Lynn Johnston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lynn Franks Johnston |
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Johnston at her induction into The Giants of the North: the Canadian Cartoonists Hall of Fame in August 2008
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| Born | Lynn Ridgway May 28, 1947 Collingwood, Ontario, Canada |
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Notable works
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For Better or For Worse |
Lynn Johnston is a famous Canadian cartoonist and writer. She was born on May 28, 1947. She is most known for creating her popular newspaper comic strip, For Better or For Worse. Lynn Johnston made history as the first woman and the first Canadian to win the Reuben Award. This award is one of the biggest honors for cartoonists.
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Early Life and Art Career
Lynn Ridgway was born in Collingwood, Ontario. She grew up in North Vancouver, British Columbia. From a young age, she wanted to be an artist. She studied at the Vancouver School of Art, which is now called Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
After art school, Lynn worked briefly in animation. She then moved back to Ontario in 1969. For five years, she worked as a medical artist at McMaster University. She drew pictures for medical textbooks and to show what happens in hospitals.
While expecting her first child, Lynn drew cartoons for her doctor's office ceiling. These drawings were so good that they were published in her first book in 1973. It was called David, We're Pregnant! and became a best-seller. Later, she published a second book, Hi Mom! Hi Dad!, in 1975.
For Better or For Worse Comic Strip
In 1978, Lynn Johnston and her family moved to Lynn Lake, Manitoba. A company called Universal Press Syndicate asked her if she wanted to create a comic strip. She sent them twenty examples of a strip she called The Johnstons. It was based on her own family.
The company loved her ideas and offered her a twenty-year contract! After six months of hard work, her comic strip first appeared in newspapers. It was called For Better or For Worse. This comic strip has been printed in about 2000 newspapers. You can find it in Canada, the U.S., and 20 other countries.
Real Life Stories in the Comic
Many of the stories in For Better or For Worse came from Lynn's real family experiences. The main characters in the strip are named after the middle names of her husband and children. Lynn herself does not have a middle name. So, she named the mother character, Elly, after a friend who passed away young.
One famous storyline was about the character Lawrence. This story was inspired by Lynn's friend, Canadian comedian Michael Boncoeur. Another character, Deanna, was based on her son Aaron's high school girlfriend. Lynn's niece, Stephanie, has a developmental disability. Her experiences were shared in stories about students with disabilities joining April's class.
The characters in For Better or For Worse grew older in "real time." This means they aged just like real people. On August 31, 2008, Lynn Johnston appeared in the Sunday comic strip. She announced that the strip would go back in time to its beginning. Half of the comics would be new, and half would be older ones. The "new" comics were often older strips that had been redrawn or had new words.
Lynn Johnston's Personal Life
Lynn Johnston has openly shared parts of her personal life. She has talked about her experiences growing up and being a mother. These topics have also appeared in her comic strip.
For many years, Lynn lived in Corbeil, Ontario. Her daughter, Katie, also worked at the For Better or For Worse studio there. Her son, Aaron, works in television in Vancouver. In September 2007, Lynn and her husband, Rod Johnston, announced they were separating.
In September 2015, Lynn and her daughter moved back to North Vancouver. Lynn Johnston was also good friends with Charles M. Schulz. He was the creator of the famous Peanuts comic strip.
In 2014, Library and Archives Canada received many of Lynn Johnston's original drawings. They also received watercolors, photos, and other items. This collection helps preserve her amazing work.
Awards and Achievements
Lynn Johnston has received many awards and honors for her work.
- 1985 – Reuben Award: She was the first woman and first Canadian to win this top award.
- 1987 – Gemini Award: For Best Cartoon Series.
- 1992 – Made a Member of the Order of Canada: This is one of Canada's highest honors for civilians.
- 1994 – Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize: For a story about Lawrence's identity.
- 2002 – Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.
- 2003 – A star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto.
- 2007 – Made a member of the Order of Manitoba.
- 2008 – Inducted into the Canadian Cartoonist Hall of Fame.
- 2008 – Inducted into the National Cartoon Museum Hall of Fame.
- 2012 – Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
