Dave Jonsson

Professional Skateboarder and Plane Crash Survivor

Topics: Bullying, Faith/Religion - Christian Based, Leadership Development, Motivation and Inspiration, Resilience, Stress and Anxiety Management
Audiences: Corporate, Educators/Staff, Elementary, Faith-Based, Middle/High School, Parents, University/College

WORKSHOPS
AND TOPICS

The Brilliance of Resilience - Keynote

The attitude of resiliency is foundational to any success story. In fact, in order to succeed, we first must fall and make mistakes. It’s the pathway to growth and experience. Using his skateboard as a tool to communicate this truth, Dave takes the audience on a vibrant journey of his life. He shares his story of surviving a plane crash as well as some practical principles on how to leverage seasons of pain to gain a greater perspective. The audience will leave encouraged and challenged to dig deep and find an attitude of resiliency within themselves that they previously didn’t know was there.

Age range: Elementary, Middle School, High school, College, Corporate, Educators.

Kindness Counts - Keynote

What do you want to be remembered for in life? Even though your job, health, and money may seem like the most important things, are they really? No matter who you are, what you will be remembered for the most is how you treated those around you. That’s why Kindness Counts! In this presentation, Dave shares stories of immigrating from Iceland and experiencing the feeling of being an outsider. If it hadn’t been for the kindness of those around him, he wouldn’t be the same person he is today! Dave uses the art of storytelling to show how kindness is the one thing that counts most in life.

Age range: Elementary, Middle School, High school, College, Corporate, Educators.

Leave Life Empty - Workshop

One proverb says, “For I have been poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race!” That’s an interesting thing to say, to be poured out, empty! You see, the point of life is not to finish full of dreams, and full of ambition, but empty! Les Brown once said, “The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.” What is the lasting contribution you can make to this planet and to those around you? What is your talent? In this workshop, Dave challenges students and leaders alike to live their lives with service in mind. Using hands-on tools and engaging applications, students will leave challenged to give life their all, investing their talent into the betterment of others.

Age range: Elementary, Middle School, High school, College, Corporate, Educators.

TRUST: Build Bridges, Not Breaches - Workshop

It has been said that “trust is the currency of every relationship.” In today’s world, where trust is the foundation of meaningful connections, Dave’s workshop titled “TRUST: Build Bridges, Not Breaches” centers around the essential pillars that contribute to building and maintaining trust. Consistency, Transparency, Competency, and Empathy serve as the core pillars in fostering strong connections and nurturing trust.

Regardless of your position or title, trust is an essential ingredient for success. Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive exercises, and real-life examples, Dave provides practical tools and strategies to enhance your ability to cultivate trust across various areas of life. Whether you are a leader, a professional, or someone seeking to deepen personal connections, this workshop equips you with the knowledge and skills to establish and nurture trust in all your relationships.

Testimonials

Speaker Testimonials

Today we had Dave come in and speak to our students and the presentation was exactly what we hoped for – more in fact. Dave’s message on the power of kindness and resiliency was expertly woven through the story of his life. While telling us about his experiences surviving a plane crash, being a newcomer to Canada, and a little bit of world history, Dave highlighted the power of being kind and the power of being resilient. Dave’s message resonates so loudly with our school values but it was Dave’s public speaking ability that had our students captivated the second they entered the gym. Walking in and seeing a professional skateboarder doing tricks as they entered set the tone for what was to be, a wonderful experience to bring our community together. Dave’s excellent public speaking skills then took our audience on a wonderful journey through his story – all the while having the audience hanging on every word. Dave’s presentation was a dynamic way to start off our year.

Darren Stewart, Principal of Pitt River Middle School

Today we had Dave in to speak to the entire school in our gym. As the students entered our gym and saw Dave doing some tricks on his skateboard their energy level went up and the student’s attention was his. Throughout his presentation and the telling of his stories, the students were engaged and interested in what he had to say. Dave’s message was fantastic and very important for our students and staff to hear. His closing stunt left the kids cheering and wanting to see more. We all thoroughly enjoyed Dave’s presentation as his message was relative, passionate, and honest.

Brad Downey, Principal at Scott Creek Middle School, Coquitlam BC

As a youth recreation worker, I have been given the opportunity to witness Dave Jonsson speak and connect with youth. Dave has the natural ability to engage an audience and motivate them to be the best versions of themselves. He really is a true inspiration!

Carissa Keenan, Manager at Greg Moore Youth Centre
More Information

REQUEST TO BOOK Dave Jonsson

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