Manitoba

Famous portrait of Queen Elizabeth to hang downtown for Heritage Classic weekend

Just in time for the Heritage Classic, the 600-pound, 35-square-foot painting of Queen Elizabeth that used to hang in the Winnipeg Arena is being resurrected for a one-night-only appearance downtown.

Painting will hang on the side of The Pint bar in downtown Winnipeg

The 600-pound portrait of Queen Elizabeth that used to hang in the Winnipeg Arena will hang downtown for 12 hours on Thursday. (kijiji.ca)

Just in time for the Heritage Classic weekend, the 600-pound, 35-square-metre painting of Queen Elizabeth that used to hang in the Winnipeg Arena is being resurrected for a one-night-only appearance downtown.

For 12 hours on Thursday, the painting will hang on the side of The Pint on Garry Street between Portage Avenue and Graham Avenue.

Pint general manager Riley Creighton said the plan initially was to hang the portrait on a wall in the bar, but that got scrapped when he realized it was too big to put inside.

"It's a big week for all Winnipeggers, and the excitement with the Heritage Jets and the Heritage Oilers," he said. "It's going to be be pretty awesome."

Weather permitting, the painting is set to be unveiled at 1 p.m., and will hang on the south side of the building facing Graham Avenue until 1 a.m. or later, Creighton said.

It'll be the first time Winnipeggers can see the painting on display since it was taken down from the Winnipeg Arena more than a decade ago.