Simon Jackson | Nature Labs

D. Simon Jackson - The Next Journey

Simon Jackson spent two decades building the six million-strong spirit bear youth coalition to help save Canada's rare white Kermode or spirit bear. Successful in his mission, Simon now dedicates his time to building on the ideals the youth coalition championed: fostering a thoughtful citizenry and creating a better balance between the needs of people and nature.

Biography

Simon Jackson is a storyteller and movement builder on a mission to help every Canadian understand their place in the challenges we face. Through sharing his personal story – and lessons learned through success and failure – Simon uses nature to help audiences make sense of complex problems and find enduring solutions that can enhance our democracy.

At just 13 years old, Simon founded the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition, uniting the voices of six million people to save Canada’s endangered white Kermode, or spirit bear. For two decades, Simon led the campaign to save the spirit bear through the Youth Coalition, helping build what was the world’s largest youth-led environmental movement. It resulted in the creation of one of the largest land protection measures in North American history, with the last intact habitat of the spirit bear being set aside from development, a deal backed by more than 85% of British Columbians.

Today, Simon is the co-founder of Nature Labs, a virtual high school textbook. Built on a foundation of balanced storytelling, Simon uses nature as a powerful, unifying metaphor to bring class lessons to life, linking the stories of 150 Canadians (from former prime ministers to top chefs) to the issues of our time and back to the communities where students live. As the first national, made-in-Canada resource of its kind, Global News declared that Nature Labs is revolutionizing education, ensuring students in every region have access to the same high-quality materials. Working with more than 50,000 Canadian high school students from coast-to-coast-to-coast, Simon aims to help a new generation think critically and act creatively, today and every day.

In recognition of his work, Simon was awarded Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, named as one of the “100 Angels of the Earth by UNESCO”, and, most notably, honoured as one of Time Magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet” — one of only six young people selected from around the world. And his story inspired the internationally televised movie, Spirit Bear: The Simon Jackson Story, as well as a children’s book, A Voice for the Spirit Bears: How One Boy Inspired Millions to Save a Rare Animal.

Simon has contributed to the success of more than a dozen organizations, including serving as the vice-chair of the Jane Goodall Institute for a decade. He is also an award-winning videographer, photographer, and a widely published writer, who has contributed images and chapters to eight books, including A Geography of Hope: Saving Primary Forests, and has served as a columnist for CBC and The Huffington Post.

Across 30 years, Simon has spoken to more than 500 audiences globally, working with students, educators, businesses, non-profits, and governments to challenge assumptions and help people reimagine what’s possible when we choose to work together.

Simon @ Speakers Spotlight

Speaking Topics

Revolutionizing Education: Creating a Generation of Engaged Citizens

Canada is polarized and divided, with fewer and fewer people understanding how our society works or how we fit into our complex, ever-changing world. Healing our democracy begins with fostering curiosity and creativity through education — but this must be a societal challenge, not another burden placed on the shoulders of educators. This is where Simon Jackson wants to help.

Co-founder of Nature Labs — a virtual, storytelling-driven high school textbook — Simon spent seven years travelling and listening to the stories of diverse Canadians in order to find a common starting point for learning. What he uncovered? While the environment divides, nature unites and encourages curiosity. With dynamic storytelling and extensive research, Simon shares his story and vision for helping a new generation unlock the tools they need to be creative members of tomorrow’s workforce and engaged citizens in a complex, ever-changing world.

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The Power of One: Creating a Better Canada

Canada is at a crossroads. How do we protect our sovereignty and grow our economy, while still finding space for the issues that haven’t just gone away? This is our challenge and Simon Jackson wants to help.

Through sharing his personal story, Simon offers audiences a reminder that we all have a purpose and a role in the challenges we face. The lessons he has learned through success and failure – and from listening to diverse Canadians from all walks of life – allows Simon to challenges assumptions and help people reimagine what’s actually possible when we choose to work together. Moreover, by using nature as a common starting point for sharing tangible tools and ideas, Simon’s keynote presentations spark reflection, bridge divides, and inspire action. His message that every person has the ability to shape our world for the better helps audiences uncover brave, bold, and innovative ideas that, when added together, can shape a better Canada for all.

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Speaking Testimonials

Simon was amazing. In addition to being an all-round delightful and endearingly self-effacing person, his keynote was passionate, inspiring, relatable and pragmatic. He tied his talk to our regional parks really well. The way he shared his personal story is so helpful for youth, who are struggling to pursue their passion while not “fitting in.”

He had an important message about the value of nature being common ground in an increasingly polarized society; that will really will help frame the importance of our work to others who might think it’s not as significant in the bigger picture.

And speaking of pictures, his photos were spectacular.

He was the perfect fit.

Metro Vancouver

We were thoroughly impressed! Simon did an absolutely outstanding job of weaving so many ideas together in such an entertaining way. We were blown away by the outstanding quality and excellent content. The density of the information is amazing and presented in an easily digestible manner.

Sam Sullivan, Former Mayor of Vancouver

Love the messages you’re sharing and believe that it’s critical to have these conversations, so kudos!

Arts Leader, Toronto

We were thrilled with Simon. He is an amazing speaker and everyone at the conference was inspired by him. For me, he was the highlight of the conference!

Queen’s University

Simon’s presentation was awesome. He has a very polished presentation, and the students relate well to him, particularly the older students. We were very pleased.

My World Conference

We’re taught to be attracted to really strong, polarized views. Simon teaches people how to do the opposite around what seems to be a very benign topic like nature; it gives me a lot of hope for other polarized issues that need attention.

Politician, Alberta

It was a joy to watch.

Community Leader, Waterloo

Very engrossing. Well done!

Environmental Leader, Alberta

I love the lens of nature. It’s very powerful and relatable in our everyday lives.

Community Leader, Vancouver

It’s clear that Simon is a professional. His talk was engaging, illuminating, and humorous. He’s an excellent speaker. He’s likely one of the best I have seen, to be honest.

Assumption University

Simon was awesome. We hope to have him back.

Environmental Services Association of Alberta

Simon’s speech inspired me to take action on things that need to be changed.

Student, Nelson (BC)

Simon’s speech is like having a fun conversation that makes learning cool without an adult trying to shove “cool” at you.

Student, Hamilton (ON)

Well, that was a wow. Very moved. It’s a powerful message. Wow.

Business Leader, Alberta

Simon is truly one of the most gifted, articulate, motivated and dedicated leaders. He is a dynamic speaker worldwide and has proven already the power of one.

BC Community Achievement Foundation

We could not have done it without Simon’s great contributions! We have been getting some amazing feedback.

Calgary Mayor’s Expo

Simon provided an excellent contribution to the professional development of educators of the North Central Teachers Association. The power of one speech touched a chord with many of our teachers and was significant to the program’s success.

North Central Alberta Teachers Association

It’s an opportunity to explore these really tough questions and these tough issues through something that will allow (the audience) to go on a journey and learn through (this story).

Educator, Ottawa

The presentation of information is engaging. You have set a high bar for educational presentations going forward.

Business Leader, USA

The story of a young person’s passion and determination, in spite of any handicap, to make a difference for a cause involving nature is always inspiring and worth knowing, and Jackson’s story is no exception.