Gerry Bracewell’s impact and legacy is seen in her philanthropy work, her impact on current female guides and a guiding industry that now sees more women join as guides.
Lead Mare Principles
Gerry helped shape the Lead Mare philosophy as an empowered female leader and guide. The Lead Mare principles are based on horse leadership and explain how a woman can be the leader of her own life and be a leader to others, not as a force ruling over others, but through collaborative leadership, leading from behind and empowering others, all leadership qualities of Gerry’s. Now, the Lead Mare principles are shared in Charlie Botting’s books, Lead Like a Lead Mare and Lessons From a Lead Mare. Charlie credits Gerry as one of her role models and mentors on her own Lead Mare journey.
Creating and Promoting Associations
Gerry Bracewell’s impact and legacy also comes from her philanthropy work which included work with the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association and the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia.
Gerry was one of the founding members of the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia (GOABC), in 1966, when it was known as the Western Guides Association. She and the other founding members saw the need for guiding to become more formalized and to provide an association for outfitters where they could bring a voice to government and protect their businesses. In 1980, the association had enough outfitters from across the province to officially become the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia.
At GOABC’s fiftieth annual convention in 2016, Gerry received a number of awards, including the legacy award for her and her family’s long involvement in the industry. Gerry was the oldest guide outfitter still in the business as well as the first woman to hold a guide licence and the first female guide outfitter.
Gerry receiving her Legacy Award at GOABC’s 50th annual convention
Gerry was also an ambassador for the Cariboo-Chilcotin region through the regional tourism association, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, ensuring tourism operators in the Chilcotin were well represented and campaigning on initiatives to support tourism in the region.
Mentoring New Female Guides
Gerry Bracewell is an inspiring figure for many, but for those who were mentored directly by her, they received training from the first female hunt guide in British Columbia. Some of these current female hunt guides’ stories are shared in Gerry Bracewell: Guide Outfitter, Pioneer, Matriarch.
Conservation Work
Gerry Bracewell’s impact and legacy is also seen in her conservation work.