STANDING
SPIRIT
PROJECT
The Untold Story of Brad Jacobsen
A Feature Documentary from BCMOS in Creative Partnership with 8 Fold Films
The British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society (BCMOS) is proud to partner with 8 Fold Films to bring Standing Spirit Project to life, a feature documentary telling the extraordinary true story of Brad Jacobsen’s historic journey across the legendary West Coast Trail.
In 2005, Brad became the only quadriplegic in the world to complete the rugged 75 km trail, a route known for its unforgiving terrain, towering ladders, relentless mud, and wild coastal beauty.
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 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.
We are currently raising funds to support principal production of the documentary, including filming across British Columbia and along the West Coast Trail.
All donations are processed through BCMOS via CanadaHelps.org and are eligible for charitable tax receipts.
Where Your Support Goes
The current fundraising campaign is focused on funding principal production for the documentary, including:
Filming across British Columbia
West Coast Trail production
Travel and accommodations
Documentary crew and field production
Interviews and archival storytelling
Cinematography and sound
Additional post-production funding will be pursued separately following completion of production.
The Film That Was Never Finished
Learn why this film matters — and how you can help bring it to audiences
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. 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 became the only quadriplegic in the world to complete the West Coast Trail, achieving what many believed was impossible.
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, an Anishinaabe writer and filmmaker from the Okanagan Valley, began her career in 2011 after graduating from Confederation College’s Film Production Program. She has directed several award-winning films, including Wheel Love, Pallidus, and Re-Inventing The Wheel, focusing on community engagement and the human condition. After becoming involved in the disability community, Chelsea uses storytelling to challenge stereotypes. She also writes the Wheel Love blog and serves as President of the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmakers (OSIF). Chelsea aims to focus on directing narrative features and documentary work.
Kelly Veltri - Producer & DOP
Kelly is a cinematographer, producer, and entrepreneur based in Kelowna, BC, with over 20 years of experience in film, music videos, and documentaries, earning multiple accolades for his work. He has worked in the camera department on various feature films, TV series, and documentaries. Kelly is also a former instructor at the Centre for Arts and Technology, where he taught independent filmmaking to hundreds of students. As the Executive Director of the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking (OSIF), Kelly has been actively involved since 2006 and organizes the Okanagan Screen Awards and HorrorFest film festivals, supporting local filmmakers.
Mike Pedersen - Producer & Audio
Mike is a Kelowna-based producer and storyteller with over 20 years of experience in film, podcasting, music, and television. He began his career producing and engineering music in a professional studio, but his passion for narrative led him into podcast and documentary film production. Mike has produced and shaped thousands of podcast episodes and worked extensively in location sound and post-production audio for documentaries and television. With a deep commitment to authentic, community-rooted storytelling, he combines creative vision and technical expertise to bring powerful stories to life across multiple platforms.
Jordan Kerton – Executive Producer
Jordan, a recreation therapist & adaptive outdoor leader from Vernon BC, has spent nearly 25 years working with children, adults, & seniors living with disabilities. She specializes in outdoor adventure and nature-based therapy, using wilderness experiences to support healing & inclusion. Jordan has participated in notable adaptive expeditions, including the Standing Spirit Project on the West Coast Trail and the Climb for Community Living on Mount Kilimanjaro. Through this work, she is committed to expanding access to outdoor spaces for people of all abilities. Jordan is the founder of Vernon Adaptive, a nonprofit program focused on adaptive paddling & hiking.
Director’s Statement
The Standing Spirit is more relevant now than when this project first began in 2003. After living through a global pandemic, the film feels like a reminder of how deeply we need one another in order to live fully and thrive. It asks us to return to nature, to rekindle passions that may have been buried or set aside, and to remember that no matter our circumstances, anything is possible, though sometimes we need a little help along the way.
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. After shoulder surgery and an extended stay at GF Strong Rehabilitation Center, James met Brad through the BC Paraplegics Association’s peer program. With gentle persuasion and infectious enthusiasm, Brad encouraged James to step into mentorship within his community.
That encouragement led James to found Accessible Okanagan, a nonprofit organization providing peer support and accessible activities for people living with disabilities throughout the Okanagan Valley. What began as two people meeting for coffee each week has grown into a community of more than 700 members, spanning from Kamloops to Osoyoos. Brad’s impact continues to ripple outward in ways he may never have fully known.
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. I was completely captivated.
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. This story is not only about resilience, connection, and our relationship to the natural world, but about carrying forward the spirit of a man who believed deeply in the power of community, mentorship, and shared experience. 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, partnership benefits, or both. Recognition is entirely optional, and supporters may also choose to 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.
Partnership Opportunities
Presenting Partner
$10,000+
Presenting Partners play a lead role in helping bring The Standing Spirit Project to completion.
Recognition Opportunities
Featured Presenting Partner acknowledgment in the opening credits
Executive Producer Acknowledgment (Honorary)
Prominent logo placement in the end credits
Top-tier placement on the film website and in press materials
Engagement & Access
Early access to the rough cut and final cut
Invitation to private screenings and impact events
Alignment with the film's themes of accessibility, inclusion, and connection to nature
Brand Integration
Opportunity for organic product placement where appropriate to the story
Optional co-created social or editorial content
Gold Partner
$5,000–$9,999
Gold Partners provide significant support and are recognized as key contributors to the film.
Recognition Opportunities
Co-Producer Acknowledgment (Honorary)
Opening credits acknowledgment: "Produced with the support of [Partner Name]"
Prominent logo placement in the end credits
Gold Partner listing on the film website and press materials
Engagement & Access
Invitation to private screenings
Access to select behind-the-scenes photo and video assets
Brand Integration
Opportunity for organic product placement where appropriate to the story
Silver Partner
$1,000–$4,999
Silver Partners help ensure the film reaches completion and support the broader impact of the project.
Recognition Opportunities
Associate Producer Acknowledgment (Honorary)
End credits placement under Production Partners
Logo inclusion on the film website and select promotional assets
Acknowledgment in the official press kit
Engagement & Access
Invitation to private screenings
Limited access to behind-the-scenes assets
Community Partner
Up to $999
Community Partners help expand awareness of the project and its mission.
Recognition Opportunities
Listing on the film website
Special acknowledgment in the end credits
Engagement & Access
Invitation to private screenings
Thank-you mention in select social media posts
Contact us:
Mike Pedersen - Producer
Phone: (250) 801-8445
Email: mike@eightyfiveaudio.com
Want to Learn More?