Manitoba town grapples with Nygard legacy
Fashion mogul accused of sexual assault spanning four decades, 7 countries
WINNIPEG—Models walked the runway as some of Manitoba’s most influential people sat alongside and clapped in celebration of self-declared fashion king Peter Nygard.
It was 2018 and Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman and deputy premier Heather Stefanson were at a gala for the 50th anniversary of Nygard International. Former Winnipeg Jets hockey favourite Teemu Selanne sent a video greeting.
Nygard had spent decades ensuring that everyone in his home province knew his name and his face.
Manitoba is now grappling with what to do about the fashion billionaire’s legacy as he faces a lawsuit with allegations of sexual assault against 10 women. Greg Gutzler, one of the lawyers representing the women, says as of Wednesday about 50 others had come forward with allegations. The majority are from Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal.
“We have over 50 women spanning four decades now in seven countries talking about violent rape and assault,” Gutzler said from New York.
The lawsuit filed two weeks ago accuses Nygard of enticing young and impoverished women to his estate in the Bahamas. Several allege they were 14 or 15 years old when Nygard raped them.
Nygard, who does not face charges, has denied the allegations through a spokesperson, who has blamed it all on a “conspiracy” caused by a feud with Nygard’s billionaire neighbour in the West Indies.
Nygard stores throughout Winnipeg are draped in photos of the mogul. The company’s giant head office and distribution building includes a “Nygard museum” with a wall collage of pictures showing Nygard with politicians, actors, musicians and models.
In an emailed statement Wednesday, Bowman’s spokesperson said the mayor finds the current allegations against Nygard “grotesque.”
In Deloraine-Winchester, a rural municipality southwest of the city, a park was dedicated to Nygard’s family in 2002. Nygard held a parade there to mark the event and flew in supermodel Beverly Johnson for a fashion show.
The community was to hold a meeting Wednesday to discuss changing the park’s name.
Nygard came to Canada as a child from Finland with his parents in 1942.
The next year, they moved to Winnipeg, where his parents ran a bakery. Nygard later went to the University of North Dakota, then returned to Winnipeg and worked at Jacob’s Fashions, a women’s clothing company.
By 1967, he had gathered his life’s savings, borrowed $8,000 and invested in the company. In a few years, he owned the entire thing and created the current Tan Jay brand, his website said. The Nygard brand became popular in department stores across North America. Nygard made several lists as one of the richest Canadians.
This week, Nygard stepped down as chair of his company following an FBI raid on his New York headquarters and a search of offices in California. He is also to divest his ownership interest in the business.