[1] He first appeared in early political cartoons dating to 1869 where he was portrayed as a younger cousin of the United States' Uncle Sam and Britain's John Bull.
Dressed as a habitant, farmer, logger, rancher or soldier, he was characterized as wholesome and simple-minded and was often depicted resisting the bullying of John Bull or Uncle Sam.
The use of such stock figures diminished in popularity after World War II, but in 1975, a new comic book character, Captain Canuck, emerged.
[3] Johnny Canuck is depicted as he appeared in the comic books, dressed in flight jacket, goggles, leather headgear and boots.
In the mid-1990s, Harold Berndt, the former director of marketing and assistant general manager for the major junior Western Hockey League's New Westminster Bruins,[6][7] visited the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
He obtained a photo of the vintage 1950s logo, originally inspired by a Dawson Creek BC team,[5] and by the 1960s had begun to be referred to by fans as "Johnny Canuck".