Advertisement

97-year-old Abbotsford cartoonist shows no signs of putting down sketch pad

Click to play video: 'Elderly cartoonist shows no signs of putting down sketch pad'
Elderly cartoonist shows no signs of putting down sketch pad
WATCH: Global News catches up with a man who’s dedicated decades of his life to drawing thousands of cartoons. He’s now 97 years young, and still has oodles of doodles left in him. – Feb 4, 2016

Ernie Poignant is celebrating his 97th birthday by doing what he loves – drawing.

Born in a Matsqui farmhouse a few months after the First World War started, Ernie still has a steady hand and an eye for wildlife.

Back in the sixties, he used to draw for kids on the Pete’s Place TV show that aired on Global BC – then called CHAN channel 8 on that old rotary dial.

“He’d have me come up, and one of the things I’d draw [was] a snowball coming down the hill.”

His cartoons are living history – he has documented epic Fraser Valley events like the great flood of 1948.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Ernie has been married to Rose Poignant for over 60 years – but she didn’t fall just for the art.

Story continues below advertisement

“I thought he was good-looking, and I was looking for a good-looking man,” said Rose, “and a nice man too. And he was both.”

Ernie’s trademark is taking someone’s initials and making them special – even the initials T.F. turn into Ted and a bear.

Sponsored content

AdChoices