Built on Small Business: Wallack’s Art Supplies & Framing

At the heart of Centretown are the small businesses that show up for this neighbourhood every day. Built on Small Business is our ongoing Centretown series celebrating them and the people who bring the neighbourhood to life.

We’re starting with a Centretown institution.

Wallack’s Art Supplies & Framing is marking 90 years in business this year. Since 1936, it’s been a constant for Ottawa’s creative community – a place where artists come to learn, experiment, and find what they need to bring ideas to life.

But Wallack’s story isn’t just about history.

It’s about people.

For this feature, we worked with Wallack’s to tell their story through the team – the artists, framers, educators, and advisors who carry its legacy forward every day.

“At its core, Wallack’s has always been about supporting creativity and being a place people feel connected to.”

MICHAEL WALLACK

A Centretown institution, still evolving

Wallack’s began as a photographic supply store founded by Sam Wallack on Bank Street. As Ottawa’s arts scene grew, so did the business – expanding into fine art supplies, custom framing, and eventually Wallack Galleries.

Over the decades, Wallack’s has adapted again and again. From drafting tables to digital design. From in-store sourcing to competing with online retail. Each shift forced the business to rethink how it supports artists and designers.

More recently, that evolution has focused on something less technical and more human: building community through classes, events, and cultural programming. Creating a space people genuinely want to spend time in.

But evolution hasn’t meant losing its footing. In a neighbourhood that has seen significant change over the years, Wallack’s has remained steady. Michael notes that one of the biggest lessons he’s learned is how much people value stability. When businesses invest in real relationships – with their team, their customers, and their neighbours – they become more than storefronts. They become anchors.

Most recently, in 2024, the art supply shop, gallery, and frame shop came together under one roof at 305 Bank Street – marking a new chapter during a milestone year.

Ninety years in, Wallack’s is still doing what it’s always done: showing up for creative people.

Stewardship, not just ownership

For Michael, owning Wallack’s isn’t just about running a business. It’s about long-term responsibility.

“It’s not just about having a good idea or working hard,” he says. “It’s about showing up consistently, making difficult decisions, and thinking years ahead rather than weeks.”

Taking ownership of a nearly 90-year-old institution carries weight. It means protecting what works, evolving where needed, and ensuring the next generation of artists and creatives still see themselves reflected in the space. It’s stewardship – balancing legacy with relevance.

And that kind of leadership doesn’t happen in isolation.

The people behind the place

Spend a few minutes inside Wallack’s and one thing becomes clear – the staff aren’t just selling supplies.

They’re artists themselves.

Patricia Claro, who leads Events & Classes, is a working illustrator who brings years of teaching experience to Wallack’s workshops and community programming – creating an open, welcoming environment for creatives at every level.

Olena Romazanova, Sales & Marketing lead, shapes the brand’s voice and campaigns while continuing her own practice focused on architectural drawing and classical painting.

Bella Laflamme, overseeing Experience & Merchandising, brings a curator’s eye to the store’s visual direction while building her career as a professional artist.

EJ Moffat supports retail and logistics, keeping systems running smoothly while pursuing her BA in Psychology at uOttawa – and still bringing her art knowledge to the sales floor to support customers.

Melani Cammack, with 20 years of framing experience and specialized training in conservation and heritage carpentry, ensures every piece entrusted to Wallack’s is handled with care, precision, and craftswomanship.

Sherril Wallack, Gallery Director, maintains Wallack Galleries’ long-standing connection to Ottawa’s art scene, working closely with established artists and collectors.

And even in retirement, John Wallack remains a familiar face – continuing to advise on art appraisals and sharing his deep knowledge of Canadian art with the community.

For Michael, some of his proudest moments have nothing to do with sales milestones. They’re about watching the team grow – many of whom are working artists themselves – gaining confidence, taking ownership of their roles, and balancing their own creative practices alongside their work at Wallack’s. Seeing that alignment and mutual support has been the most rewarding part of leading the business.

The advice shared across the counter comes from lived experience, not a script. Conversations about materials turn into conversations about process. Framing consultations turn into mentorship moments.

That’s the difference.

A place to belong

When someone walks into Wallack’s, Michael doesn’t just want them to feel inspired. He wants them to feel like they belong.

It’s a space designed for lingering. For asking questions. For meeting other creatives. For talking through a project that isn’t quite working yet. Everyone inside – whether they’re a student, professional artist, collector, designer, or framer – shares a respect for the creative process.

It’s not meant to be rushed. It’s meant to be explored.

And that intentional sense of belonging is what keeps people coming back.

Education at the core

Education has always been central to Wallack’s.

Workshops, semester-long courses, in-store demos – they’re not just programming. They’re part of the ecosystem. Whether someone is picking up a brush for the first time or preparing for their next exhibition, Wallack’s creates space to learn, experiment, and grow.

Supported by people who understand the process because they’re living it too.