Steve Howe
Steve Howe is an award-winning workplace safety keynote speaker, nationally recognized safety leader, and powerful storyteller whose extraordinary journey of survival, resilience, and determination inspires audiences across North America.
As a Vice President of Health and Safety, Steve brings nearly two decades of construction industry expertise to the stage. His contributions to workplace safety have earned him induction into the 2026 OHS Canada Hall of Fame, the 2026 SiteNews Health & Safety Award, and recognition as one of SiteNews’ 25 Most Influential People in Construction in 2025.
In 2006, at just 22 years old, Steve’s life changed forever when he was struck by an excavator bucket and dragged several feet while working in the construction industry. His injuries were catastrophic. He spent 90 days in a coma, underwent 83 surgeries, and remained hospitalized for more than 300 days. Doctors told him he would never walk again. Steve defied those odds. But his greatest achievement wasn’t simply surviving. It was transforming his experience into a lifelong mission to prevent other workers and their families from enduring the same devastating consequences.
Speaking topics
- WORKPLACE SAFETY: What's Your WHY?
This keynote tells the story of Steve Howe’s early career in the construction industry when he thought the rules and best practices to be safe did not apply to him. Like many workers, he never imagined he would fall victim to a workplace accident that would almost cost him his life.
Steve’s story of the tragic accident, his long recovery, and his return to work will inspire audiences to learn the reasons WHY Steve now works safely. Steve shares how he uses a combination of his experience as a Safety Director and the story of his avoidable accident to inspire his own team to work safely and how he achieves his number one professional goal; creating ZERO accident workplaces.
With 15 years on construction sites since his accident, Steve knows the safety challenges facing construction projects and the people working on them. His keynote not only inspires audiences to think about WHY they should work safely but he also shares how to establish a culture of safety by keeping it simple and making every word count.
- Know the WHY before the HOW
Steve Howe was a young man working in the construction industry when he suffered a tragic workplace accident. He woke from a three-month coma with a false sense of security that between his company, Worksafe and ICBC his financial needs would be covered … he was wrong.
This keynote gives a firsthand account of what happens to a real person that suffers a severe accident and inspires professionals in the Financial and Insurance services industry to pick up the phone and call their clients with renewed conviction.
Steve and his audience will share tears, laughter and hope as he underscores the critical role they play in their clients’ lives. Through his personal experience, Steve will highlight the positive ripple effects that financial and insurance advisors can create in the lives of their clients vs the financial waves of change that impacted his own life and the lives of his family and friends.
Steve’s goal is to connect the “why” before the “how,” offering a unique perspective that will leave the audience compelled to advocate for comprehensive insurance planning. By the end of this keynote, attendees will understand the crucial role they play in safeguarding the future of those they serve and will feel a renewed conviction to promote the value of insurance to all.
Video clips
Speaker testimonials
Steve’s keynote at the 2025 Vancouver Island Safety Conference was powerful and authentic. From the moment he began speaking, I was captivated. His story about his accident and its impact on his family was raw and moving. Hearing how one decision changed his life—and the lives of those he loves—reminded me how much is at stake every time we step on a job site. His courage and resilience showed that safety is more than compliance; it’s a commitment to the people who matter most. I’ll carry his message with me for a long time. Thank you, Steve, for inspiring us to remember what truly matters most and how our choices affect far more than just ourselves.
Steve, I just wanted to say thank you for your incredible talk at Advocis Banff School.
You didn’t just deliver a message — you made a real impact.
Your honesty, humility, and insight resonated deeply with me (and many others).
You reminded us what true leadership looks like: grounded in values, driven by purpose, and focused on lifting others up.
I walked away feeling inspired, challenged, and more connected to why I do what I do.
Your words stayed with me long after the session ended.
Thank you for showing up with such authenticity and heart.
You truly left a mark, and I’m grateful to have been in the room.
At the 69th Conference of the Advocis Banff School, held at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity on August 17, we had the privilege of hearing from our keynote speaker, Mr. Steve Howe. It was an unforgettable evening filled with inspiration and hope, delivered by a man who truly lives his convictions. His message brought perspective to our lives and left attendees eager for more. Steve’s authenticity and deep care for others shone through, setting a powerful tone for the rest of the conference. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to take the time to experience this remarkable, generational speaker—a man who is, quite literally, a walking miracle
If you have ever searched for the meaning of life, stop! The answer lies, right here!
Steve tells his story of the importance of critical threat assessment, trusting your gut in difficult situations, recognizing how our decisions impact our loved ones, the absolute defiance with the idea of settling for a life without purpose but most of all, this is a love story!
His ability to capture the attention of our veteran risk managers, will undoubtedly inspire us to share his story, and help protect more Canadians from suffering the financial losses Steve and his loved ones experienced.
This man and his beautiful family have left their mark on us, and we are better humans after meeting them!
Steve’s keynote was truly impactful for our project team. Every one of my contractors walked away with valuable insights, prompting them to reevaluate how they conduct operations and identify blind spots for improvement. The ripple effect of Steve’s message was evident—one of my colleagues shared that his Executive VP, who attended the event, later referenced Steve’s story during a corporate staff meeting to inspire company-wide changes.
What sets Steve apart from other speakers is the depth and authenticity of his message. He doesn’t just recount the moment of his accident—he walks you through the events leading up to it, the consequences, and his journey through recovery to present day. His story is a powerful reminder of how one decision can change everything.
Steve’s ability to connect with the audience and deliver a message that resonates both personally and professionally is exceptional. His keynote wasn’t just a presentation—it was a catalyst for reflection and change.
The event went great and Steve did an amazing job! We have spent much of the day in our leadership meetings talking about Steve’s message and how it was received by the craft team. We have had great feedback from the field. I am very pleased with Steve’s presentation.
The event went very well. Steve did a fantastic job driving the message to the supervisors that attended. The feedback from the field has been extremely positive and I have discussed many “AH HA” moments with different individuals who attended. And thank you for assisting with getting everything set up and organized.
Very powerful presentation. Hammered home the “Why”
We cannot begin to thank you for coming to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, and sharing your beautiful story and presentation on survival. It was not only moving, but it was relevant to all walks of life. Thank you so much for your transparency and your passionate delivery. I know that your presentation has had an amazing, positive impact on all our lives in one way or another. I am certain that for every person that was there, they shared your story with at least three people. Thank you for touching our organization.
Thank you so much for taking the time to speak at our Safety Summit. Your message meant a lot to our staff and really drove home the importance of safety, not only for yourself but also for your loved ones. Thank you for putting your entire self into the speech and being so vulnerable with us. We received such positive feedback from our staff about how these real-life examples are extremely meaningful and stay with you for a long time. We were very fortunate to hear from you and listen to your incredible story.
Steve’s story was relatable and touching. Really makes someone think about their why and how your life is very intertwined with your work.
I again wanted to express my sincere gratitude and heartfelt thank you to you both for your participation and presentation in our Health, Safety and Information Development Day Event yesterday. I have heard tremendous feedback from our staff and the day wouldn’t have been the successful day it was without Steve’s keynote speech that literally left everybody in awe. I can’t tell you how many people reached out to me after the event and this morning who bought your book and told their families/spouses about your story.
Our expectations were exceeded, and he had the audience in tears. It was very emotional – in a positive and impactful way. We were very happy with his keynote, and the event was a success.
It went fantastic, our entire team was still talking about a couple days after. Thank you and Steve so much for helping us wake our team up.
People were really affected by Steve’s presentation, including me. We had lots of comments about what a good keynote he was. A number of people told me his comment about the decisions you make today affecting people for years to come really resonated with them.
Steve’s presentation went over very well with our audience. His story kept everyone engaged and he did a good job getting the audience involved. He met our expectations for sure, he did a great job telling his story and the affects that it not only had on him, but the affects on his family, friends, social life…… We told him that we wanted to push the “WHY” we do things, and I believe he did a great job tailoring his presentation towards the message that we were trying to convey to our people.
Steve was great! Very motivating and genuine. He was able to engage the entire room and he delivered a very solid message that aligns with our safety program. Thank you so much for your excellent coordination as well. “Best safety meeting ever!”
It is not hard to see, based off your presentation that you are passionate about keeping the people of our industry safe. I am truly grateful that you have taken your story/accident and turned it into an opportunity to share with the people throughout our industry. You are definitely doing your part to help others avoid future accidents. It is truly a miracle that you made it through your accident and now have a life second to none! I think goes without saying you are guy with an “attitude of gratitude”!
I’ve been in auditoriums, events, churches and I’ve never looked around the room and seen everyone engaged like they were last week. Today was one week from the day of seeing your presentation and our day started off on the jobsite at 6:30 with a veteran in the company doing the daily safety share. He asked everyone to raise their hand if they had gone home and told their families, friends or crews about Steve Howe. Everyone raised their hand. Everyone on our jobsite now knows the name Steve Howe and your story.
We have seen a significant increase in safety idea cards and reporting of near misses since you have visited the facility. I consider this a significant advancement in our culture because people are looking at their work and the risks differently. We are seeing our work differently and are less willing to accept things that might be a risk, even if it isn’t an urgent risk at the moment. When we are out on the shop floor discussing our risks/opportunities, your visit or something you said comes up in the conversation frequently.
Meeting you has motivated me to be a better leader and create a better safety culture at Aldridge. I have been told repeatedly by our employees, that by far this was the best safety meeting they have ever been to. I believe you saved some lives in our company and we are grateful. We are really looking forward to a couple more talks and want to get the rest of the company to hear your story
Steve’s presentation was a home run. It exceeded our expectation. He was clear concise and captivating. Jim and I both commented you could have heard a pin drop in the room everyone was so engaged! Thank you so much for the recommendations. I would highly recommend Steve to all our colleagues. He was very personable and even attended our meet and greet that evening to interact with our guests. His story was very compelling and left a lasting impression on all in attendance. I can’t say enough great things about your service and his presentation. Thanks so much and we look forward to working together in the future
Steve was amazing! Everyone has been talking about his presentation and that his messages, stories, etc., are sticking with them and have kept them thinking about their own life and how safety relates to them. So good!