiring of staff amongst other needs.” — Deep Water Gallery co-founder Joe Vanderzand
Published Nov 14, 2025 • Last updated 8 hours ago • 2 minute read
The Deep Water Gallery in Wiarton is hosting a fundraising gala in Colpoy’s Bay Nov. 21. Photo by Rob Gowan /jpg, WI, apsmcArticle content
Wiarton’s Deep Water Gallery needs to raise money and find more volunteers, co-founder Joe Vanderzand said.
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There’s a fundraising gala Nov. 21 to kick off what founders intend to be a more financially secure, continuing celebration of the arts and economic driver for Wiarton.
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Begun almost seven years ago, the gallery on Wiarton’s main street is publicly funded. Its board of directors is a committee of the Wiarton & District Chamber of Commerce, whose not-for-profit status lets the gallery apply for grants.
“(W)e have come to realize that we’ve come to a stage in our growth cycle where we need greater support as we have outgrown our ability to just run and rely on our volunteers,” Vanderzand said in an invitation to the gala.
“We need operational funding to do some hiring of staff amongst other needs,” Vanderzand said, who with curator Anne Marie Hadcock established the gallery at the board table of the Wiarton & District Chamber of Commerce in 2019.
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The “Cocktails and Canvas” event will take place at the Colpoy’s Bay Women’s Institute building in Colpoy’s Bay, on Friday, Nov. 21 from 6 – 8 p.m. It’s on Bruce Road 9 in South Bruce Peninsula.
Greg Nadjiwon, the former chief of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, will provide opening remarks. Kelly McDougall, who has organized programming for the gallery, will describe where it has been and is going, based on a recent visioning exercise to 2030.
That visioning exercise was sparked by frustration Vanderzand has felt over an ongoing dispute with the town over ownership of a piece of land which the gallery had been using as an outdoor patio beside the gallery, he said.
Vanderzand provides free space for the gallery in his building located south of the TD Bank, at 583 Berford St. He said he has committed to providing that space through to December 2026. He will be making remarks at the gala too, he said.
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“It’s basically a social to really kickstart this Friends of the Gallery and all the benefits that has for the people that sign on and do donations and the benefit that it creates for the arts community and the community at large,” Vanderzand said.
He said the gallery has presented close to 40 shows and the chamber of commerce recognizes businesses and the community benefit from arts tourism.
“I come at it from an economic driver aspect. What I’ve since come to realize is the connectivity that is created within the community from all the artists and the different shows we’ve put together.”
Vanderzand said the best outcome from the gala event would be to build a bigger base of donors and volunteers to fill key roles such as in financial management and promotion, including social media.
By Friday, Nov. 14, there were 75 tickets sold and 15 remaining. Tickets cost $50 and can be purchased by e-mailing josephusvanderzand@gmail.com. E-transfers to pay for the tickets may be made to wiartondistrictchamber@gmail.com
Indicate on the transfer that the payment is for the Deep Water Gallery gala ticket.
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