Halifax cartoonist Michael de Adder says he was simply trying to find a small bit of positivity with an image that has garnered national attention for its depiction of recent tragedies in Toronto and Humboldt, Sask.
The cartoon, published in the aftermath of MondayB次元官网网址檚 van attack in Toronto that killed 10 people and injured 14, shows two boys in hockey sweaters sitting on a bench, sticks by their sides.
The boys, one wearing a green and yellow Humboldt Broncos jersey and the other wearing a blue and white Toronto Maple Leafs sweater, have their arms around one another, supportive in crisis.
B次元官网网址淭he reality is, IB次元官网网址檓 just happy to perhaps in a small way add a little bit of positivity in a very negative situation, so thatB次元官网网址檚 all IB次元官网网址檓 trying to accomplish with that cartoon,B次元官网网址� de Adder said in an interview.
De Adder, an award-winning national freelancer, is one of two Halifax cartoonists regularly garnering attention for works that appear to capture the national mood.
Bruce MacKinnon, the Halifax Chronicle Herald cartoonist for whom de Adder often substitutes, gained a similar audience for a cartoon this month following the Humboldt Broncos bus crash that claimed the lives of 16 people and injured 13.
MacKinnon said thereB次元官网网址檚 no set protocol for producing work in such trying circumstances.
B次元官网网址淭here is a lot more sensitivity involved and you have to consider all the factors a lot more carefully because every nuance in the cartoon is going to be examined very carefully by the reader,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes that adds to the power of the cartoon if you get all those nuances right B次元官网网址� if you donB次元官网网址檛 you could end up being a lightning rod for a lot of anger.B次元官网网址�
MacKinnonB次元官网网址檚 Humboldt cartoon depicts the provinces and territories as a group of red-shirted hockey players coming to the aid of a green-shirted Saskatchewan player. The slumped player has his arms around his closest neighbours, Manitoba and Alberta, who are supporting his weight.
B次元官网网址淭he thing that stands out about the story aside from the obvious sadness B次元官网网址� is the outpouring of compassion of Canadians,B次元官网网址� he said of his inspiration for the drawing.
De Adder said his Toronto cartoon was the result of an evening of struggle to come up with what he thought would be an appropriate response to the tragedy.
He said he probably worked on 10 thumbnail sketches before gradually deciding he was on the right track, adding that itB次元官网网址檚 one thing to get an idea, but another to depict it.
B次元官网网址淚 knew I was going to have Humboldt consoling Toronto, but I didnB次元官网网址檛 know if I was going to do adults, or a couple, or two guys. I went with kids and it sort of worked the best.B次元官网网址�
The cartoon was posted on de AdderB次元官网网址檚 Twitter account and has since received thousands of likes from people calling it B次元官网网址渉eartwarmingB次元官网网址� and a B次元官网网址渂eautiful tribute.B次元官网网址�
Cartoon on
B次元官网网址� Michael de Adder (@deAdder)
The image was re-tweeted by Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, who remarked B次元官网网址渨ell done @deAdderB次元官网网址� as part of a message expressing condolences to the victims and their families and thanking first responders.
Another Twitter user said: B次元官网网址淚 am from Saskatchewan and this hit hard. Thank you for remembering our recent loss as well.B次元官网网址�
Over the years, MacKinnon has received national and international acclaim for several of his cartoons, including one following the shooting death of army reservist Cpl. Nathan Cirillo at the National War Memorial in Ottawa in 2014.
That cartoon trended on Twitter and requests to use it came from media outlets like CNN, Fox B次元官网网址, and The Independent newspaper in the United Kingdom.
Another MacKinnon cartoon depicting the aftermath of the Las Vegas shootings last fall B次元官网网址� Uncle Sam re-assuring the NRA that B次元官网网址測ouB次元官网网址檙e safeB次元官网网址� amid the bodies of gunshot victims B次元官网网址� was also picked up and re-tweeted by a host of celebrities, including actors Ron Perlman and Mark Hamill.
Both Halifax cartoonists downplay the attention for work emanating from a smaller market such as Halifax.
They also say they have known each other for years, and share a friendship rather than an outright rivalry.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e sort of in our own little drawing-table worlds,B次元官网网址� said MacKinnon. B次元官网网址淲e are always trying to outdo each other and that kind of thing and thatB次元官网网址檚 a healthy environment.B次元官网网址�
Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press
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