James Andrew loves the open road. Over the years, he’s driven hundreds of thousands of kilometres of it, hauling logs from places like Merritt and Fort St. James, B.C.

“Why do carvers carve? Because they love it,” the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh entrepreneur said. “I love driving. At 61, I’m still driving, and I still love it, so it’s a passion thing.”

James launched his Squamish-based business, Grizzly Bear Contracting, around 2010. Since then, he’s bought and sold two logging trucks and pivoted from the forestry industry into dump trucking.

It’s always been a solo operation, but that hasn’t hampered Grizzly Bear Contracting’s success.

“As soon as they know that you’re a reliable, dependable person, the phone just doesn’t stop ringing,” James said. “To have people constantly call you for your truck or your services – that’s a big kudos for any company. “

Asked if he has any advice for other aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs, James advised them to surround themselves with successful people, and that “going into a business doing something you love to do is what you’ll be most successful at.”

While James now has his eyes on retirement, he said he still has thousands of kilometres of open road he’d like to drive first. Until then – if you’ve got dump trucking needs in Squamish or along the Sea to Sky Corridor, email Grizzly Bear Contracting today: grizzlybearcontracting@gmail.com.