The Samac Collection
The Samac Painters contest ran from 1981 to 1998. During each of those years, a contest was held at the Fall Art Festival. Any OAA member could enter a painting with the subject matter having to do with the life of Col. Sam. There were 18 paintings, but two of the artists wanted to keep their artwork, which brought the total hanging to 16.
They were displayed on a table at the FAF and the public that attended on the 3 day show could vote on their favourite painting.
At the end of the show, the painting with the most votes won the Samac Painter of the Year. The OAA paid the winner $300 for the painting, and the painting became the property of the OAA.
The paintings were first hung at the Oshawa General Hospital and later moved to Parkwood and hung in the 2nd floor board room for a number of years. From there, they went to the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, 44 Richmond Street, W. After hanging at that location for a few years, they were moved to the NDP office on Centre St. and are still at that location.
Cy Usher, 1981 “The McLaughlin’s out for a Spin” (He took his painting with him)
Samac Painters of the Year
Cy Usher, 1981 “The McLaughlin’s out for a Spin (He took his painting with him)
Stan Nicholls 1982 "Col. Sam McLaughlin"
Leslie Parkes 1983 "Entrance Gates to Camp Samac"
Alan MacGillivray 1984 "Tending Garden-Parkwood"
Greg Maude 1985 “McLaughlin Homestead, Enniskillen, Ont.” *
Marion Stevenson 1986 "Flowers for Adelaide"
Catherine Dehaise 1987 “Colonel Sam McLaughlin”
Karen Richardson 1988 "Parkwood South Terrace"
Sylvia Valentine 1989 "Reflections of Samac"
Eric Bowman 1990 "Enniskillen Church in Sam's Day"
Theresia Barclay 1991 "Shades of Parkwood"
Pat Kirkwood Halverson 1992 “A Quiet Moment: Parkwood”
Audrey Stewart 1993 "Mrs. R. S. (Adelaide) McLaughlin"
Peter Pennington 1994 “Untitled"
Tony Johnson 1995 "Col. Sam's Legacy"
Ken Dunning 1996 “Untitled” (He took his painting with him)
Barbara McGuey 1997 “Oshawa Scenes”
Fay Gee 1998 "Early Fall"
*missing