Queen Elizabeth portrait goes from Winnipeg Arena to Kijiji
Winnipeg Jets players were known to try to hit the painting with pucks during practice
A massive portrait of the Queen that once watched over NHL games in Winnipeg is again looking for a new home.
The painting was done by billboard artist Gilbert Burch in 1979 and it hung from the rafters in the former Winnipeg Arena for 20 years.
But it was criticized by some who said it was not a good likeness of the Queen, and Winnipeg Jets players were known to try to hit the painting with pucks during practice.
The artwork was taken down in 1999 in preparation for the Pan Am Games and spent most of the ensuing years stored in a warehouse in Whitby, Ont.
On Feb. 26, 2015, CN executives Jamie Boychuk and Michael Cory bought the portrait for a price they refused to disclose and brought it back to Winnipeg.
"Winnipeg is going to be happy to get this back, I'll tell you that," Boychuk said at the time.
Now it's up for sale on an online classified advertising site, with no target price listed.
The advertisement, listed on Kijiji under the Winnipeg section for art and collectibles, estimates the portrait weighs 600 pounds.
"Large area required to house this masterpiece," it says.
Boychuk said he and Cory hope the buyer will put it in a location where it can be appreciated.