Words from Marianne Gibson on the occasion of the art museum’s launch
September 20, 2025
Many of you here today, celebrating with us on this special occasion, knew Edward—and you know how deeply important this project was to him.
Edward and I were high school sweethearts in Tillsonburg, Ontario. After graduating from Western University, Edward joined the Canadian army—the Black Watch, Royal Highland Regiment of Canada—and we moved to Germany where our son Walter was born. Edward left the military to continue his studies and we settled in Vancouver. Edward completed his PhD at UBC. In 1965, he became a charter member of Simon Fraser University, serving as Associate Professor of Geography and in 1988, Director of the SFU Gallery until his retirement in 1997.
I often think about those early days at SFU. Edward loved to teach. He loved geography, and he was fascinated by the way art, culture, and the environment weave together. Collectors from across Canada donated works that still hang in these corridors today. I remember walking with him down the hallways; he would pause, looking at the art—not with a sense of ownership, but with pride. He believed students should be surrounded by creativity, because art invites curiosity, imagination, and courage. Art from all times invites us to see.
And so, an idea began to take shape—an idea of creating an art museum here at SFU. What began as a dream slowly grew through years of envisioning and planning. Finally, the formal terms were signed, based on his 2002 review. And now, here we are, celebrating the opening of the Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum.
This museum is not only about preserving art; it is about creating a space where students, faculty, families, and the wider BC community can gather—where ideas meet, and where creativity flourishes.
Of course, this would not have been possible without an extraordinary community of people:
• To the Gibson Trust—Dale Henley, Catharine Falcon, and my son Walter—thank you for your guidance, encouragement, and faith in this dream.
• To SFU President Emeritus Andrew Petter, SFU President Joy Johnson, and all who carried this vision forward, thank you for your steadfast support.
• To Kimberly Phillips, the tireless director of the Art Galleries at SFU and now the Art Museum—thank you for your leadership, dedication and hard work.
• To the Advancement and External Relations teams at SFU—especially Rory Green, Cary Gaymond, and Doug Puffer—thank you for working for over a decade to make this possible.
• And finally, to Siamak Hariri and the team at Hariri Pontarini Architects, together with Iredale Architecture—thank you for the creation of a beautiful building that honours the spirit of Erickson and Massey’s original vision for this mountain campus, where art and nature belong side by side.
This museum is more than a building. It is a living promise: to preserve and expand the SFU Art Collection, to create a teaching museum where artists and faculty engage with one another, to encourage harmony by partnering with other institutions and to reflect the evolving landscape and identity of British Columbia through exhibitions and education.
It is a museum for everyone—for lifelong art lovers and for those stepping into a gallery for the very first time. The Gibson is welcoming, inclusive, and alive with curiosity, engagement, and connection. It is a place where the past is honoured, the present is challenged, and the future is inspired.
For me, it is also deeply personal. It is a continuation of Edward’s values: his respect for others, his belief in service, his devotion to work, and his conviction that art can shape how we see the world.
I am filled with gratitude for all of you who helped bring the Gibson Art Museum to life. Together, we have built something lasting for the future of Simon Fraser University—something I know Edward would have loved.
Thank you.
Marianne Gibson