Speaker.
Writer.
Explorer.
Speaker.
Writer.
Explorer.
Book James as a speaker
Gina Cunningham, Senior Policy Advisor, Strategic Policy Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
“Flat out, the best presentation I’ve been to in my career.”
The magic of James Raffan’s presentations is his unique blend of insight, experience and erudition, usually sprinkled with humour, always stirring emotions.”
He curates his presentations from a trove of immediate first-hand stories drawn from a lifetime of exploration, always spun with surprising sounds and spectacular images he’s collected along the way. James will introduce you to voices you’ve never heard or places you’ve never been, or show you things you’ve never seen in familiar locales. He’ll teach you about the world. He’ll teach you about nature and human nature. He might even sing you a song. But he’ll always leave you thinking, smiling, feeling informed and empowered but always with questions about how you might engage more fully in personal growth, community building, or making the world a better place.
Projects
The Accidental Canadian
A one-man musical celebrating 50 years of James Raffan’s travel through the circumpolar world
2025 marked the 50th year in a row that writer and explorer James Raffan will have spent at least part of the year travelling, researching and learning in the Arctic.
To celebrate this career milestone, James has written a one-man musical show he’s calling The Accidental Canadian, referring to the fact that his British parents flipped a coin after WWII to decide whether to emigrate to South Africa or Canada. That coin toss made James and his three sisters “accidental Canadians”.
Since he was old enough to venture out on his own, James has been travelling to the most remote corners of the Arctic by every conceivable means—canoe, dogsled, icebreaker, floatplane, snowmobile and on foot—returning with stories that have found their way into books, films, radio documentaries, magazine articles, and countless presentations including his popular Storyfest series that, since 2010, has raised tens of thousands of dollars for community development through the Seeley’s Bay and Area Residents Association.
‘The Accidental Canadian’ will be showing across Canada. Use the button to find out when JR will be in your neck of the woods.
