Material Detail

This site includes a complete collection of historical documents, images and video clips related to the death of artist Tom Thomson. His mysterious death in the summer of 1917 has contributed to the mythic status of the painter as a rugged wilderness man, a sensitive genius whose life was cut short by cruel fate. For some, however, Thomson's death has also become the focal point of an unresolved and complex set of mysteries. Was the drowning of the excellent canoeist on a calm July day accidental, or did it have some connection to a love triangle and a German American draft dodger hiding in the remote resort? To many who knew Thomson, or who have come to love his art work so associated with the iconic “Group of Seven”, the circumstances of his death suggest no other conclusion but that he was murdered and that his body does not lie at its apparent final resting place. Site users are encouraged to come up with their own interpretations of primary documents. Educators have access to a Teachers' Guide and experts’ interpretations of the mystery. The site is available in English and French.

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