More than 900 art pieces returned after massive seizure at Oak Bay, B.C., gallery
Police say hundreds of pieces of artwork have been returned to their rightful owners after Saanich police seized more than 1,000 works from a gallery in Oak Bay, B.C.
The pieces were seized in mid-April from Winchester Galleries after police received reports of suspicious behaviour coming from the gallery's art dealer.
Artists told police that the dealer was selling their artwork then ceasing communication with them and not paying them what they were owed for the sales.
On April 28, police said they had seized more than 1,000 art pieces from the gallery, which investigators said were collectively valued at tens of millions of dollars, and were looking to return them.
On Wednesday, police said more than 900 of those pieces had been returned to their rightful owners – ranging from B.C., Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes to as far as Washington state.
More than 200 pieces remain unclaimed, however, and police are looking to return the art.
"The return of the art has been a labour-intensive process but an overall success, as we have been able to return over 75 per cent of the pieces we seized," said Const. Markus Anastasiades in a statement.
"We attribute this success to the media coverage and attention this file received, as well as the art community across the country spreading the word to one another," he said.
"We’re still hopeful we will be able to return all of the pieces we have."
Anyone who thinks their art may be among the items seized can contact the Saanich Police Department at art@saanichpolice.ca[.]
No charges have been put forward yet, though police say the investigation is ongoing and that police are looking into multiple charges of fraud and false pretense against the art dealer.
"This is a stunning example, in the Canadian art world, a dramatic example of an egregious breach of trust," said Anita Blackwood, wife of David Blackwood, in April.
Blackwood was one artist who was affected by the art seizure. Other high-profile pieces included three paintings by Emily Carr.
David and Anita Blackwood are pictured. (Peg McCarthy)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.