The Art Gallery of Peterborough is set to host "Elizabeth Thompson Advises," a multimedia exhibition by Cavan-based artist JoEllen Brydon running from April to June 2026. The show centers on the work of Brydon’s late mother, Jean Armstrong Brydon, who wrote a progressive advice column for The Globe and Mail under the pseudonym Elizabeth Thompson between 1966 and 1978. The exhibition integrates original letters and columns with JoEllen’s bold paintings, audio recordings, and short films to bring these mid-century narratives to life.
This exhibition highlights the intersection of personal family history and Canadian journalistic heritage, shedding light on the career of a woman forced into freelance work due to archaic anti-nepotism policies. By revisiting Jean Armstrong Brydon’s forward-thinking responses to social issues of the 60s and 70s—including sexuality and parenting—the project serves as both a tribute to a pioneering writer and a creative exploration of how archival stories can be reinterpreted through contemporary visual art.