by Natasha Lair
Last updated: 11:50 AM ET, Thu September 4, 2025
Dr. Jane Goodall delivered an impassioned call for compassion, responsibility, and action during An Evening with Jane Goodall in Toronto.
TravelPulse Canada attended the sold-out event, sponsored by Toronto-based G Adventures, which has partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada since 2016.
“Travel opens travellers’ eyes to the glorious diversity of culture,” she said, creating empathy, understanding and the desire to help others.
Her message connected directly to how travel, when done responsibly, can be a force for conservation, community development, and global understanding.
RELATED: G Adventures Brings Canadians Face-to-Face with Jane Goodall This Fall
That ethos is at the heart of G Adventures’ long-standing partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada through the Jane Goodall Collection of tours.
“Every individual makes an impact every single day,” Goodall told the audience. “We have a choice as to what kind of impact we make.”
The collection, which is endorsed by Dr. Jane Goodall herself, aims to promote responsible wildlife tourism and support conservation efforts across the globe.
Inspired Action
Following her lecture, Goodall joined broadcaster George Stroumboulopoulos for a fireside chat, reflecting on the personal experiences of her decades-long travels and advocacy.
“It’s when everybody promises to do their best that we can make the change we need,” she said. “We can’t bring little children into the world where there’s no hope.”
RELATED: G Adventures Expands Jane Goodall Collection
Goodall also spoke candidly about disinformation, the risks and potential of artificial intelligence, and the dangers of unchecked industrial growth on the planet. She shared emotional stories from her Roots & Shoots youth program, including one about children in the Democratic Republic of Congo who planted saplings under armed guard — only to see the soldiers set aside their weapons to help with the planting. “It was so symbolic of what Roots & Shoots is about,” she said.
She spoke passionately about the inner lives of animals, emphasizing that their emotions are real and deeply felt.
“How animals love and how they grieve…is very, very real,” she said, describing chimps showing empathy for one another, rats trained to detect early signs of disease or locate humans in rubble, and a rescued pig at a sanctuary who has become known for this paintings. Her message underscores the importance of respecting and protecting all animals, not just those humans typically value.
The Jane Goodall Collection
For G Adventures, the partnership with Goodall is rooted in a shared belief that travel can be a force for good — supporting both conservation and communities. A portion of every booking from the Jane Goodall Collection is donated directly to the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada to fund conservation and community-based initiatives.
PHOTO: G Adventures announces new additions to its Jane Goodall Collection of tours. (Courtesy G Adventures)
The collection features 19 itineraries across the globe, designed to inspire travellers through ethical, wildlife-centred experiences:
- Tanzania: Chimp Trekking & Serengeti Safari (Geluxe Collection) – A 10-day trip including Ngorongoro Crater safaris, a trek through Gombe Stream National Park — where Goodall conducted her pioneering research — and a cultural exchange in Mto wa Mbu village.
- Amazon Riverboat Adventure – A nine-day river journey with naturalist guides, including a visit to the Amazonian Manatee Rescue Centre.
- Yellowstone & Grand Teton – An exploration of U.S. parks, with chances to spot grizzlies, moose, bald eagles, and wolves.
- Costa Rica: Tortuguero, La Fortuna & Rio Celeste (Geluxe Collection) – An active adventure through rainforests and turtle nesting grounds, with wildlife-spotting from kayaks and canopy bridges.
- Galápagos Express Adventure – A youth-focused trip combining snorkelling, hiking, and encounters with giant tortoises and land iguanas.
RELATED: Planeterra's 2024 Impact: 30,000+ Lives Improved Through Tourism
G Adventures states that all tours are guided by strict animal welfare standards developed in collaboration with the Jane Goodall Institute to ensure that wildlife encounters are respectful, humane, and conservation-focused.
Dr. Jane Goodall is a world-renowned primatologist, anthropologist and conservationist. (Photo Credit: G Adventures)
Hope
As the evening concluded, Goodall reminded attendees that hope is not passive.
“Hope is not just waiting for good things to happen. It’s about what we do."
Information on how you can get involved here.
Topics From This Article to Explore
