About Ted Harrison
Edward Hardy Harrison was born on August 28, 1926 in Wingate, County Durham, England to Charles Edward Harrison and Martha Harrison (née Thirlaway). He attended primary and grammar school in Wingate after which he attended West Hartlepool College of Art. In 1945, he interrupted his studies to serve in the Intelligence Unit of the British Army.
After a three-year tour in North Africa, he returned to England and completed his studies, earning a National Diploma in Art from West Hartlepool College of Art in 1948 and the Art Teacher Diploma from King’s College, University of Durham (now Newcastle University) in 1951. He then taught in Middlesbrough, England until 1957 when he taught at General Slim School, Cameron Highlands. While there, he was invited to paint a wall mural in the Perak Tong Temple at Ipoh, Cameron Highlands, the first European to receive that honour. He married Robina McNichol in 1960. In 1963, they left Malaysia for New Zealand, where Harrison taught at Te Kauwhata District High School, North Island.
In 1966 the Harrisons, with son Charles, returned to England where Harrison taught at the Wingate Junior School in the same classroom he and his father had attended as students. A year later, he became Art Master at Dene House. In 1967, the Harrison family moved to Wabasca, a small town in northern Alberta where he taught at St. Theresa School. The following year, he took a teaching position at Carcross, Yukon.
In 1969, Harrrison held his first Canadian exhibition in the Whitehorse Library. In 1977, he received his B. Ed from the University of Alberta. In 1980, Harrison resigned from teaching to paint full-time. The Harrisons moved to Victoria, British Columbia, in 1993.
Books authored and/or illustrated by Ted Harrison
1968 - Northland Alphabet. Ted Harrison with Dr. Wm. D Knill; illustrated by Ted Harrison
1977 – Children of the Yukon. Written and illustrated by Ted Harrison. Tundra Books.
1980 – The Last Horizon: Paintings & Stories of an Artist’s Life in the Yukon. Written and illustrated by Ted Harrison. Introduction by Pierre Berton. Merritt Publishing.
1982 – A Northern Alphabet. Written and illustrated by Ted Harrison. Tundra Books
1986 - The Cremation of Sam McGee. Written by Robert W. Service; illustrated by Ted Harrison. Introduction by Pierre Berton. Kids Can Press.
1988 – The Shooting of Dan McGrew. Written by Robert Service; illustrated by Ted Harrison. Kids Can Press.
1989 – The Blue Raven. Written and illustrated by Ted Harrison. Macmillan of Canada.
1992 - O Canada. Written and illustrated by Ted Harrison. Kids Can Press.
Honours
1965 – Boy Scouts Assoc. of New Zealand Medal of Merit
1975 - Creative Club of B.C., Award of Excellence (Design)
1984 – International Board of Books of Youth Honour Award for Illustration
1985 - One of three Canadians chosen: International Illustrators Forum. Czechoslovakia
1986 - Expo ’86 designed the Yukon Pavilion
1986 – Top Ten finalist for the Amelia Frances Howards-Gibbon Award Awarded by the Canadian Association of Children’s Librarians.
1987 - Order of Canada
1987 - New York Times Certificate of Excellence for The Cremation of Sam McGee; American Library Association Notable Book Award First Canadian chosen by Children’s Book Illustrator Exhibit, Bologna, Italy; Honours Award: International Board of Books for Youth (IBBY) for A Northern Alphabet.
1988 – Canadian Children’s Book Centre selected Sam McGee as an “Our Choice,” one of 15 books to be so honoured.
1991 - Hon. Doctorate Athabasca University
1998 - Hon. Doctorate of Fine Arts University of Victoria
1998 - Friend of the Canadian School Library Association
2002 - University of Alberta Distinguished Alumni Award
2004 - Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
2005 - Order of the Owl
2005 - Hon. Doctorate of Laws: University of Alberta
2006 - Hon. Doctorate Malaspina University College (University of
Vancouver Island)
2008 – Order of British Columbia