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Tom Jackson (actor)

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For other people named Thomas Jackson, see Thomas Jackson (disambiguation).

Tom Jackson
Tom Jackson, 2012
Born (1948-10-27) 27 October 1948 (age 76)
One Arrow Reserve, Saskatchewan, Canada
Occupation(s)Actor, Singer

Thomas 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 was the Chancellor of Trent University from 2009 until 2013.

Life and career

A Métis,[1] Jackson was born to Rose, a Cree, and Marshall, an Englishman, on the One Arrow Reserve, Saskatchewan near Batoche. He moved with his family to Namao, Alberta at age seven. They moved again to Winnipeg when he was fourteen. A year later, he dropped out of high school and lived on the streets for several years.

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 Sergeant 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.

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" 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]

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.[4] In May 2014, Jackson received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award (GGPAA) for his lifetime contributions to Canadian broadcasting. At the Gala honouring GGPAA recipients on May 10, Jackson took to the National Arts Centre stage to perform one of his songs.[5]

On 14 April 2009, Jackson was announced as the tenth chancellor for Trent University.[6] Jackson held this position until 2013.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1980 Happy Bum Happy
1985 Spirit Bay Will
1986 Loyalties Eddy
1988 Martha, Ruth & Edie
1991–1995 Shining Time Station Billy Twofeathers TV series
1991 Clearcut Tom Starblanket
1993 Spirit Rider Albert St. Clair TV movie
Medicine River Harlen Bigbear TV movie
The Diviners Jules TV movie
1994 Street Legal David Cormier TV series (1988–1994)
Star Trek: The Next Generation Lakanta TV series
1995 Great Canadian Ghost Stories Host
Sliders Color Commentator TV series
500 Nations voice TV miniseries
1998 Chicago Hope Peter Matthews
North of 60 Peter Kenidi TV series (1992–1997)
1999 It's Like, You Know... Father
Grizzly Falls Joshua
2000 Trial by Fire Peter Kenidi TV movie
2001 Dream Storm: A North of 60 Mystery Peter Kenidi TV movie
2002 Tom Stone Ray Swiftwater TV series
Relic Hunter Bobby Green TV series
2005 Mee-Shee: The Water Giant Custer
Distant Drumming: A North of 60 Mystery Peter Kenidi TV movie
2006 Skinwalkers Will TV
2007 Little Mosque on the Prairie Archaeologist TV
2011 Befriend and Betray Guy Poirier TV

Discography

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

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

See also

References

  1. ^ Singer Tom Jackson pitches housing complex for Winnipeg
  2. ^ "Pride of Lions". at the Internet Movie Database.
  3. ^ Brown, Jane. "Aboriginal Faces of Saskatchewan - Tom Jackson". Saskatchewan Sage - April 1998 - pg. 6. Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
  4. ^ Template:PDFlink
  5. ^ "Tom Jackson". Governor General's Performing Arts Awards. Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Admissions Content".
Academic offices
Preceded by Chancellor of Trent University
2009-2013 		Succeeded by
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