STANDING
SPIRIT
PROJECT
The Untold Story of Brad Jacobsen
Synopsis
In 2005 Brad Jacobsen, a C5 quadriplegic, and a team of renegades set out to conquer the grueling West Coast Trail. Through rough terrain, literal blood, sweat and tears, this team accomplished the impossible and Brad, to this day, remains the ONLY quadriplegic in the world to complete the infamous trail.
PITCH TRAILER
Who is Brad Jacobsen?
If you are living with or sustained a spinal cord injury in British Columbia, you would know his face and the name Brad Jacobsen. He would shake his head and laugh if we were to say he was an inspiration, but that is what he is.
Brad was born in 1969, a sports loving, creative and adventurous spirit. At the age of 25, during a camping trip in Pemberton, Brad broke his neck diving for a frisbee, leaving him a quadriplegic.
In true Brad fashion, he continued to live life according to his own rules. Spearheading the peer program at GF Strong rehabilitation centre, Brad would be the first person you would see in a wheelchair after an injury. A friendly face and calm presence, Brad had an inherent ability to bring people together and yet each individual felt like they were the most significant person in the room.
About The West Coast Trail
The West Coast Trail (WCT) is a legendary, 75-km challenging backpacking route on Vancouver Island, BC, known for its rugged beauty, deep forests, beaches, ladders, cable cars, and historical significance as a former shipwreck rescue trail. Managed by Parks Canada within Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, it offers stunning coastal views but demands serious backcountry skills, typically taking 6-8 days and requiring permits booked months in advance for its May-September season, with mandatory orientations and strict tide-chart adherence.
The Filmmakers
Chelsea McEvoy
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
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
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.
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 few months 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 is going to finish it for me.”
One week later, a metal briefcase containing 69 tapes arrived at my door.
Completing The Standing Spirit is both an honour and a responsibility. This film 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
Partnership Opportunities
Support for this project is administered through a registered Canadian charity.
Gold Partner
$7,500–$10,000
Gold Partners play a key role in bringing the film to completion and are recognized as lead supporting partners on the film.
Partner Recognition
Opening credits acknowledgment
“Produced with the support of [Partner Name]”Prominent logo placement in end credits
Gold Partner recognition on the film website and in press materials
Engagement & Access
Invitation to private rough cut and final cut screenings
Access to select behind the scenes photo and video assets for partner use
Priority association with the film’s core themes of accessibility, community, and connection to nature
Brand Integration
Opportunity for organic product placement where editorially appropriate
Optional co branded social cutdowns, with final editorial control retained by the filmmakers
Silver Partner
$4,000–$7,500
Silver Partners provide meaningful production support and are recognized as production partners on the film.
Partner Recognition
End credits placement under Production Partners
Logo inclusion on the film website and select promotional assets
Recognition in the official press kit
Engagement & Access
Invitation to private film screening
Access to limited behind the scenes assets
Brand Integration
Optional product placement when natural to the story and approved by the filmmakers
Bronze Partner
$1,500–$3,500
Bronze Partners support the completion of the film at a community level and help expand its reach.
Partner Recognition
End credits placement under Community Supporters
Listing on the film website
Engagement & Access
Invitation to private screening
Thank you mention in select social media posts