Stephen Jenkinson

Stephen Jenkinson is a Canadian writer, teacher, cultural activist, and grief literacy advocate whose work challenges Western perspectives on death, dying, and the role of elders. Holding master's degrees from Harvard University in theology and the University of Toronto in social work, Jenkinson brings interdisciplinary expertise to his practice. He directed palliative care at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, where he was present at the deathbeds of more than 1,000 people, observing significant anxiety and existential distress even in the absence of physical pain. This experience in palliative care shaped his approach to end-of-life education and advocacy. Jenkinson has also served as an assistant professor at a Canadian medical school and as a consultant to palliative care and hospice organizations.

Jenkinson is the author of several books, including the award-winning "Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul," which explores his philosophy on mortality and critiques dominant Western cultural practices surrounding death. His other works include "Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble," "A Generation's Worth: Spirit Work While the Crisis Reigns," "Reckoning" (co-authored with Kimberly Ann Johnson), "Matrimony: Ritual, Culture and the Heart's Work," and "Trembling, Still: The Awful Clarity of a Mind in Eclipse." He is also a contributing author to "Palliative Care: Core Skills and Clinical Competencies."

Jenkinson is the subject of the documentary film "Griefwalker," produced by National Film Board of Canada, which profiles his work with dying individuals. "Lost Nation Road," directed by Ian Mackenzie, documents the creation of his "Nights of Grief and Mystery" tours. In collaboration with singer-songwriter Gregory Hoskins, Jenkinson has toured "Nights of Grief and Mystery" across North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand, blending storytelling, music, and ceremony in events focused on grief, mortality, and cultural healing.

Jenkinson founded Orphan Wisdom School in the Ottawa Valley, Ontario, offering experiential learning in grief literacy, elderhood, and cultural practices. His work addresses the widespread death phobia and grief illiteracy observed in clinical settings, encouraging individuals to engage with mortality well before the end of life. In addition to his writing and teaching, Jenkinson is a sculptor and traditional canoe builder. His house received the Governor General's Award for architecture. His teachings reach global audiences through international tours, online events, and the Orphan Wisdom Scriptorium, an archive of his work in grief education and end-of-life care.