Years later, while vacationing in Nova Scotia, we attended the Lunenburg Folk Art Festival and were completely taken in. I tracked down folk artist Bradford Naugler, drove to his studio, and we bought our first piece—a seagull on a barn, which we named Gus. That festival became an annual pilgrimage, shaping my collection and deepening my passion.

These trips became adventures. We sought out folk artists, followed backroad signs to studios, and found unexpected treasures. In Port Medway, we passed a sign that read, “Museum and Gallery – 2 km down good quality gravel road.” My wife groaned. “We’re going, aren’t we?” And of course, we did.

Over time, I started acquiring art with an eye toward selling. I commissioned pieces, sourced unique works, and tested the market—once attempting to sell a Charles Pachter painting at Waddington’s. It nearly met my reserve, so I kept it for years before finally selling it at Heffel in January 2025. That sale sparked something I had always known—I would own a gallery one day.