Jane Goodall, one of the world’s most celebrated conservationists, is being remembered in Canada as an irreplaceable voice for animals and the environment following her death at the age of 91.
The Jane Goodall Institute confirmed Wednesday that she passed away of natural causes in California while on a U.S. speaking tour. Born in London in 1934, Goodall first captured the world’s attention through her groundbreaking field research on chimpanzees in what is now Tanzania. Her detailed observations revealed the use of tools, social bonds, and individual personalities among the animals — discoveries that forever changed how humans understand and relate to the natural world.
In Canada, Goodall built deep ties through advocacy, collaboration, and legislative support. She publicly endorsed a Senate bill introduced by Murray Sinclair that sought to ban keeping elephants and great apes in captivity, while also prohibiting the import of elephant ivory and hunting trophies. The bill passed the Senate last December but was shelved when Parliament was prorogued. Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault has since pledged that the government is exploring ways to revive it.
Kerry Bowman, a University of Toronto bioethicist and longtime friend who worked with Goodall on a documentary, said her passing leaves a void that will not be filled. “Jane Goodall as a human being is just simply not going to be replaced,” he said. “She was very worried about authoritarianism and the abandonment of climate goals. She was a person many people would listen to, and she’s gone. So it leaves a huge hole.”
Tributes poured in on Wednesday, including from Prime Minister Mark Carney, who praised her as a “tireless guardian of nature.” He wrote on social media: “Dr. Jane Goodall changed the way we understand animals — and our own humanity. Her advocacy inspired generations and her research revolutionized the field of biology.”
For Canadians, as for people worldwide, Goodall’s legacy is one of inspiration, courage, and an unwavering belief in the interconnectedness of all living things.