Peter Shostak was caught off-guard when he received the news.
In September, he was elected to the College of Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, recognizing his 40-plus years of commitment to the arts and his artistic career.
“I was very surprised,” he said. “I received a phone call a while ago… saying ‘your name is nominated for election, and you will be notified of the results.’ Soon after that, I received the notification (of election).”
Shostak is not certain who nominated him, but he thinks it came from someone in the Calgary area.
Fellows are individuals who have distinguished themselves by directly contributing to scientific knowledge in the field of geography, geographical exploration or allied sciences. They may also have distinction in areas such as teaching, academia, community service and the arts and have received major awards/official recognition.
The College of Fellows includes such Canadian icons as author Margaret Atwood, astronaut Roberta Bondar, Nobel Laureate John Polanyi, Governor General of Canada Mary Simon, and anthropologist Wade Davis.
The inaugural Fellows list included such Canadians as Nobel Prize-winner Frederick G. Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin, and artist A.Y. Jackson, a leading member of the renowned Group of Seven.
“It really is quite a list,” said Shostak. “I’m really honoured to have been nominated and to have been elected.”
Shostak’s art career followed a career in education. He and his wife, Geraldine, moved to Vancouver Island in 1969 for teaching jobs - hers with the Saanich school district and his with the University of Victoria, teaching art.
But he knew where his true passion lay.
“I always wanted to be an artist,” he said. “I have always created things, whether it was with wood, or clay, and later with paint, creating was always important to me, so I thought ‘I would really like to do this for a living.’”
After a one-year unpaid sabbatical to test the waters, Peter, with unwavering support from Geraldine, walked away from his teaching career and began painting full-time.
“I was an associate professor. I had tenure. I could have stayed until (retirement). But in ’79 I decided this was it. I am going to paint full-time. And I have never looked back.”
Shortly thereafter, Geraldine left her teaching job to work with Peter, taking care of all the behind-the-scenes details so he could concentrate on his art.
“She took over as my business manager, my editor, my critic, and she is still doing that today,” said Peter.
He said because of Geraldine’s support, as well as that of fans of his work, he did not experience any ‘lean years’ so to speak.
“There was a time, during the recession, that sales dipped a little bit… but to be an artist for a living, you have to have an audience that appreciates your work,” he said. “For me, going back to my early years growing up on a farm, I used that as my subject material. And for me, luckily, that produced an audience. I had a lot of people who had similar backgrounds… who could relate. So I was fortunate.
“When you have a painting in your house, every time you walk by it, it should say something to you. Nobody just fills their walls with meaningless images.”
While art is his love, Peter still has some teaching desires. He is one of the presenters at ElderCollege.
This year he will lead two Comox Valley ElderCollege courses during the Fall 2023 semester: Canada’s Ukrainian Settlers 1891-1914 on Oct. 20 and Artist Talk 1 on Nov. 4. Both courses will be held on the North Island College Comox Valley campus.
“I am of Ukrainian background, which is very important to me, and because of what is going on in Ukraine right now, it is becoming even more important,” he said of his Oct. 20 presentation. “My wife both speak the language and have connected with some of the newcomers to the Valley.”
The Nov. 4 artist talk will cover Shostak’s career.
For more information on these and other ElderCollege courses, visit nic.bc.ca/CVEC