STANDING
SPIRIT
PROJECT
The Untold Story of Brad Jacobsen
A Feature Documentary from BCMOS in Partnership with 8 Fold Films
The British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society (BCMOS) is proud to partner with 8 Fold Films to bring The Standing Spirit Project to life, a feature documentary telling the extraordinary true story of Brad Jacobsen’s journey along Vancouver Island’s rugged west coast.
In 2005, Brad and his team set out on an ambitious expedition that saw him tackle half of the legendary West Coast Trail before taking to the water to kayak along the Juan de Fuca coast.
After a life-changing accident at just 25 years old left him paralyzed, Brad refused to let his injury define the limits of his life. Instead, he became a pillar of strength, mentorship, and community within British Columbia’s spinal cord injury network, particularly through his work at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre.
But The Standing Spirit Project is about far more than one incredible achievement.
It is a deeply human story about resilience, friendship, humour, adventure, and the power of community. Through cinematic storytelling and intimate access to Brad’s life and legacy, the film explores what it means to reimagine possibility in the face of unimaginable challenges.
This project is both an honour and a responsibility, and an opportunity to preserve and share Brad’s story with audiences in British Columbia and beyond for generations to come.
All donations are processed through BCMOS via CanadaHelps.org and are eligible for charitable tax receipts.
Where Your Support Goes
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, The Standing Spirit Project has raised more than $42,500 to date. Those funds have directly supported production across British Columbia, including reuniting Brad’s original team, returning to the West Coast Trail, capturing new interviews, and covering the crew, travel, equipment, and logistics required to bring this story to life.
With a major portion of production now behind us, our fundraising efforts are shifting toward post-production. Your continued support will help carry the film through editing, sound, music, colour, archival materials, and final delivery as we work to bring Brad’s story to the screen.
The Film That Was Never Finished
Learn why this film matters — and how you can help bring it to audiences
Production Update
This August, The Standing Spirit Project reached a major production milestone as our team travelled to the west coast of Vancouver Island to retrace Brad Jacobsen’s remarkable 2005 journey and reunite four members of the original team.
We began in Bamfield, where Brad and the team started their expedition 21 years ago. While two members have remained close friends, the reunion brought others back together after many years apart. Over three days, we captured new interviews, stories, plenty of laughs, and reflections on an experience that has stayed with them for more than two decades.
Returning to Bamfield also gave the team an opportunity to honour Brad together. We chartered a boat and headed out onto the water, where his friends were able to spread his ashes along the coast that played such an important part in their journey.
The west coast provided a pretty spectacular backdrop too. During our time there, we were visited by grey whales, sea lions, black bears, seals, otters, and seemingly endless wildlife.
Following the reunion, producers Mike Pedersen and Kelly Veltry shouldered some very heavy packs and headed onto the West Coast Trail for seven days of filming. Along the 75-kilometre trail, we revisited key locations from the original expedition and worked to match frames and perspectives from footage shot by Brad’s team in 2005.
One of the coolest surprises was discovering how many people still knew Brad’s story and, in some cases, actually remembered the team coming through in 2005. At The Crab Shack, they even dug out an old photograph of the entire group eating together at the end of their journey. Seeing that photo 21 years later, with the new Crab Shack standing in the background, was a pretty special moment.
Experiencing the ladders, mud, beaches, river crossings, changing weather, and remoteness of the trail firsthand gave us an entirely new appreciation for what Brad and his team took on all those years ago.
We were also thrilled to welcome Jamie Cottington to the crew as our second camera and drone operator.
We would like to acknowledge and thank the Huu-ay-aht, Ditidaht, and Pacheedaht First Nations, whose traditional territories we had the privilege of travelling through and filming on, as well as Parks Canada for all of their assistance throughout this stage of production.
And finally, a huge thank you to the incredibly generous donors who have supported The Standing Spirit Project. We simply could not have done this without you. Your support made it possible to bring the team back together, return to the trail, and continue telling Brad’s story.
With the Bamfield reunion and West Coast Trail filming complete, we’ve captured a major piece of The Standing Spirit Project. There is still plenty of work ahead, but we couldn’t be more excited about where the film is headed next.
Who is Brad Jacobsen?
In British Columbia’s spinal cord injury community, Brad Jacobsen was a familiar face and a trusted presence. He would have laughed at the idea of being called an inspiration, but for many, that is exactly what he was.
Born in 1969, Brad was a sports-loving, creative, and adventurous spirit. At the age of 25, during a camping trip near Pemberton, a single moment changed his life. Diving for a frisbee, Brad broke his neck and became a quadriplegic.
What followed was not a retreat from life, but a recommitment to it. Brad continued to live on his own terms, guided by curiosity, humour, and generosity. As a driving force behind the peer program at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, he was often the first person newly injured patients met in a wheelchair. For many, that first meeting mattered deeply.
Brad had a rare ability to put people at ease. His calm presence and easy confidence offered reassurance without pity and encouragement without ego. He brought people together while making each individual feel seen, heard, and valued. His impact extended far beyond his role or title, living on in the lives he shaped and the communities he strengthened.
Brad’s story is at the heart of The Standing Spirit Project. It reflects the film’s deeper themes of resilience, connection, and the quiet power of showing up for others. Supporting this project means helping carry forward a legacy rooted in compassion, mentorship, and the belief that life, even when changed forever, can still be full, meaningful, and deeply connected.
The West Coast Trail
Stretching 75 kilometres along the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island, the West Coast Trail is widely regarded as one of Canada's most challenging hiking routes. Known for its towering ladders, slippery boardwalks, river crossings, and unpredictable coastal weather, the trail demands determination, resilience, and teamwork from everyone who attempts it.
In 2005, Brad Jacobsen and his team took on the rugged West Coast Trail, completing half of the legendary route as part of an extraordinary journey along Vancouver Island’s west coast.
About BCMOS
Founded in 1988, the British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society (BCMOS) is a registered charity dedicated to helping people with physical disabilities access the outdoors and re-imagine what is possible.
For more than three decades, BCMOS has worked to break down barriers to outdoor recreation through accessible hiking, paddling, cycling, adaptive equipment, and community-based programs across British Columbia. The organization is best known for developing and promoting the TrailRider, an innovative all-terrain mobility device that has helped thousands of people experience trails, parks, and wilderness areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.
At its core, BCMOS believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the physical, social, and emotional benefits of nature. Through its programs, volunteers, and supporters, BCMOS continues to create opportunities for people of all abilities to explore, connect, and thrive outdoors.
Learn more about BCMOS at bcmos.org
The Filmmakers
Chelsea McEvoy - Director
Chelsea Jade McEvoy is an Anishinaabe writer and filmmaker from the Okanagan Valley. A graduate of Confederation College’s Film Production Program, she has directed several award-winning films, including Wheel Love, Pallidus, and Re-Inventing The Wheel. Her work explores community, disability, and the human condition, using storytelling to challenge stereotypes and create authentic representations of people and their experiences.
Kelly Veltri - Producer & DOP
Kelly Veltri is a Kelowna-based cinematographer, producer, and filmmaker with over 20 years of experience across feature films, television, music videos, and documentaries. A longtime member of the Okanagan film community, he has also taught independent filmmaking to hundreds of students and helped support emerging filmmakers through festivals, events, and his work with the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking.
Mike Pedersen - Producer & Audio
Mike Pedersen is a Kelowna-based producer and storyteller with over 20 years of experience across film, podcasting, music, and television. His work spans documentary production, location sound, post-production audio, and thousands of podcast episodes. Combining creative storytelling with extensive technical experience, Mike focuses on authentic, community-rooted stories and helping bring them to life across film, audio, and other media.
Jordan Kerton – Executive Producer
Jordan Kerton is a recreation therapist and adaptive outdoor leader with nearly 25 years of experience working with people living with disabilities. She specializes in outdoor adventure and nature-based therapy and has participated in adaptive expeditions on the West Coast Trail and Mount Kilimanjaro. Jordan is also the founder of Vernon Adaptive, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to outdoor recreation for people of all abilities.
Director’s Statement
The Standing Spirit Project is more relevant now than when this project first began in 2003. The film feels like a reminder of how deeply we need one another in order to live fully and thrive.
My personal connection to this story is rooted in my husband, James Hektner, a T6/7 paraplegic, and in the profound influence of Brad Jacobsen. Brad was not only an inspiration to James, he altered the course of his life.
Brad became a close friend to both James and me. In 2020, on the very day COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, I spent an afternoon with Brad on a sunny patio on Granville Island. We shared a beer, listened to buskers, walked, and talked about life. We spoke at length about his film, its themes, his intentions, and the deep spiritual journey he and his crew experienced on the trail.
That was the last day I saw him. Brad passed away from cancer a year later. I was told he passed peacefully, with the sun on his face.
Shortly after his passing, Brad’s voice lived on through an episode of The Quad Life podcast. When asked what his plans were for The Standing Spirit Project, he replied simply, “Chelsea McEvoy and Jordan Kerton are going to finish it for me.”
One week later, I received a metal briefcase containing 69 tapes of The Standing Spirit Project.
Completing this film is both an honour and a responsibility. My goal is to honour Brad’s vision while bringing my own voice to the story, ensuring that the heart of this journey continues to be felt by audiences for years to come.
- Chelsea McEvoy
Support The Standing Spirit Project
We welcome support from individuals, businesses, foundations, and community organizations who share our belief in accessibility, inclusion, resilience, and connection to the outdoors.
Supporters may choose to receive recognition through honorary film credits or remain anonymous. The following acknowledgments are offered as a gesture of appreciation for significant contributions to the project.
$10,000+ — Executive Producer Acknowledgment (Honorary)
$5,000+ — Co-Producer Acknowledgment (Honorary)
$1,000+ — Associate Producer Acknowledgment (Honorary)
Under $1,000 — Special Thanks Acknowledgment
Please note: These acknowledgments are honorary recognition credits only and do not confer ownership, editorial input, creative control, approval rights, or participation in production decisions.
Support for this project is administered through a registered Canadian charity.
Want to Learn More?
Contact us:
Mike Pedersen - Producer
Phone: (250) 801-8445
Email: mike@eightyfiveaudio.com