Stolen Churchill Portrait Returned to Ottawa Hotel

The iconic 'Roaring Lion' photograph is back at Château Laurier after an international recovery effort.

The 'Roaring Lion' portrait of Winston Churchill, taken by Yousuf Karsh in 1941, was stolen from the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa between December 2021 and January 2022.
The theft went unnoticed for months until a hotel worker discovered the forgery in August 2022, prompting an international investigation.
Ottawa police tracked the portrait to Genoa, Italy, where it was purchased unwittingly by a lawyer who later returned it to Canadian authorities.
The portrait was ceremoniously unveiled at the Château Laurier with enhanced security measures, including alarms and plexiglass protection.
Jeffrey Wood from Powassan, Ontario, has been charged with theft, forgery, and trafficking related to the heist, with court proceedings ongoing.