Master map-maker holds pop-up at Steveston Museum and Post Office

A Saskatchewan cartographer is showcasing his maps of Steveston and other parts of Western Canada at a pop-up space in the village for the month of July.

Miloslav Drtina creates maps in the traditional style of old-world map makers, which are the fruits of many months of patience and labour.

His work is on show at the Historic Steveston spot in Steveston Museum and Post Office.

Most of Drtina’s maps are of places he has travelled extensively, and Steveston is one of them, as Drtina stops by at least once a year when he visits his daughters in B.C.

“I got to know and appreciate the place quite well. I like long walks along the ocean front and enjoy the spectacular scenery. It is perfect for the panoramic maps,” said Drtina.

As for starting his maps, Drtina said the “first step is to prepare an appropriate geographic grid and pencil draft using topographic maps, and aerial or satellite photographs.”

He then makes an acrylic painting on a transparent sheet layered over the draft, and finishes the map by adding lettering.

And the work begins before Drtina puts pencil to paper, as he has to study the history and geography of the region to get a thorough understanding of the subject of his map.

Working from his hand-built house at the fringe of the boreal forest in Saskatchewan, Drtina has been enchanted by the world of maps for over seven decades.

“My father was an engraver and cartographer so I was introduced to the world of maps at an early age,” said Drtina.

Drtina was born in Prague during tumultuous times, just half a year before the end of the Second World War while the city was still under Nazi Germany’s occupation.

He began pursuing a career in cartography in Czechoslovakia, but he had to leave his home country following the invasion of Warsaw Pact armies in 1968. Drtina made his way to Canada when he was 23 after stopping in Vienna, Austria.

“I was able to return to Prague after a long 21 years following the collapse of communism in 1989,” he said.

After working as a professional cartographer for institutions such as the University of Saskatchewan, Brock University, and a French mining exploration company, Drtina decided to pursue a career as a private cartographer.

Drtina’s first hand-drawn map was a historic map of the North-West districts of Saskatchewan & Assiniboia in 1885 to commemorate the Métis uprising, which was commissioned by the government of Saskatchewan heritage agencies.

“I was attracted to this traditional technique [of old-world map makers] and had sufficient skills and knowledge.

“It also has the great advantage that all you need is a table and white paper, pencils, pens, ink and paints,” he said.

Drtina’s maps will be on display at Historic Steveston’s pop-up space, along with artworks by his daughter Radha Van Brandt. They are also available online on his Etsy store, BohemusMaps.