Simon Jackson, 28, founded the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition at the age of 13 in the quest to unite the voice of young people to save British Columbia’s endangered white Kermode or spirit bear.
Through the Youth Coalition, Jackson helped raise international awareness about the plight of the spirit bear – helping make the issue the most supported conservation initiative in Canadian history and having it recognized by Time Magazine as one of the most critical environmental issues facing our planet.
Jackson gained the support of such high profile figures as Dr. Jane Goodall, J.K. Rowling, and the Backstreet Boys in the process that helped make the Youth Coalition the world’s largest youth-led environmental movement with a global network of more than 6 million in over 70 countries.
Today, two-thirds of the spirit bear’s last intact habitat has been set aside for protection as part of what was the largest land protection measure in North American history, while one third remains threatened.
To help protect the remaining habitat, Jackson co-founded Helade Productions to produce, along with the same team responsible for the Lion King, a Hollywood CGI animated movie – The Spirit Bear – slated for worldwide theatrical release.
Jackson has received several honors for his work to save the spirit bear, including a being awarded a YTV Achievement Award, being selected as one of the top 25 Up and Comers by MacLean’s Magazine, receiving one of 20 full scholarships for community service from TD Canada Trust, and, most notably, being honored as one of Time Magazine’s sixty Heroes for the Planet – one of only six young people selected from around the world. His life’s work was the inspiration for a movie of the week – CTV’s award-winning Spirit Bear: The Simon Jackson Story – which aired across Canada on CTV and internationally through film festivals and on the Disney Channel.
Jackson is the full-time, volunteer Chairman and President of the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition and the Executive Producer and Spokesperson for The Spirit Bear CGI movie. Additionally, Jackson sits on the board of directors of ten organizations and social ventures, is public affairs commentator for CBC and the Huffington Post, and is a motivational speaker with Speakers’ Spotlight.
- The Power of One
Time Magazine's Hero for the Planet, Simon Jackson, is the 26-year-old founder and Chairman of the 6 million strong, Spirit Bear Youth Coalition and Executive Producer of the forth-coming Hollywood animated movie, The Spirit Bear. Through his 13 years of working to save BC's endangered white Kermode or spirit bear, Simon has become a model of the power of one.
In the telling of his unique story – the focus of a recent made-for-TV movie – Simon illustrates how he overcame roadblocks and skeptics to help make the spirit bear one of the world's foremost environmental issues. The lessons he learned and the insight he gained is not just the recipe to save the spirit bear, but a tool kit for action for anyone – especially youth – who want to make a difference in our world.
Simon's message is inspirational, motivational, and educational: Not only will you want to catch the spirit to save the bear, but you'll be a believer in the power of one.
- The REAL Simon Jackson Story
For those audiences who have seen the CTV movie, Simon discusses the real story in relation to the movie, the surreal feeling of having a movie made on his life, and the true state of the spirit bear.
- Catch the Spirit. Save the Bear
A detailed power point presentation on the spirit bear: the threat to its survival, the fight to save them, and the hope for its protection.
- Youth Engagement in Canadian Society
Simon Jackson was one of Canada's first young leaders on environmental issues and the first involved in the campaign to save the spirit bear. Jackson draws on his 15 years of experience in the field to persuasively argue why youth leadership matters and offers his opinions on best practices for meaningful youth engagement. By underscoring the urgent need for a resurgence of mentorship in our communities, Jackson illustrates the challenges and opportunities that are in store for youth engagement and what that means for Canadian society.
- Educating Civic Responsibility
Simon Jackson offers future leaders - and those who work with them - the opportunity to gain insight into the high level strategic thinking that created the world's largest youth-run environmental organization, the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition. Drawing from his experiences, Jackson presents his tool kit for action while providing perspective around what works and what doesn't work when building a campaign. And through an intimate dialogue, Jackson will work to trouble-shoot potential projects and help audience members create their own plan for action.
(This topic can be a speech, a training seminar, or an ongoing mentorship program)
- Politics and the Environment
Simon Jackson bridges his unique perspective and experiences working in both the environmental community and the political world by offering an in-depth analysis of how these two realms interact and, often, clash. Jackson provides suggestions on how the environment can become a winning political issue and what must be done in order to create environmental champions and a pro-environment consensus in Canada.
- British Columbia Politics: A Young Leader's Perspective
With 15 years of in-depth experience in the world of BC politics, Simon Jackson provides his unique insight into the state of BC public affairs and how current issues facing the province might be altered by the political landscape.
The Green Tory
The Death of the Environmental Movement
Canadian Politics: A Young Leader's Perspective
Social Entrepreneurism: The Spirit Bear Movie
Communicating Change
Youth Politics
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