Anyone who’s moderately familiar with Canadian art has almost certainly heard of the Group of Seven — but not everyone may know how one of its founding members had a hand in memorializing the Great War, through his art.

Art and history enthusiasts gathered at RiverBrink Art Museum on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for a talk by historian and author Dr. Douglas Hunter on the life and legacy of Alexander Young Jackson, or A.Y. Jackson, one of Canada’s most celebrated artists.

The talk, titled “A.Y. Jackson, the Birth of the Group of Seven, and the Great War,” coincided with the museum’s ongoing exhibition “Centre and Periphery: The Group of Seven.”

The Group of Seven, founded in 1920, transformed Canadian art by rejecting European traditions and embracing the country’s natural beauty.

A.Y. Jackson, a key member, helped define the group’s bold style, marked by vivid colour and emotional depictions of nature.

His First World War experience further shaped his work, solidifying the Group of Seven as a symbol of Canadian identity and a distinct artistic voice on the world stage.

Hunter’s presentation focused on Jackson’s formative years, his time on the battlefield during the Great War, and how these experiences shaped his role in the creation of the Group of Seven.

The lecture provided a deeper understanding of Jackson’s complex identity as both a soldier and a painter, highlighting the profound influence the war had on his work.

Hunter’s new book, “Jackson’s Wars,” available for purchase after the talk, offers a narrative of Jackson’s dual identity and delves into the friendships, losses and pivotal moments that led to the formation of the Group of Seven.

In the halls leading up to the room where the lecture was, attendees were also able to browse and purchase leftover artwork from the Off the Walls art sale fundraiser held there last month, said Janet Zylstra, RiverBrink administrator.

The lecture, which drew a diverse audience from across the community, was made possible by the RiverBrink Art Museum, which continues to celebrate the legacy of the Group of Seven through its exhibitions and programming.

The museum highlighted the importance of remembering the sacrifices made during the war while connecting those historical moments with contemporary Canadian identity.

“We thought it was important to have this conversation now, especially with Remembrance Day approaching,” said Moyu Chen, RiverBrink’s programming and curatorial assistant.

The history of the Group of Seven is integral to understanding Canadian art, Chen said, and Jackson’s story is especially moving when considering his time in the war and the profound effect it had on his work.

“This is a topic that people in this community care about and want to learn more about. At Riverbrink, we want to reflect what they want, and their identity,” he said.

For those interested in exploring how war, loss and creativity intersected in the life of one of Canada’s most influential artists, the exhibition “Centre and Periphery: The Group of Seven” continues at RiverBrink Art Museum on the second floor.