As one of Victoria's great visionaries, Colin Graham worked tirelessly to collect, exhibit, educate and promote the visual arts in the Greater Victoria area.  Sylvia Graham worked diligently as a volunteer throughout Colin's tenure continuing in this capacity until 2001. Originally from Vancouver Graham was working as the Head of Education at the Legion of Honor, San Francisco's civic art museum when he was offered the position of Director at the Arts Centre in Victoria.  Only 36 years old, Graham was aware of his lack of experience but in September 1951 made the bold step to come north to with his wife Sylvia. The position of Director came with the remuneration of $200 per month and for the first year they lived in a suite in the Spencer mansion.

Their success can be measured by the breadth of the 17,000 item collection, the thousands of works that grace the Gallery each year and the legacy of one of the British Columbia's strongest art education programs. Colin and Sylvia were tenacious in their endeavour to create, maintain and encourage art education.  The work they accomplished set a firm foundation upon which the rest of the history of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria was formed and continues to grow.  

The Grahams undertakings brought to fruition the dreams of earlier cultural advocates including, most prominently, Emily Carr.  For the last 58 years the Gallery has continued to build on this vision making it the world class institution it is today.

"I can think of no individual in Canadian art who has fulfilled more [of] his obligations to artists and audience than Colin Graham. Moreover, he has done so with humility and wisdom, kindness and concern." - Donald Harvey