Jowi Taylor

2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the debut of the Six String Nation project.

Imagine your organization feeling more connected to one another as Canadians – across the room, across functions, across the country – than you thought possible.

Jowi Taylor’s Six String Nation keynote is a multimedia storytelling phenomenon that has moved and galvanized audiences in corporate and association gatherings, education events, festivals and more, in every province and territory of Canada. 

One unique object weaves together the stories, histories, cultures, communities, and characters of Canada from coast to coast to coast and a special moment near the end of the presentation brings your organization right into the heart of it all.

If you want to boost the profoundly embracing sense of Canadian pride your gathering will feel even further following the presentation, be sure to book the optional Portrait Feature. Your attendees will join more than 15,000 other Canadians in literally becoming part of this extraordinary project. Individually and as an organization you’ll have a vivid collection of mementos of your event and your encounter with the Six String Nation.

Six String Nation. It’s the story of Canada as you’ve never ‘held’ it before.

Officially nicknamed Voyageur at a ceremony in Winnipeg – this guitar is an instrument unlike any in the world. The guitar is quite literally a piece of Canadian history…. or 64 pieces of history to be exact.

All of the materials from which the guitar is constructed are contributions from different cultures, communities and characters that, together, tell the story of a multi-cultural Canada; offering a vision of Canada that is at once local and national in an object that is both an artifact and a living, breathing instrument.

Crafting a broad sense of “National Identity” is a challenge in a country like Canada, with its diverse and dynamic population, disparate regions, histories and cultures – not to mention a whole lot of territory to cover.

 Jowi’s compelling multi-media presentation rises to that challenge through the story of the creation of the one-of-a-kind Six String Nation guitar, Voyageur – “common ground” that you can literally hold in your hand.

Jowi and his photographer have travelled with Voyageur to every province and territory in Canada, and along the way have taken over 150,000 portraits of over 15,000 people holding the guitar. Though the portrait component of Jowi’s presentation is optional, it makes the opportunity for sharing this unique experience very real – bringing Jowi’s story to vivid life and putting it in the hands of your organization and your audience.Canada 150

The story of Canada as you’ve never ‘held’ it before.
What does it mean to be Canadian? What does Canada mean to the world after more than 150 years of Confederation?

Jowi anticipated these questions and the many diverse answers they’d elicit with the creation of his Six String Nation project – centred around a world-exclusive acoustic guitar literally built from pieces of history and heritage that reveal the stories of different communities, cultures, characters and events from every part of Canada.

In a compelling and visually dazzling storytelling presentation, Jowi captures the essence of every community he speaks to – from an investors’ retreat to a First Nations school assembly – and connects it directly into a conception of Canada that is at once historical, contemporary, dynamic, personal, emotional, generous, inclusive, proudly Canadian and incredibly timely.