CANADIAN CARTOONIST MAGAZINE Location: 207-304 Columbia Street, New Westminster, British Columbia. Publisher/Editor: Chuck Walker.
Contributors: Monté Barwick, Lynka Belanger, Helen Louise K. Hawes, Ken Moos, A.J. Toos
This company published the quarterly (April, July, October, January) periodical Canadian Cartoonist which began in April 1989 and lasted at least till April 1990. It focused on newspaper cartoonists like editorial cartoonists Roy Peterson, Bruce McKinnon, and panel and strip cartoonists like Ted Martin (Pavlov), Lynn Johnston (For Better Or For Worse).
Its publisher editor Chuck Walker was initially a musician who dabbled in cartooning and was on his way from Toronto to California when he stopped off in Vancouver, met Judy, married and stayed. At the time of Helen-Louise K. Hawes’ interview in 1990 which apparently occurred about 15 years later, he was teaching cartooning, music and computers. He had opened a store dedicated to graphics and type setting and a cartoon shop selling equipment, supplies and original art by other cartoonists. He had written and was trying to publish two instruction books one for guitar and the other for 5-string banjo.
The birth of Canadian Cartoonist occurred after he discovered there was no national trade magazine dealing with Canadian cartoonists and cartoon art. “And what’s more I discovered that here in Canada quite a few well known North American Cartoonists resided in Canada.” He sent out letters to some of them asking them their opinions on a magazine devoted to Canadian cartoonists. “The responses were positive, but the first one came from Lynn Johnston and that sold me on the idea.” When Helen-Louise asked Chuck about some of the difficulties in starting the magazine, he replied, “Apathy was and is the foremost problem I am facing with the magazine. That and the fact that most cartoonists are workaholics. They usually don’t even have time to read except for their own punchlines.” It should be added that this magazine was an excellent production: good quality paper and printing.
PRODUCT:
PERIODICAL TEXT & GRAPHIC:
Canadian Cartoonist, v. 1, April 1989.
Canadian Cartoonist, v. 3, October 1989.
Canadian Cartoonist, v. 5, April 1990.
SOURCE:
Article magazine:
Canadian Cartoonist, v. 5, April 1990: “Chuck Walker”. Interviewer: Helen-Louise K. Hawes: 24-25,
GALLERY:
Canadian Cartoonist, 5, April 1990: Front cover. Car., Roy Peterson.