A Canadian Grizzly Bear Changed My Life

The Great Bear Rainforest is one of the most spectacular, pristine protected places in Canada. But it wasn't always this way. Kevin Smith, a boat captain who grew up in British Columbia and now owns and operates Maple Leaf Adventures, was instrumental in helping turn the local economy from extraction (logging) to tourism. Since then, he's guided thousands of travelers through the wilds of the rainforest and helped build relationships with the Coastal First Nations who have lived there for thousands of years and now steward the land. During the pandemic, he also helmed the largest coastal cleanup ever embarked upon, which is part of his mission to only participate in regenerative tourism. Don't miss these moments! 4:02: The beginning of the Q&A with Kevin. 4:31: What it was like growing up on a Canadian island. 6:46: Why the Great Bear Rainforest is so important. 11:00: Why regenerative tourism matters. 14:22: Kevin's Travel Tale. Meet this week’s guest Kevin Smith, owner of Maple Leaf Adventures Resources Read this episode’s show notes, including a full transcript of the episode. Explore the Great Bear Rainforest. Listen to Kevin’s TED Talk. Learn about Maple Leaf Adventures’ tours. Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week. And a special thanks to our season four Travel Tales by AFAR sponsor, Avalon Waterways, who shares our belief in the transformative power of travel. Amazon Music link: www.tryamazonmusic.com/KjWPGN