So… time to share some thoughts that have been swirling in my mind after what has been a truly monumental week. As many of you know, I’ve always had a love for maps. Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being a “mapmaker” – little did I know, that fancy title is actually called cartography, and it comes with a side of math that I’ve never quite mastered!

While my dreams of drawing maps for a living didn’t quite pan out, I’ve found a way to channel that passion into my work as an editorial cartoonist. This week, inspired by the theory of continental drift, I created a cartoon that depicts the continental USA drifting away from Canada, Mexico, and the rest of the world to become an isolated island in the Pacific Ocean. I can't help but think Donald Trump would be quite pleased with that scenario!

This week has been a rollercoaster for us Canadians. With Prime Minister Trudeau's resignation and Trump's audacious comments about annexing Canada, we’ve seen a surprising surge in national unity. It’s fascinating how external threats can overshadow our political divisions and rally us together in defence of our sovereignty.

In the face of these challenges, Canadians from all walks of life have come together. Our cooperative efforts to tackle the wildfires in Southern California further highlight our commitment to neighborly support. It’s a reminder of the core values of unity and cooperation that truly define what it means to be Canadian.

So here’s to maps, to unity, and to finding humour in the chaos!

Enjoy the January 11, 2024 making-of animated editorial cartoon below. Please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, if you haven’t already. Posts come out every Friday or Saturday as I summarize the week that was in my editorial cartoons. What you’re reading now is regarded as a “note”, which is used to help compose my weekly posts and showcase the animated versions of my daily editorial cartoons.