In Memoriam: Elexis Schloss

The Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) mourns the loss of Elexis Schloss —philanthropist, community advocate, and former AGA Board Member. 

Elexis Schloss began her career as a draughtsman and designer for several engineering, construction, and architectural companies before studying architecture at McGill University. Upon returning to Edmonton, she became the chief of design with Maclab Enterprises, serving in that role for nearly 20 years.  Elexis’s talents were diverse; she started a clothing company featuring hand-knit, exclusive angora designer sweaters, showcased her watercolor art in many galleries in Edmonton and Calgary, and studied shoe and jewelry making at the London Institute of Fashion and Design. In addition to her many pursuits, Elexis was deeply committed to community service, holding roles on more than 25 boards and committees. Passionate about women's health, she spearheaded the construction of Compassion House, which provides accommodations and services for out-of-town breast cancer patients, and co-chaired the Caring and Providing Empowerment (CAPE) clinic for inner city residents. She also held board positions with Pilgrim's Hospice, Canadians for a Civil Society and the John Humphrey Centre. As a citizenship court judge, she granted Canadian citizenship to over 9,000 new Canadians. Her impact extended globally, as she contributed to relief efforts in Haiti and volunteered in Rwanda and Ethiopia. Known for her quiet acts of kindness, she knitted hundreds of toques, mittens, and scarves for homeless shelters.

Among her many awards, Elexis received Queen’s Jubilee medals, City of Edmonton recognitions, the Global Woman of Vision award, the Rotary Integrity Award, and an honorary degree from MacEwan University. In 2013, she was inducted into the Order of Canada. 

At the AGA, Elexis served on the board and championed the New Vision Campaign, which funded the construction of the new building. She was also a donor to our upcoming exhibition, Here to Tell: Faces of Holocaust Survivors. 

We honor Elexis’s lasting impact and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.