After connecting with audiences online from her childhood home in England for over two years, Jane Goodall is finally getting back on the road to share her journey as an activist and insights on conservation. In June, she made two special appearances coordinated by the Jane Goodall Institute Canada in Calgary and Victoria.
I had a chance to attend her talk at the Farquhar Auditorium at the University of Victoria. It was incredibly invigorating and inspiring.
Jane Goodall is one of my conservation heroes, and I am extremely grateful that she wrote the foreword for my book Gone is Gone: Wildlife Under Threat.
In the foreword, she wrote a powerful call to action: “Every single individual makes an impact on the planet—every single day. And we humans can choose what sort of impact we make. Isabelle’s most important and lasting message is also the most resonant: if human behavior is the cause of the wildlife crisis, it can also be the solution. Remember that you are not alone and that together we can save precious species. To which I would add: we can and we MUST. Before it is too late.”
In Victoria, Jane Goodall once again shared a special message of hope. “Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is action,” she said that evening.
She also mentioned that dogs are one of her favourite animals. She has fond memories of Rusty, her childhood dog and first teacher. Jane shared with the audience that everywhere she goes, she looks for a “dog fix!”
I am happy I was actually able to give her a “dog fix” in Victoria with my book Conservation Canines: How Dogs Work for the Environment. I think Jane Goodall will be proud of the work these special dogs do to conserve wildlife! They definitely have their place on Team Goodall!