In 2011, as a teenager, photographer Jacques Plante came across a cover that read: national geographic Featuring British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest. It was a defining moment in my life when I fell in love with that image and the story of a rare polar bear living in one of the world’s last unspoiled wilderness areas.
“That cover photo is still one of my favorites,” Plant says. “The photographer was Paul Nicklen, and I am forever grateful to him for introducing me to this place. At that moment, something sparked inside me. Over time, it became clear that this rainforest was not just a place I wanted to visit, but a place I needed to return to again and again.”
Now, more than 10 years later, its charm is Great Bear Spiritan immersive journey into the rainforest and the fragile world of Spirit Bear, the elusive white-furred Kermode bear. Although only 100 remain, they are powerful symbols of both the richness and fragility of the natural world.
“They’re rarer than most people think,” Plant says. “Personally, I think there are very few individuals above 50, and even that estimate may be too high. Research is incredibly difficult. How do you study such an elusive animal in such a vast landscape of fjords, coves, and hidden ecosystems?”
“Many of the Spirit Bear photos you see online are actually just two or three famous bears that frequent a particular area,” he continues. “to find” new Bears are very challenging. I’ve spent countless days searching with the team at Spirit Bear Lodge, and most of the time we arrive empty-handed. But sometimes you win a gold medal, and at that moment all your efforts pay off. ”
Plant enlisted the help of indigenous communities, who generously shared their traditional knowledge with him. The plant was adopted by Charlie Mason, hereditary chief of the Kitasoo/Xai’xai First Nation in the Klemtu community.
“It’s not just about going into this wilderness and spending time with bears,” Plant explained. “The people here know the land and its inhabitants better than anyone. When you take the time to listen to them and learn from them, everything changes, including how you see animals, how you move through the landscape, and how you act. Yes, I came away with an extraordinary experience, but at the same time I also gained friendships, wisdom, and a sense of family that I never expected.”
Spirit of the Great Bear features photos of Plant’s wild and memorable encounters with polar bears and other unusual species found in the Great Bear Rainforest, including grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, killer whales, and humpback whales.
“If even one more person reads this book and becomes interested in conservation or photography, I think that’s a victory,” he says. “But my deeper hope is that this work will reach the hearts of wild souls, those who long for a new passion, a new place, or a journey to a world they have never experienced before. And ultimately, I hope that readers will come away understanding that this monumental habitat requires continued protection, not just now, but on an ongoing basis, forever.”
Great Bear Spirit Published by Figure 1, it is available for pre-order now.
Image credits: Photo from “Spirit of the Great Bear” © 2026 Jack Plant. Figure 1 Reprinted with permission from Publishing.
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