London Poetry Slam

On August 27th the spoken word poetry community was dealt a crushing blow with the news that 36-year-old Zaccheus Jackson, a Vancouver poet & educator, had died in a tragic accident while on tour in Ontario.

Zaccheus had an unparalleled style and stage presence, and we rarely saw him without a smile. He was quick to admit a troubled past including drug addiction, but even quicker to give thanks for his pen and the stages that helped him battle his demons and become one of the most influential poets in the Canadian spoken word scene. He was a member of the Blackfoot nation, born in Alberta, and made his home in East Vancouver where he worked with youth in schools and in the community helping others speak their truth as he did his.

His passing has affected the slam community greatly, but his words will continue to live on. As a fellow poet said after his passing, please never stop speaking his name.

Love from London, Zaccheus. RIP.