A former Powell River resident who is a renowned editorial cartoonist would like to give a picture of a young woman he drew years ago to her. The only problem is, he can’t remember who she is.
Many years ago Graham Harrop, an editorial cartoonist for the Vancouver Sun and Globe and Mail, sketched a Miss Powell River contestant in order to enter the drawing into a portrait competition that was part of the annual Powell River Exhibition. Harrop came across the drawing recently while he was sorting through two bags of cartoons. He said he drew it sometime between 1963 and 1965 and he can’t remember his model’s name.
Harrop dropped by the Peak last week with the drawing, wondering if the paper could help him locate the woman. “It’s a shame to have it go to waste,” he said.
Ever since he can remember, Harrop said, he has wanted to be a cartoonist. He was born in Liverpool and grew up in Powell River, where he went to high school. He started drawing editorial cartoons for the Powell River News when he was 15. “Al Alsgard was very good to me,” Harrop said. “He paid me $3 a cartoon.”
The exhibition had a number of competitions for students, including one where budding artists could enter portraits. Harrop said he remembers one year he entered a drawing of Valerie Lewis, also a contestant in the Miss Powell River pageant. But this drawing is not her, he said.
Harrop would love to give the drawing to the person who sat for him. If anyone knows who the person is, they should call Laura Walz at the Peak, 604.485.5313, or email [email protected].
