Ernie Poignant, 97-year old cartoonist from Primrose Gardens shows no signs of putting down sketch pad

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.

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

“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.