  Singer, actor, social activist, and philathropist Tom Jackson was born of Metis descent in 1948 on One Arrow First Nation in Saskatchewan, northeast of Saskatoon. His family moved to Namao, Alberta when he was seven, then to Winnipeg when he was a teenager. Along the way he learned to play guitar, and showed signs of an interest in acting at an early age.It was only a few years later that he left home to make his mark in life. mas Dale Jackson, OC (born 27 October 1948), is a Canadian born Métis actor and singer perhaps best known for the annual series of Christmas concerts, called the Huron Carole, which he created and starred in for 18 years. He is the Chancellor of Trent University. As an actor he has starred in TV shows such as North of 60 and Shining Time Station where his character Billy Twofeathers debuted in its Halloween episode Scare Dares, and made a guest appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation in the season seven episode Journey’s End. His films include The Diviners. He also starred in Grizzly Falls, in 1999. His film career remains active with his appearance in the 2007 horror thriller, Skinwalkers. He is set to appear in acclaimed director Sidney J. Furie’s next feature, Pride of Lions, as Sgt. Robinson.[2] He has also released several albums of country and folk music.[3] He now resides in Calgary with his wife Alison and four children. [edit] Philanthropy A well-known philanthropist, Jackson created an annual series of Christmas concerts called the Huron Carole. Featuring Jackson and numerous other Canadian singers and performers, the Huron Carole troupe travels across the country each year, raising money for the Canadian Association of Food Banks. An album of Christmas songs recorded to tie-in with the tour is an annual best seller in Canada. After 17 years, Jackson retired the Huron Carole and in its place launched Singing for Supper, a cross-Canada tour that plays smaller community venues raising money and gifts of food, during the 2005 Christmas season. After “North of 60″‘s cast member Mervin Good Eagle committed suicide in October 1996, Tom started the Dreamcatcher Tour. In the spring of 1997 Jackson’s home town was bracing for “the flood of the century” that had already put towns south of the US/Canada border under water. Jackson was instrumental in organizing flood relief concerts across the nation (Calgary, Winnipeg).[citation needed] [edit] Honorary degrees Jackson has been honoured several times for his life’s work. Most notably in 2000 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and is a former member of the Order of Canada Advisory Council. He has been nominated for Juno Awards and Gemini Awards. He has also received honours from several Canadian universities, including honorary degrees from the University of Calgary, Trent University and the University of Lethbridge. He also received the Humanitarian Award at the 2007 Juno Awards due to his charitable efforts.[1] PDF (46.2 KiB) On 14 April 2009, Jackson was announced as the tenth chancellor for Trent University.[4] [edit] Filmography This filmography has been adapted from IMDb. Befriend and Betray (2011) (TV) …. Guy Poirier Little Mosque on the Prairie …. Archaeologist (2007) Skinwalkers (2006) …. Will Law & Order: Criminal Intent …. Chief Johnson (2006) Mee-Shee: The Water Giant (2005) …. Custer Distant Drumming: A North of 60 Mystery (2005) (TV) …. Peter Kenidi Tom Stone …. Ray Swiftwater (2002) Relic Hunter …. Bobby Green (2002) Dream Storm: A North of 60 Mystery (2001) (TV) …. Peter Kenidi Trial by Fire (2000) (TV) …. Peter Kenidi It’s Like, You Know… …. Father (1999) Grizzly Falls (1999) …. Joshua Chicago Hope …. Peter Matthews (1998) North of 60 …. Peter Kenidi (19921997) Great Canadian Ghost Stories (1995) …. Host Sliders …. Color Commentator (1 episode, 1995) 500 Nations (1995) (TV miniseries) (voice) Street Legal …. David Cormier / … (3 episodes, 19881994) Star Trek: The Next Generation …. Lakanta (1994) Spirit Rider (1993) (TV) …. Albert St. Clair Medicine River (1993) (TV) …. Harlen Bigbear The Diviners (1993) (TV) …. Jules Shining Time Station …. Billy Twofeathers (19911993) Clearcut (1991) …. Tom Starblanket Martha, Ruth & Edie (1988) Loyalties (1986) …. Eddy Spirit Bay (1985) …. Will Happy Bum (1980) …. Happy [edit] Discography [edit] Albums Year Album 1990 Sally Ann Love, Lust and Longing 1996 No Regrets 1997 Home This Christmas That Side of the Window 2001 I Will Bring You Near 2006 Singing for Supper On Tour 2011 Twas in the Moon of Wintertime [edit] Singles Year Single CAN Country Album 1989 “No Regrets” 43 No Regrets 1995 “Few and Far Between” 47 “Humble Me” 1997 “Dance with the Devil” That Side of the Window 1998 “Before the Owl Calls My Name” “That Side of the Window” 2002 “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” I Will Bring You Near 2009 “The Gift” `Twas in the Moon of Wintertime Tom (b Thomas Dale) Jackson. Singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor, writer, broadcast producer, social activist, b One Arrow First Nation Reserve, Sask, 27 Oct 1948; hon D LITT (Laurentian) 1998, hon LLD (Winnipeg) 1998, hon LLD (Victoria) 1999, hon LLD (Trent) 2000, hon D LITT (Lakehead) 2003, hon LLD (Calgary) 2003, hon LLD (Lethbridge) 2004, hon LLD (Alberta) 2007. Raised in Namao, Alberta 1957-63, Tom Jackson moved to Winnipeg at 14 and dropped out of high school at 15. There he learned guitar and through the 1960s and 1970s played country, folk and protest songs in Winnipeg clubs and coffeehouses and at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and other festivals, eg, Toronto’s Mariposa. He opened for Valdy in 1980, then pursued solo bookings in Saskatoon and Whitehorse, followed by regular gigs in Winnipeg lounges, eg, with Shingoose and “Kansas City” Dave Cramer. Jackson’s early songwriting explored Native issues; later he made a transition to country-rock. His first national release was the CD No Regrets (1994, Peg Records/Sony). In his twenties and thirties, Jackson also produced public affairs and Native-rights programming for the CBC in Edmonton and Winnipeg, wrote plays, worked as a Winnipeg DJ, and acted in theatre roles, eg, in The Ecstasy of Rita Joe in Winnipeg in 1981. His main activities as a musician and activist then centred on issues of ending hunger and supporting food banks, which partly resulted from his having lived on the back streets of Winnipeg from his mid-teens through his early twenties. Jackson, Tom Fund-Raising Activities Tom Jackson launched the annual Christmas multiple-artist, country-wide concert tour “The Huron Carole Benefit Concert Series” (1988-2004) and its successors, “Singing for Supper” (2004- ) and “Swinging for Supper” (2006- ). He travelled across Canada 2000-3 on Canadian Pacific Railway’s fundraising music tour “Holiday Train,” which resulted in two compilation CDs. These annual touring events generated about $5 million for food banks and family agencies across Canada. Jackson created the “Dreamcatcher Tour” to provide live music and workshops for urban- and reserve-based Indigenous communities suffering from suicides among young people. He also organized Manitoba flood-relief concerts in 1997 and spearheaded and hosted CBC Newsworld’s 2002 coverage of “Say Hay” (which raised $1.8 million in support of drought-stricken prairie farmers), and in 2003 worked with Calgary-based industries on “Beef Relief” (raising more than $600,000 in support of that city’s Inter-Faith Food Bank). Noteworthy Achievements and Awards As a singer-songwriter, Jackson has recorded over a dozen albums, two of which received Juno nominations. He is known for his bass-baritone voice and has also narrated several television shows. As an actor, he is best known for playing Chief Peter Kenidi on CBC TV’s North of 60 1992-7. He has appeared in episodes of numerous television shows and in movies. Jackson was appointed in 1999 an officer of the Order of Canada. He received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2002, and in 2005 Centennial Medals from Alberta and Saskatchewan; in 2007 the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television presented him with humanitarian awards at the Juno and Gemini awards. For over 40 years, actor, singer, producer, activist, Tom Jackson has crafted a compassionate stage of caring. He has embraced his life experiences, championed for the marginalized, and entertained a continent of concert-goers and TV watchers. His acumen has earned him recognition amongst his peers, yet he humbly perseveres as its the reward he seeks, not the award. 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. Toms 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 its his 6 years of playing Chief Peter Kenidi in CBCs 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 countrys food banks. When theres 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 its 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 dont 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 Queens 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 |
