MEMBER PROFILE
in Saskatchewan,” said Donna Cram, the
former general manager of the University
Club at University of Saskatchewan. “Cam
cared deeply about his employees and their
potential and he always did whatever he
could to support their careers. Under his
mentorship, many have gone on to great
success, including a buyer of international
wines, a Val Mason scholarship winner and
many others who have gone on to manage
their own clubs and work and teach in
other areas in the hospitality industry. As
one former employee told me, ‘I worked for
Cam for one year, 14 years ago, and I am still
in contact with him, and his wife Tammy.’”
Forrester has donated numerous original
art pieces each year to the PMD fund
auction, resulting in thousands of dollars
of funds raised to help advance individuals
in their club management aspirations.
David Houghton purchased the very first
painting that Forrester donated to the
auction to add to The Ranchmen’s Club art
collection many years ago. Houghton predicted
then that Forrester would go on to
great success as an artist, and he was right.
Throughout his long and distinguished
club management career, Forrester always
kept drawing and painting as a hobby. He
honed his craft so well that by 2017, he was
getting a number of commissions for his
paintings. It was Tammy who suggested
that he transition into painting full time.
Men Who Paint
In 2005, Forrester came across an ad offering
lessons to learn how to paint with oil.
The location of the lessons was in Emma
Lake (about two hours north of Saskatoon).
His family had a cabin on the lake and he
was familiar with the area, so he decided to
take part. He went to the studio for his first
lesson and met Ken Van Rees, Paul Trottier,
Roger Trottier and Greg Hargarten, a group
that called themselves “Men Who Paint.”
“The group originated out of a discussion
about colour and value while fishing
at Emma Lake,” said Paul. “We decided
it was better to paint together instead of
fishing in the evenings because the light
was so wonderful; from there, the group
grew and shortly after we had our first art
show together in Prince Albert.”
Travelling to paint
Men Who Paint have travelled to some
of the most remote places in Canada
and around the world to find the most
beautiful landscapes.
“One time, we flew on a twin Otter
to a remote outpost on Hickson Lake in
northern Saskatchewan,” said Roger. “The
scenery was particularly refreshing. We
appreciated viewing the Indigenous rock
paintings on the shoreline slopes. It was
stimulating to reflect on the visuals and to
ponder the stories portrayed by people travelling
the river.”
On another trip, the group was invited
to a German museum.
“Our invitation by the Kunstmuesum
in Schwaan, Germany to paint the northern
area was a particularly amazing trip,”
said Hargarten. “The Kunstmuseum has a
century-long history of plein air painting. It
was fabulous to be a part of that legacy and
to have our work included in their collection
along with great German artists.”
They’ve even been north of the
Arctic Circle.
“We flew into Ivvavik National Park
from Inuvik to paint plein air,” said Van
Rees. “To experience the caribou migration,
watch grizzly bears and fly by helicopter
to a few remote locations, particularly the
Beaufort Sea coast, was spectacular.”
For Forrester, his favourite trip was
across Ontario in 2017.
“We went to commemorate one hundred
years after the Canadian artist Tom
Tompson’s death – the scenery all across
the north of Lake Superior, Algoma and
Algonquin Park in the fall was breathtaking,”
said Forrester. “I had opportunities to stand
in the exact locations some of the Group
of Seven had stood to paint. My favourite
areas were Ragged Falls and Algoma,
between Wawa and Sault Ste. Marie.”
Forrester doesn’t have any troubles
to draw comparisons between two of his
life’s passions.
“Painting and golf both have outcomes,”
he said. “With golf, you post a score,
and painting, you get a beautiful piece of
art. But that outcome isn’t the most important
thing. The most important thing is the
camaraderie. It’s being with your friends,
laughing, telling stories and sharing a passion
with others who share it too.”
Men Who Paint have published four books
and many YouTube videos. You can also see
more of Forrester’s artwork on his website,
www.camforresterart.com.
Eric Sargent, CCM is the food and beverage
director at Donalda Club in Toronto, Ont.
“Painting and golf both have
outcomes. With golf, you
post a score, and painting,
you get a beautiful piece of
art. But that outcome isn’t
the most important thing.”
– Cam Forrester
Photo courtesy of Cam Forrester
Cam Forrester painting in Ivvavik National Park, Yukon
22 § The Canadian Society of Club Managers § www.cscm.org
/www.camforresterart.com
/www.cscm.org
