The concerts will be filled with Christmas music and stories that embrace messages of peace, harmony and optimism.

Artists accompanying Tom and full tour schedule will be posted in October on www.huroncarole.ca.

Defeating Hunger. Feeding the Soul.

Born to an English father and Cree mother, he carries the legacy of his parents’ search for social acceptance and their selfless manner of keeping their door open for anyone who might need a meal, or a conversation.   His personal journey of identity led him to the streets of Winnipeg, and a bond with those outcast and struggling to make their economic way in the world.  Tom’s voice became his way off the streets – figuratively and literally – and in to radio stations, television studios, theatres and on the stage.

Penned the master of disaster, or minstrel with a message, it is music – his first love – that draws him to create change with the touch of a song, a poem, a musical or a concert tour.  Tom has recorded 14 albums, and 2011 marked the release of his fifteenth – ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime – in time for his annual Christmas tour.  He takes to the road in 2012 with the re-launch of The Huron Carole marking 21 years of cross-Canada travel raising awareness and funds for food banks and charitable organizations.

For a younger generation of TV viewers, Tom is recognizable from his portrayal of Billy Twofeathers in Shining Time Station, and his guest role in Star Trek The Next Generation.  Yet it’s his 6 years of playing Chief Peter Kenidi in CBC’s North of 60 that still draws comments, letters, emails and many hugs from longtime fans.  The series was an inspired view in to the lives of a First Nation community and Tom inadvertently became a role model because of it.  Taking the responsibility and possibility from that profile has led to extraordinary achievements in community service, professional development and global change.

Whether one links Tom to “The Huron Carole” – the song or the national concert tour,  Singing for Supper or Swinging for Supper, the evidence of his earning and staying power in the fundraising circle is without question and one of infamy for this country’s food banks.  When there’s trouble or trauma, Tom steps up with ideas to alleviate and compensate those devastated by floods, fires, drought, terrorism, youth suicide, homelessness, environmental disaster and economic disadvantage.

His mantra of being in service to others is secured with his choice to engage if it’s good business, good for the world, and good for the soul.  He can light up a room with his storytelling, endearing humour and self-penned tunes.  He can inspire, uplift and entertain 10 or 10,000 and the gifts he shares, he carries from his ancestry, his life and his loves.

“You don’t have to change the whole world, you just have to change your world, and the rest will follow.”
Tom Jackson

Landmarks:

CCMA Humanitarian Award 1996
Officer of the Order of Canada 2000
Queen’s Jubilee Medals 2002 and 2012
Order of Canada Advisory Committee Member   2004-2007
AB and SK Centennial Medals 2005
Juno Humanitarian Award 2007
Gemini Humanitarian Award 2007
Chancellor Trent University 2009
Honorary Degree recipient – 9 universities – 1998 to 2010
Generated approximately $200 million in combined cash/in-kind value for food banks and disaster relief
VP Global Business Development, Dreamcatcher Enviro-Green products, National Oilwell Varco, 2012

Live Theatre

In the theatrical community, Tom’s 2010 performance in “Beyond Eden” for the Vancouver Playhouse/Cultural Olympiad and Theatre Calgary created a stir beyond compare.

“Jackson’s wonderful booming melodic voice serves him and the production so well but it’s the sly humour he brings to the role that makes his scenes so memorable.”
Louis B. Hobson, QMI Agency

Voice-over and Narration

As a voice-over talent, his bass baritone, working in tandem with his social advocacy, is sought for programming in a variety of categories.

To book Tom “the actor” for roles in feature films, television shows, radio, voice-over/narration and live theatre events, please call:

The Characters Talent Agency
(416) 964-8522
Attn: Alicia Jeffery
Email:  ajeffery@bellnet.ca

Tom has recorded 15 albums and the latest one – ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime – is scheduled for release October 25, 2011 by EMI Music Canada in time for his annual Christmas tour of the same name.  The CD and tour marks a 20-year history of cross Canada travel raising awareness and funds for food banks, community service and charitable organizations.

Dubbed ‘minstrel with a message’ Tom’s 40+ years of songwriting has become his vehicle for social change. At the 2007 Junos, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) bestowed Tom with the Humanitarian Award in recognition for his positive contributions to the social landscape of Canada.

Tom is completing his 16th album due out in 2012.  Produced by both Tom and Rhys Fulber (Delirium) the focus of his next project is on the environment, the First Nation experience and the eloquence of storytelling in spoken word.

Whether in concert, or in a conference plenary, Tom’s music has the last word.

Tom made our first annual Mac & Cheese Luncheon an unqualified success in every respect – net revenue from it was $27,426.12
Don Evans, Executive Director
The Sharing Place Food Bank

Book Tom Jackson

To book Tom ‘the singer’ for concerts, special events, corporate or charitable engagements, please complete the online booking form or contact:

Todd Jordan
Paquin Entertainment
(204) 988-1133
todd@paquinentertainment.com

It was an easy transition from the micro to the macro by aligning with Canadian food banks, and literally singing for supper became his branding.  After 17 years of producing “The Huron Carole” Benefit Concert Series, with accompanying television specials and albums, he handily made a dent in the world of food insecurity.  He carried that mission forward for 5 years by producing and performing on The Holiday Train, a CPR fundraising initiative.  And when the world was thrown by crises from 9/11 to the BSE scare, Tom had ingenuity and a lot of friends – both musical and corporate – committed to changing the face of disaster into a rally of caring.

If asked about his memories of affecting change, he refers to the Red River Relief Benefit in 1997 for Manitoba flood victims where $3M was raised for the Red Cross.  So too with other Red Cross efforts – “Rise Again” in 2009 where Manitoba flooding peaked at levels higher than in 1997; and then just recently the partnership with CBC and the Red Cross to produce a concert/television special fundraiser for fire victims of Slave Lake.

While in the Gulf of Mexico last year, researching leading edge technologies and working with local communities from Louisiana to Florida, he was inspired with the thought “why wait for the fire to build a fire hall?”  With that philosophy in mind, National Oilwell Varco (NOV) has asked Tom to join their team to help the industry follow through and lead by example with a commitment to introduce green oil spill technology.  At the forefront of his role is the reduction of the industry’s carbon footprint and the demonstration of preparedness to mitigate the effects of any unfortunate incidents that may occur in the future.

He never shies from the work, in fact the collaboration with others is invigorating and he stays true to his mission of being in service to others, particularly if it’s good business, good for the world, and good for the soul.

“Your commitment, generosity, kindness and hard work resulted in a tremendous new outpouring of support for the people of Slave Lake and area, and financial contributions to the Canadian Red Cross so that we can help those people.”
Nancy Beasley Hosker
Provincial Manager
Communications and Strategic Relations
Canadian Red Cross | Croix-Rouge canadienne

Pictures 1 to 8 – Bill Borgwardt
Picture 9 – Trent University
Picture 10 – CARAS/iPhoto
Pictures 11 to 13 – Craig Koshyk

Special thanks to Dustin Leader for his images of Tom in the Biography, Activism, Contact/Booking categories

Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt	Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt	Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt
Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt	Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt	Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt
Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt	Tom Jackson Credit Bill Borgwardt	Tom Jackson Credit Trent University
Tom Jackson Credit CARAS/iPhoto	Tom Jackson Credit Craig Koshyk	Tom Jackson Credit Craig Koshyk
Tom Jackson Credit Craig Koshyk