The City of Owen Sound can move to create a Trust to take ownership of The Tom Thomson Gallery collection of 2,600 pieces with the condition that the collection can never sold, Mayor Deb Haswell said today.

"The Trust would be legally bound to keep the collection in Owen Sound in perpetuity," Mayor Haswell said.

"The Tom Thomson Gallery should be named as the permanent holder of the collection in trust, charged with its care and upkeep.

The Trust would be created and take ownership of the collection prior to the incorporation of the gallery.

The Trust would be governed by Trustees recruited from the arts and cultural community.

'"Council can instruct its lawyers to properly structure the Trust to it give full legal and accounting transparency.

Creating a Trust on these terms would end the public concerns that surround the ownership and future of the collection, Haswell said.

"I also encourage the Tom Thomson Gallery board to hold further public meetings to answer questions that went unanswered at Thursday's meeting, and to create a forum for regular updates and question-and-answer sessions.

Source - Deb Haswell campaign