New home found for Queen portrait from old Winnipeg Arena

Just days after being put for sale on Kijiji, the owners of a famous Queen Elizabeth portrait say they've found a home for the monarch.

A wanted ad on the online classifieds websiteposted by the painting's currentowners, who were searching for a new buyerfor the Queen has been updated, saying a homehas been secured.

• Queen Elizabeth portrait goes from Winnipeg Arena to Kijiji
• Queen portrait that hung in old Winnipeg Jets arena coming home

In February 2015, CN Rail executives Jamie Boychuk and Michael Cory purchasedthe five-by-seven-metreportrait for a price they refused to disclose, thenbrought it back to Winnipeg.

CBC News tried reaching out to Boychuk for comment Wednesdaymorning, andwe have yet to hear back from him.

However, a message sent byLindsay Watt, who is handling inquiries on behalf of the painting's owners, said the portrait has secured a new home right here in Winnipeg.

Watt would notreveal the location of the portrait's new home or say how much it sold for.

"We think the people of Winnipeg will be quite happy when they are able to see her hung up where she can be appreciated," Watt said.

"As for when that will be. You will have to stay tuned!"

The massive portrait of the Queen once watched over NHL games at the old Winnipeg Arena.It was done by billboard artist GilbertBurchin 1979 and it hung from the rafters in the former arena for 20 years.

The portraitwas criticized by some who had said it was not a good likeness of Queen Elizabeth, and hockey 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 it spent most of the followingyears stored in a warehouse in Whitby, Ont., before it was purchased.

Queen portrait that hung in old Winnipeg Jets arena coming home

10 years ago

Duration 2:02

A giant portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that was a longtime fixture at the former Winnipeg Jets' home is coming out of storage in Ontario and heading back to Manitoba.