Heffel's spring auction in Toronto on 21 May achieved a total of C$22.4m ($16.2m), led by E.J. Hughes's seascape *Coastal Boats Near Sidney, BC (1948)*, which sold for C$5.7m ($4.1m)—more than tripling its high estimate and setting a new auction record for the artist. The painting was consigned by Emily Carr University of Art and Design, with proceeds benefiting student awards. Other highlights included works by Mary Pratt, Jean Paul Riopelle, Alex Colville, Takao Tanabe, Tom Thomson, Arthur Lismer, and A.J. Casson, with four lots crossing the million-dollar mark and a 93.75% sell-through rate.
The results underscore continued confidence in the Canadian art market, despite the total being a significant drop from Heffel's November 2024 sales. The strong performance of Hughes, a West Coast landscape painter, and the records set for Tanabe and Pratt reflect enduring demand for Canadian historical and modern artists. The sale also demonstrated the market's appetite for works with institutional provenance and charitable proceeds, as seen with the Hughes painting supporting student awards.