Jason Dorland Biography

Jason Dorland was born into a rowing family. He spent his high school years rowing at Ridley College in Ontario before continuing his passion at university. Once on the Canadian National Team, he set his sights on the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.

As defending Olympic Champions, the Canadian men’s eight was expected to defend that title or, at the very least, medal. They didn’t. Instead, they finished dead last in the final.

Decades later, Dorland defines that experience and the troubled years that followed as the greatest gift he ever received. “It changed everything for me. Up until that moment, I was all about the prize. Now, I get it—how we travel our life’s journey is more important than where that journey leads us.”

After earning his degree in Graphic Design from The Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, Dorland helped start an organic food business in 1996 that still operates today in Vancouver, British Columbia. He then returned to university, receiving his degree in Education before entering the teaching profession, where he taught and coached high school for fifteen years. In ten years of coaching rowing, Dorland’s crews earned 12 international championship titles.

Furthermore, Dorland has written three books: "Chariots & Horses—Life Lessons From an Olympic Rower," "Pulling Together—A Coach’s Journey to Uncover the Mindset of True Potential," and his third, most recent book, a novel, "IKE: The Dog Who Saved a Human."

Dorland and his wife, Robyn Meagher, an Olympic middle-distance runner, married in 2001 and live in Victoria, British Columbia, with their family -- rescue dogs included! They are now pursuing their passion for utilizing the many lessons they’ve taken from their Olympic and professional journeys to support others in pursuing their health and highest potential while living a life where they thrive!

BOOK Jason Dorland

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/14/2025.

Jason Dorland Speaking Topics

  • LOVE as a Competitive Strategy

    Jason Dorland spent his entire rowing career consumed in his singular pursuit of an Olympic Gold medal. Throughout that pursuit, he embraced an old-school approach to high performance—aggressive, combative, egoic. As defending Olympic Champions, his crew was expected to repeat. They didn’t; instead, they finished dead last in their final on the day it mattered most. Devastated, Jason retired from rowing and struggled for years to find a new direction and identity.

    Eventually set up on a blind date, he met his future wife, Robyn Meagher, an Olympic middle-distance runner. At first, she represented a conundrum for Jason. Her approach to competition was the polar opposite of his. She didn’t race to win medals or hate her competitors; she ran because she loved running.

    Years later, Jason returned to coaching and utilized everything he had learned from Robyn. He was determined to instill in his athletes a different approach to high performance, one that embraced LOVE as a competitive strategy—love for self, rowing, teammates, and your competitors! The results were nothing short of astounding; in ten years of coaching, Jason’s crews won 12 international championships.

    Jason shares his humbling journey with humor and lived perspective. In this talk, he will share research on love and its impact on motivation and our capacity to perform at our best. He will also explore your “LOVE Score” and why this simple self-assessment is so important when determining the opportunities for growth in ourselves and those we lead.

  • Self-Compassion: It’s Tougher Than You Think!

    As an elite rower, Jason Dorland was taught that the best strategy for dealing with failure was to “give himself a swift kick in the backside” and keep going. And, for the most part, it worked—until it didn’t.

    After a devastating loss at the Olympics, Jason used his tried-and-true method to get back in the game. Revenge and retribution fueled his self-imposed “whipping stick.” Eventually, the stick Jason used to push himself broke, as did he.

    He struggled with depression, anxiety, OCD behaviour and an eating disorder. Struggling back from that dark place, Jason exchanged his old tactics for something new—the power of self-compassion.

    In this talk, Jason will share research on self-compassion and its surprising efficacy in supporting and sustaining high performance. Learn how kindness to self and others can fuel your goals in ways you may have never thought possible.

Jason Dorland Videos

Jason Dorland | TEDxLangford

Jason Dorland | TEDxLangford

The Thrill is in the Chase

Jason Dorland - Independent Schools Assn of British Columbia Annual Conference

Jason Dorland - Independent Schools Assn of British Columbia Annual Conference

Keynote: What's LOVE got to do with it? For more information—please contact Jason Dorland www.jasondorland.com [email protected]

Jason Dorland - Book Trailer for "Pulling Together: A Coach's Journey to Uncover the Mindset of True Potential"

Jason Dorland - Book Trailer for "Pulling Together: A Coach's Journey to Uncover the Mindset of True Potential"

"Pulling Together" is a true story detailing the remarkable journey of a young rowing team and their inspiring resilience through unyielding...

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    Jason Dorland generally travels from Victoria, Canada, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Jason Dorland is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as LOVE as a Competitive Strategy and Self-Compassion: It’s Tougher Than You Think!. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jason Dorland for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Jason Dorland generally travels from Victoria, Canada and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Robyn Meagher and Jason Dorland, JP Pawliw-Fry, Simon Sinek, Vince Poscente and Dr. Jackie Freiberg. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jason Dorland for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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