In a story that intertwines profound loss, incredible generosity, and a miraculous medical recovery, one of Ottawa's most dedicated art patrons has lived a narrative he never expected. Bill Staubi, a lifelong collector and pillar of the local arts community, faced a terminal diagnosis only to see it vanish after he had already parted with his life's work.
A Terminal Diagnosis and a Monumental Decision
Two years ago, Bill Staubi received devastating news: he had Stage-4 liver cancer and was given an estimated 18 months to live. Confronting this prognosis with clear-eyed resolve, Staubi began immunotherapy, made funeral arrangements, and even applied for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). He then turned his attention to what he considered a monumental final task: finding new homes for the 1,200 to 1,500 pieces of art he had collected over nearly half a century.
"It wasn't a burden I felt I should pass on," Staubi reasoned, wanting to spare his son the immense logistical challenge. The collection was his life's passion, and he approached its dispersal with the same intentional care he used to build it.
The Great Dispersal: Art Finds New Homes Across the City
Staubi embarked on what he called a "Herculean" logistical mission. He returned some works to their original artists. He made significant gifts to public institutions, including the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG). The OAG's current exhibition, Grotto, is built largely from his donated works.
Other pieces went to organizations like SAW Gallery, the Ottawa Arts Council, and the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, to be used in fundraising efforts. He completed this painstaking process only a few weeks ago, continuing even after the cancer metastasized to his lungs. With his walls now bare, he borrowed and rented a few pieces, including fabric artist Greta Grip's aptly titled work, "Artwork Temporarily Removed."
An Unexpected Turn: The Cancer Disappears
As the spring of 2025—his estimated "best before" date—came and went, Staubi noticed something unusual. His pain wasn't worsening. His energy was returning. Scans showed the spots on his lungs were shrinking, and then they vanished completely. Just weeks ago, he received the astonishing news: his cancer was in complete remission. The original tumour had died, and the cancer cells were gone.
"It's a very odd feeling. I'm going through the weird process of giving up the idea that I'm dying," Staubi says, navigating this sudden reversal of fate. He is now off all cancer-related medications and will be monitored every three months for the first year. If he remains in remission for five years, he will be considered cured.
Bill Staubi's story is more than a medical anomaly. It is a testament to a life dedicated to art and community, a narrative of preparing for an end that, for now, has not come. His collection lives on across Ottawa's cultural landscape, a lasting legacy from a man who, against all odds, is still here to see it.
