October 28, 2025

Jane Goodall passed us the torch – and now it is our turn

by Bella Lam

Photo: Katherine Holland

It was inspiring to receive the unprecedented groundswell of support from every corner across the country after the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall. Canadians shared with us their sense of loss of an iconic defender of the natural world, but they also shared their messages of hope. Hope, and determination, that every one of us has a role to play, and it’s up to all of us to protect the one precious planet we call home.

At the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, we have been working towards Jane’s vision of growing the Roots & Shoots program to empower young people and expanding the vital work of community-led conservation to ensure animals, people and the environment can thrive together. Jane established her Institute with the goal of scaling the impact of our collective efforts, to create a just and sustainable world for future generations to come. We stand at this pivotal moment, ready to carry on the work that Dr. Jane started.

In fact, we have just finished developing our three-year strategic plan, Hope in Action. It is a forward-looking roadmap that I am proud and excited to share with you today. This 2025-2028 strategy shows how we will grow community-led conservation, empower youth environmental leadership, and advance Jane’s legacy into the future.

For so many of us, Jane represented the goodness in humanity, a beacon of hope even during dark times. Perhaps it is especially during dark times that her message of hope resonates so strongly with us. She was insistent that hope without action was meaningless, and it is only by making positive choices every day that we can have a lasting impact.

That is why I believe our Hope in Action strategy is more relevant and meaningful than ever in the world we live in today.

Across the world and here in Canada, we have heard so many heartfelt stories of individuals whose lives Jane shaped. Our founder spent her life sharing stories about compassion, peace, and our role as humans in an interconnected tapestry of life. She brought out the best in us.

On the day I learned of Dr. Jane’s passing, I was out of town on a hiking trip, connecting with nature as Jane so often urged us to do. After getting the unimaginable news, I grabbed my backpack and caught the first flight home. The next few days were spent working with our team and reaching out to so many dear friends of Jane and of the Institute.

When I finally had a moment to unpack my gear, I found my headlamp. It’s something I rely on when I am out on the trail, trying to find my way. On the trail looking down, it shows you the next step – just the ground right in front of your feet. But lift the light up, and suddenly the whole path opens up ahead of you.

That’s who Jane was for me. For all of us. Her enduring light blazed the trail. Now the torch has passed, and it’s up to us to continue walking on the path towards a brighter future.

Will you join us?

Our team is looking forward to honouring Jane’s extraordinary legacy, and celebrating the remarkable life she led, at the official Canadian memorial on November 22nd. Acclaimed musician Jann Arden is going to perform, and renowned broadcaster George Stroumboulopoulos is going to deliver remarks.

If you are interested in attending the memorial, either in person or online, please go to JaneGoodall.ca/Memorial to sign up. Because we anticipate high demand for this event, we encourage everyone interested in attending to sign up as soon as possible.