F A L L 2 0 2 5 new s letter
30 YEARS OF AUCTIONS FA L L 2 0 2 5 A N D T H E Y E A R I N R E V I E W
David Heffel on the podium during the sale of Lot 16, Charles Fraser Comfort’s Barnston and Ballantyne at Tadoussac, 1846, when he donned a Hudson’s Bay point blanket coat to applause from the crowd, as the work achieved a record price
As we look toward the holiday season and the close of a remarkable year, all of us at Heffel would like to extend our warmest wishes to you and your families. This is a moment to reflect on the year behind us, and we are filled with gratitude for the trust, enthusiasm and partnership of our collectors, consignors and friends. Your passion for great art continues to inspire us, and it is because of this shared commitment that 2025 has been one of the most memorable years in our history.
A Historic Finale to 2025 We were honoured to celebrate our 30th anniversary of auctions with a fall live sale
that exceeded all expectations. Thanks to the incredible support of our collectors, the November 19th auction was truly electric. The room was buzzing from the first lot, and the energy carried throughout all four sessions. From The Hudson’s Bay Company Collection to The Lillian Mayland McKimm Collection to Canadian, Impressionist & Modern Art and finally Post-War & Contemporary Art, every seat was filled, the phones were fully booked, bidding in our Digital Saleroom was active and spirited, and collectors from across Canada and beyond participated with remarkable engagement. The result was a landmark night for the Canadian art market. The auction achieved an extremely rare 100% sell-through rate,
an achievement outstanding even on a global scale, and totalled $31.4 million. Overall, Heffel’s 2025 published auction sales reached $74 million, marking the strongest performance in our company’s history and the Canadian art market (this figure excludes private sales). Since 1978, Heffel has sold over $1 billion in art, highlighting our long-standing role as leaders in the art market. We were proud to see such exceptional participation in the fall live sale, along with widespread national media attention, including front-page stories in The Globe and Mail and the National Post. Milestones like these are only possible because of collectors like you who share our dedication to presenting artwork with care and passion.