James Simpkins

James Simpkins' father, Arthur, was a proofreader for a Winnipeg newspaper and his mother, Mary, looked after the family which included James and his two older brothers. He attended Luxton public school and began by drawing in his school books. He attended the Winnipeg School of Art and studied under Group of Seven artist LeMoine FitzGerald.

His professional life began by contributing to the Hudson's Bay's company magazine and submitting cartoons to Macleans. He was drafted into the army in World War II, but was still able to continue to make use of his artistic skills. He was with the Signal Corps security and intelligence group producing training posters and film strips. He recounted that during this period, on a trip to New York for training with the U.S. Signal Corps, he met Charles Addams who had just begun to sell cartoons to The New Yorker.{{cite news|author=TorStar News Service|newspaper=Cambridge Reporter|date=February 16, 2000|title=Taking a walk down cartoon alley|page=B.9}} After the war, he became one of the original animators {{Cite web |url=https://www.fitzhugh.ca/jasper-the-bear-artist-honoured-in-national-hall-of-fame/ |title=Jasper the Bear artist honoured in national hall of fame – Jasper's source for news, sports, arts, culture, and more | the Fitzhugh |access-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618033446/https://www.fitzhugh.ca/jasper-the-bear-artist-honoured-in-national-hall-of-fame/ |archive-date=June 18, 2019 |url-status=live }} of the National Film Board in Ottawa where he worked for 16 years.{{cite news|newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator|last=Bourret|first=Suzanne|page=G04|date=February 7, 2004}}

In 1948 he began a regular cartoon feature for Maclean's magazine, Jasper the Bear, which would prove to be his most famous and enduring creation. In 1955, Simpkins provided the artwork for a 5¢ Canadian stamp which was the idea of Canadian hockey great and member of parliament Lionel Conacher. The stamp featured three Canadian hockey players in action.{{cite news|title=Stamp recalls All-time Great|publisher=Ottawa Citizen|date=December 9, 1955|page=front}}{{cite web|title=Postal Archives Stamp by Simpkins|url=http://data4.collectionscanada.gc.ca/netacgi/nph-brs?s1=165.T900.&l=20&d=POST&p=1&u=http://www.collectionscanada.ca/02/020117_e.html&r=1&f=G&SECT3=STMP|publisher=Library and Archives of Canada|access-date=December 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024205739/http://data4.collectionscanada.gc.ca/netacgi/nph-brs?s1=165.T900.&l=20&d=POST&p=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.collectionscanada.ca%2F02%2F020117_e.html&r=1&f=G&SECT3=STMP|archive-date=October 24, 2017|url-status=dead}} On August 6, 1962, while living in Beaconsfield, Montreal he began a thrice-weekly cartoon feature for the Montreal Gazette called Simpkins' Montreal.{{cite news|newspaper=The Montreal Gazette|date=August 4, 1962|title=New Cartoon For Gazette|page=2}}

He eventually moved to Toronto where he continued freelancing to the Toronto Star, ad agencies, book illustration, and numerous magazines in Canada and the US.{{cite news|newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator|title=Jasper the bear's creator still winning at age 93|last=Bourret|first=Suzanne|date=October 10, 2003|page=G04}}

{{Cite web |url=http://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/sports/hockey/images/memorabila/h-fdc-wintersport.JPG |title=The stamp |access-date=June 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113200733/http://gasolinealleyantiques.com/sports/hockey/images/memorabila/h-fdc-wintersport.JPG |archive-date=January 13, 2010 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|newspaper=Maclean's|title=DIED: Jim Simpkins|page=18|volume=117|issue=7|date=February 16, 2004}} His clients have included General Motors, The National Enquirer and Jasper the Bear has been used by the Boy Scouts of Canada and Jasper National Park. He had five collections of his cartoons published in book form. Four collections of his Jasper cartoons and also his medical cartoons from The Medical Post, When's The Last Time You Cleaned Your Navel?, were published.{{cite web|url=http://www.potlatchpublications.ca/page27/page27.html |title=Book summary: When's The Last Time You Cleaned Your Navel? |publisher=Potlatch Publications |access-date=December 23, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304004642/http://www.potlatchpublications.ca/page27/page27.html |archive-date=March 4, 2010 }} He also provided the illustrations for other writers' books, most frequently for Canadian humourist Eric Nicol.

His most famous creation was the cartoon Jasper the Bear{{cite web|url=http://lambiek.net/artists/s/simpkins_james.htm|title=James Simpkins|publisher=Lambiek|access-date=December 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223185004/http://lambiek.net/artists/s/simpkins_james.htm|archive-date=December 23, 2009|url-status=live}} which appeared in Maclean's magazine for over 20 years and became popular across Canada. The character first appeared in the November 15, 1948 issue and ran as a regular feature until 1968.{{cite news|newspaper=National Post|last=Seth|author-link=Seth (cartoonist)|title=Jasper the bear sheds a tear|date=February 11, 2004|page=AL08}} It was then syndicated by Canada Wide Features running in newspapers across Canada for four more years until Simpkins retired in 1972. Jasper was also featured in several books.{{cite news|newspaper=MacLean's|title=Grin and bear it|date=March 21, 1994|volume=107|issue=12|page=55}}

Simpkins' anthropomorphic Jasper was an urbane, friendly bear with a wife and two cubs. A typical Jasper cartoon involved a hibernating Jasper being woken by a golf ball flying into the den and hitting him in the head. Jasper, happily calls out to his sleeping family, "Wake up, everyone. It's spring." On another occasion, Jasper approached a beehive cup in hand saying to the swarm, "Could I borrow a cup of honey?"{{cite news|newspaper=Toronto Daily Star|date=October 30, 1954|page=4|title=Jasper Jolly Bear Pranks in Pictures}}

In 1962 Jasper was adopted as the official mascot for Jasper National Park{{cite web|url=http://www.jasperjournal.com/jaspergallery/v/featured/DSC03417_jasper_the_bear.jpg.html|publisher=Jasper National Park Journal|title=Jasper the Bear|access-date=December 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305170922/http://www.jasperjournal.com/jaspergallery/v/featured/DSC03417_jasper_the_bear.jpg.html|archive-date=March 5, 2010|url-status=live}} in Alberta erecting a statue of Jasper at the train station.{{cite news|newspaper=Maclean's|title=Out of Hibernation|date=September 3, 2001|last=Marissen|first=Tanya|page=10|volume=114|number=36}}{{cite web|url=http://www.roadsideattractions.ca/jasper.htm |title=Jasper the Bear - Jasper, Alberta |access-date=December 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125134402/http://www.roadsideattractions.ca/jasper.htm |archive-date=January 25, 2010 }}{{cite news|author=Canadian Press|title=Jasper's mascot gets right to bear arms|date=May 26, 2004|page=A.9|newspaper=The Globe and Mail}} Jasper cartoons were also reprinted internationally in England, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Mexico. In the 1960s Jasper's copyright was sold to Irwin Toys who produced a line of Jasper toys. In 1968 Jasper was used as the official mascot of the charity The United Appeal.{{cite news|newspaper=The Ottawa Citizen |date=August 29, 1968|title=Jasper figures it all out|last=Carroll|first=Bill}} As part of their fundraising campaign, Jasper visited various locations including Parliament Hill in Ottawa.{{cite news|newspaper=Transport Canada|issue=November/December 1968, number 6 |volume=19|title=Jasper Tours the Airport}}{{cite web|publisher=Transport Canada|title=Jasper Tours the Airport|url=http://www.spectralumni.ca/DOTnews/dotnov68.pdf|access-date=December 27, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706203617/http://www.spectralumni.ca/DOTnews/dotnov68.pdf|archive-date=July 6, 2011|df=mdy-all}} This larger-than-life Jasper, a live person in a costume, had his picture taken hugging Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

In 1968 a seven-year-old Ottawa boy was being sent to Boston's Children's Hospital Medical Centre for corrective heart surgery paid for by private charity. In a gesture of encouragement Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau gave the boy a picture with the words "A thousand best wishes". It was a picture of the Prime Minister with Jasper the Bear.{{cite news|title=Happy, hopeful Marc off for tests|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|page=2|last=Douglas|first=Rob|date=September 23, 1968}}

In 2004 vandals damaged a statue of Jasper the Bear which had been a local landmark for 40 years, but the statue was replaced and moved to a more secure location 160m due north of the Jasper Information Centre.{{cite web|url=https://www.google.ca/maps/preview#!q=jasper+information+centre&data=!1m8!1m3!1d3!2d-118.08087!3d52.878114!2m2!1f80.35!2f80.52!4f75!2m9!1e1!2m4!1s6c0YQBgcoe5uhCiyOMWb7Q!2e0!9m1!6sPatricia+Street!5m2!1s6c0YQBgcoe5uhCiyOMWb7Q!2e0!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x53832b0904b21fb9%3A0x21a5905edacdfa59!3m8!1m3!1d378822!2d-113.4939485!3d53.5558775!3m2!1i1745!2i959!4f13.1!4m2!3d52.877285!4d-118.080695&fid=5|format=web|title=Google Street View|access-date=January 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229215348/https://www.google.ca/maps/preview#!q=jasper+information+centre&data=!1m8!1m3!1d3!2d-118.08087!3d52.878114!2m2!1f80.35!2f80.52!4f75!2m9!1e1!2m4!1s6c0YQBgcoe5uhCiyOMWb7Q!2e0!9m1!6sPatricia+Street!5m2!1s6c0YQBgcoe5uhCiyOMWb7Q!2e0!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x53832b0904b21fb9%3A0x21a5905edacdfa59!3m8!1m3!1d378822!2d-113.4939485!3d53.5558775!3m2!1i1745!2i959!4f13.1!4m2!3d52.877285!4d-118.080695&fid=5|archive-date=December 29, 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://jasper-alberta.com/userfiles/documents/F23%20-%20Council%20meeting%20highlights/2004/12___June_22nd_2004.pdf |title=Municipality of Jasper:Council Meetings held Tues. June 22, 2004 |access-date=December 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713090725/http://jasper-alberta.com/userfiles/documents/F23%20-%20Council%20meeting%20highlights/2004/12___June_22nd_2004.pdf |archive-date=July 13, 2011 }} The Mayor of Jasper was quoted as saying that vandalism is not unknown to the area, but until now, "not to poor ol' Jasper".{{cite news|newspaper=Calgary Herald|title=Town may pull plug on vandalized Jasper|date=May 26, 2004|page=B.2}} Jasper continues as a promotional tool of Jasper tourism. Having one's picture taken with the statue of Jasper is still a must-have photo when visiting Jasper{{cite web|publisher=Real Travel |title=Photos Taken Near Leduc |url=http://realtravel.com/dp-20699-286203-leduc_photos-x-p_3-s_date |access-date=December 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715164138/http://realtravel.com/dp-20699-286203-leduc_photos-x-p_3-s_date |archive-date=July 15, 2011 }} and, keeping up with the times, Jasper is even on Twitter.{{cite web|url=https://www.twitter.com/Jasperthabear|title=JasperThaBear on Twitter|publisher=Jasper Tourism|access-date=December 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126074349/http://twitter.com/JasperThaBear|archive-date=November 26, 2009|url-status=live}}

In 2005, in celebration of Alberta's centennial, a Jasper the Bear coin was issued.{{cite web|title=Jasper the Bear |publisher=Tourism Jasper |url=http://www.jasper.travel/content/jasper-bear |access-date=August 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330191019/http://www.jasper.travel/content/jasper-bear |archive-date=March 30, 2012 }}{{cite web|publisher=Kijiji |title=Uncirculated collectible Jasper, Canada Souvenir Dollar |url=http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLargeImage?AdId=255944007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715053908/http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLargeImage?AdId=255944007 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 15, 2012 |access-date=August 14, 2011 }} note:picture of coin.

James Simpkins was married to Ethel Mary Thom who died in 2001. They had five children and at the time of his death he had ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.{{cite news|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=February 3, 2004|page=s7|title=James Simpkins Creator of Jasper the Bear}}

Simpkins died on February 1, 2004, at the age of 93, in Dundas, Ontario. Canadian cartoonists have argued that Simpkins has failed to fully get the recognition he deserves. For example, despite his major contribution to Maclean's Magazine, they neglected to mention him or Jasper in their anniversary issue.{{cite web|url=http://sequential.spiltink.org/?p=5412|title=Jasper the bear sheds a tear: Jim Simpkins 1910–2004|date=February 12, 2004|access-date=December 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928193921/http://sequential.spiltink.org/?p=5412|archive-date=September 28, 2011|url-status=live}}

• {{Cite book|last=Simpkins|first=James|year=1954|title=Jasper|publisher=Ryerson Press|location = Toronto|oclc = 13589401}} Subsequently reprinted by Rinehart (1960) and McClelland & Stewart (1972).
• {{Cite book|last=Simpkins|first=James|year=1970|title=Jasper and the cubs|publisher=Copp Clark |location = Toronto|oclc = 63096595}}
• {{Cite book|last=Simpkins|first=James|year=1976|title=When's the last time your cleaned your navel?|publisher=Potlatch Publications|location = Hamilton|pages=112|isbn=0-919676-07-3}}

• {{Cite book|author = Eric Nicol|author-link=Eric Nicol|others= Illustrated by James Simpkins|title=Twice over lightly|year=1953|pages=137|publisher=Ryerson Press|location = Toronto|oclc= 876136}}
• {{Cite book|author = Stuart Hemsley|others= Illustrated by James Simpkins|title=Beastly Ballads|publisher=Burns and MacEachern|location = Toronto|year=1954|pages = 63|oclc = 61654667}}
• {{Cite book|author = Eric Nicol|author-link=Eric Nicol|others= Illustrated by James Simpkins|title=Shall we join the ladies?|year=1955|publisher=Ryerson Press|location = Toronto|pages = 156|oclc= 25443171}}
• {{Cite book|author = Eric Nicol|author-link=Eric Nicol|others= Illustrated by James Simpkins|publisher=Ryerson Press|location = Toronto|title=Girdle me a globe|year=1957|pages = 134|oclc = 63784}}
• {{Cite book|author = Eric Nicol|author-link=Eric Nicol|others= Illustrated by James Simpkins|title=In darkest Domestica|year=1959|publisher=Ryerson Press|location = Toronto|pages = 113|oclc = 6217822}}
• {{Cite book|author = Dudley Copland|others= Illustrated by James Simpkins|title=Ookpik the Ogling Arctic Owl|publisher=Canadian Century Publishers|location = Montreal|year=1965|pages = 44|oclc = 49021775}}
• {{Cite book|author=Betty Sanders Garner|others= Illustrated by James Simpkins and John MacLeod; Initials by Laura Piotrowski|title=Canada's Monsters|year=1976|publisher=Potlach Publications|location = Hamilton|pages=95|isbn=0-919676-06-5}}
• {{Cite book|author = Eleanor A. Ellis|others= Illustrated by James Simpkins|title=Northern cookbook|year=1979|pages=358|publisher=Hurtig Publishers|location = Edmonton|isbn=0-88830-178-2}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.jasperparkchamber.ca/jasper-the-bear.html Jasper Chamber of Commerce webpage of Jasper the Bear]
• [http://simpkinsart.com/jim/biography/ Simpkins family website]
• [http://punchincanada.blogspot.com/2008/12/james-simpkins-1910-2004.html Jasper in Edmonton Journal comic section]
• [https://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/simpkins_james.htm Lambiek Comiclopedia article.]
• [https://www.youtube.com/user/Jaspertourism#p/a/u/1/eYMES9bJTxE Jasper Tourism Youtube video featuring Jasper The Bear] "Where's Jasper" Episode 1
• [https://www.youtube.com/user/Jaspertourism#p/a/u/0/x1S33e4eqy4 Jasper Tourism Youtube video featuring Jasper The Bear] "Where's Jasper" Episode 2

{{Canadian cartoonists}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpkins, James}}

Category:1910 births

Category:2004 deaths

Category:Artists from Winnipeg

Category:Canadian animators

Category:Canadian comics writers

Category:Canadian comics artists

Category:Canadian humorists

Category:Canadian stamp designers

Category:Military personnel from Winnipeg

Category:Canadian Army personnel of World War II

Category:Royal Canadian Corps of Signals soldiers

Category:Canadian advertising artists and illustrators