John Yardley-Jones was an editorial cartoonist, water colourist, marathon runner, cross-country skier, honorary mayor of New Sarepta, and larger-than-life character.
Yardley’s career as an editorial cartoonist spanned decades as well as major Canadian newspapers. In 1968 he and Mary and their growing family moved across the country to Toronto where he worked for the Toronto Telegram, winning a National Newspaper Award in 1971. After the Telegram folded, he worked at the Toronto Sun, then in 1973 moved to the Montreal Star until its demise, then returned to Edmonton in 1981 working for the Edmonton Sun, and back to the Edmonton Journal in 1984 until retiring in 1993. Syndicated across Canada, he famously hid a black cat in all his works. A large collection of his cartoons was acquired by the National Archives of Canada and the Provincial Archives of Alberta.