John Mann: A Legacy of Art, Vision, and Community
For more than six decades, John Mann lived with art—devotedly and deliberately. As a discerning collector, cultural patron, and visionary leader, he helped shape the artistic and philanthropic identity of the Niagara region. His most enduring legacy took form in the creation of the John Mann Gallery at 13th Street Winery—an institution that seamlessly blended fine art, community engagement, and experiential culture into one distinguished setting.
Endowed with both a collector’s eye and a community builder’s heart, John and his wife, June, spent over sixty years assembling what would become the Mann Collection—a significant body of over 400 works by some of Canada’s most revered artists. The collection featured key figures from pivotal movements, including Les Automatistes, Painters Eleven, and the storied Isaacs Gallery stable. For the Manns, collecting was never merely an act of acquisition—it was a calling to preserve, celebrate, and share the cultural heartbeat of a nation.
The Gallery at 13th Street Winery
In 2008, John and June joined forces with Doug and Karen Whitty to acquire 13th Street Winery in St. Catharines. For John, the winery was not merely a venture in viticulture—it was a canvas upon which to realize a broader cultural vision.
That vision came to life on November 2, 2019, with the founding of the 13th Street Gallery, later renamed the John Mann Gallery. It quickly earned distinction as a destination for collectors, artists, and connoisseurs of Canadian art. Housed within a thoughtfully curated 6,000 sq. ft. space, the gallery focused on Canadian historical and contemporary fine art, offering exhibitions of originality, excellence, and national significance. The surrounding 13th Street Sculpture Garden grew in tandem with the gallery, embodying John’s belief that art should be not only admired but experienced—woven into daily life and accessible to all.
Performance Auto Group
Beyond the world of art, John Mann was a formidable entrepreneur and a steadfast philanthropist. As co-founder of Performance Auto Group, he spent five decades building one of Southern Ontario’s leading automotive organizations alongside his friend and business partner, Cam Champion. Together, they grew the company to represent 16 leading automobile manufacturers and provide employment to over 400 individuals across the Niagara region.
John’s business success became the foundation for a lifetime of philanthropy. His generosity extended to countless organizations, including United Way, Brock University, Niagara College, Niagara Health, Niagara Symphony, Music Niagara, Niagara Children’s Centre, the Child Advocacy Centre, Youth for Christ, and many others. His contributions resonated across the spheres of healthcare, education, youth services, and the arts.
Mann Collection
On March 19, 2025, following John’s passing, the John Mann Gallery closed its doors—an occasion that marked the close of an extraordinary chapter in the cultural life of Niagara and in the story of Canadian art. Yet the legacy endures. The Mann Collection remains intact, and the imprint of John’s vision continues to inspire—through the artists he uplifted, the collectors he influenced, and the community he helped to build.
John Mann was more than a founder. He was a cultural catalyst—a man of unwavering conviction who believed in the capacity of art to elevate the human experience. His name lives on as a symbol of excellence, foresight, and enduring generosity, and his legacy continues to shape Niagara’s cultural future for generations to come.
