About Toller International
Toller Cranston is an icon. His roots are ordinary. His talent is extraordinary. His work ethic is off the charts. His impact on people is astonishing. Toller International celebrates Toller’s achievements as an artist, an athlete, a Canadian, and a human being.
Welcome to Toller International! We are excited to introduce you to this project and to share the story behind its creation.
On Friday, January 23, 2015, my brother died of a massive heart attack at his home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He was 65. With his passing, Canada lost an icon, figure skating lost a legend, the creative world lost a creative force, San Miguel de Allende lost a character, those who knew him and loved him lost a friend, a mentor, a colleague, a champion. The outpouring of shock and grief, love and respect came from every corner of the world as people shared their stories. I was stunned. The stories were rarely about medals won and lost, or flawed judging, or how Toller had revolutionized the sport of figure skating. They were rarely about the imaginative genius of the 20,000 paintings he created or the 300 exhibitions in which he participated. Rather people spoke movingly about how Toller had affected them, how he inspired them, motivated them, how he changed their lives. I realized early on that my brother’s impact went well beyond athletic or artistic achievements. I realized that it was important to support his messages of courage, creativity, and authenticity. I understood that the task of preserving his legacy had fallen to me and a special group of committed individuals who have coalesced around this project.
It has taken nearly a decade to bring Toller International to life but there are already significant achievements. The Toller Cranston Memorial Fund through the Canadian Olympic Foundation supports artistry in promising young figure skaters. World Figure Sport in Lake Placid NY has established the Toller Cranston Legacy Scholarships. My multiple award-winning biography, Toller Cranston: Ice, Paint, Passion, was released to rave reviews. The Toller Cranston Library was established at the Biblioteca Pública in San Miguel de Allende. There have been successful posthumous exhibitions in Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Brazil. The Donna Child Fine Art Gallery continues to be in the forefront of promoting Toller’s artwork. Sales of paintings are bringing record prices. Multiple new initiatives are planned for the coming year including the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics, a new book on the artworks, and a series of workshops for young people called UBU: Chasing Destiny and Creating an Authentic Life.
Toller lived life on his terms. He found his way of ‘being’ in the world and staying true to himself. Toller International was created to celebrate and honour an extraordinary life, to document his athletic and artistic achievements, and to develop programs that support those who have the courage to pursue their path, who struggle to fit in, who, like Toller, dare to be different.
We welcome you to share in building the legacy of a Canadian icon,
With gratitude, Phillippa
MISSION
To honour and celebrate the achievements of one of the most compelling and inspirational people Canada has ever produced.
VISION
To promote initiatives that inspire people to find the courage to live authentically, to be creative, to chase their destiny, and to do the work.
