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Inthesummerof2010TimMcGradytookovermanage-mentofanundevelopedeco-lodgeonafar-flungstretchofB.C.coast.Littledidthe48-year-oldComoxresidentknowatthetimethatwithinlessthanfouryearshewouldhelpturnthebusi-nessintooneofthemosttalkedaboutFirstNationssuccessstoriesintheprovince.ManypeopledidntthinkwecouldsucceedsaysMcGrady.Op-eratingaworld-classeco-culturalresortinaremoteB.C.communityhassignificantchallenges.Butweredoingitandtheimpacthasbeenunbelievablypositive.McGradyisthemanageroftheSpiritBearLodgelocatedinthevillageofKlemturoughly500kilometresnorthofVancouver.Ahamletpopulation450KlemtuissituatedintheheartoftheGreatBearRainforestandistheseatoftheKitasooXaixaisFirstNation.SinceMcGradytookoveroperationofthelodgepeoplefromaroundtheworldhavebeenflockinginever-greaternumberstoKlemtuinthehopesofgettingaglanceoftheareasmostfamousresidenttheelusivewhiteSpiritBear.AlsoknownastheKermodetheSpiritBearisablackbearwitharecessivegenethatgivesitalight-colouredcoat.Theanimalsshyna-turesmallpopulationandlimiteddistributionhavemadeitoneofthemostwidelysoughtcreaturesontheplanetbywildlifeenthusiasts.WithMcGradyshelpandvisionthelodgecollectivelyownedbytheFirstNationhasbeenprovidingmuch-neededjobsandasourceofrevenueforthecommunity.IthasalsobecomeanimportantnodethroughwhichtheKitasooconductecologicalandconserva-tionactivities.AsaresultofallthisKlemtuhasexperiencedasignifi-cantrevitalization.Asmatteringofworkexperi-enceshashelpedMcGradyexecutehischallengingrole.After15yearsworkingasaseakayakingguideinbothMexicoandBritishColumbiaMcGradywashiredtoworkatB.C.sKnightInletLodgethefirstgrizzlybearviewingresortinCanada.AftercuttinghisteethinthiscrucialroleMcGradyspentseveralyearshelp-ingbigcorporationswiththeirlead-ershipandteam-buildingefforts.Butby2009McGradyyearnedtogetbacktodoingworkthatwasmoreenvironmentalandgrass-rootsoriented.WhenfriendswhohadbeenmanagingKlemtusna-scentlodgesuggestedhetakeovertherolehesawanopportunity.AtthetimethisplacewasjuststumblingalongMcGradysays.Ithadalotofthepiecesbutevery-thingwasoutofstep.IsawwhatwasneededtomakeitworkandIwentforit.SincethentheSpiritBearLodgehasgrownbyleapsandbounds.TheresortwhichpreviouslyranjustatpeakbearviewingseasonbetweenlateAugustandearlyOctoberisnowopeninJune.NewculturalexperiencesarealsoonofferlikethissummersInSearchofBukwusTourwhichinadditiontosomebearviewingwilltakeinar-easwherethelegendarySasquatchknownlocallyasBukwushasbeenspotted.ForMcGradywhocanbeseenonanygivendayatthelodgeman-agingitsmultifariousoperationslikeasymphonyconductortheresorthashugepotentialtobothgrowandsustainablybenefitthecommunityanditsenvironment.ItsagreatadventureMcGradysays.Thatswhatmylifehasalwaysbeenabout.Andthisisonaprettygrandscale.Icantwaittoseewhereitallgoes.HInthevillageofKlemtuaFirstNationscommunityhitsitsstrideBYJOHNZADASituatedintheheartoftheGreatBearRainforestSpiritBearLodgetreatsitsgueststoKitasooXaixaisFirstNationcultureandhospitalityandecotourismadventures.Manypeopledidntthinkwecouldsucceed.Butweredoingitandtheimpacthasbeenunbelievablypositive.PHOTOSSUPPLIED26SUMMER2014BCFerriesonBoardEncountersOUTPOSTS