From Then to Next: GOABC at 60
Sixty years doesn’t happen by accident. GOABC has been built season by season—by members who showed up, did the work, and kept choosing the long view. This anniversary isn’t a nostalgia moment. It’s a milestone in a story still being written: a professional community committed to responsible guiding, sustainable wildlife management, and a united voice for BC’s guide outfitting industry
The First 60 Years: What We’ve Built
1) A profession with standards
Over time, GOABC helped shape what it means to do this work well—ethics, safety, mentorship, fair chase values, and professionalism that protects clients, wildlife, and the reputation of the industry.
2) A trusted voice at the table
GOABC has steadily built credibility by staying engaged—doing the research, showing up to conversations that matter, and advocating for practical, science-based approaches to wildlife management.
3) A community that holds together
This association has always been bigger than any one territory, business, or generation. The ability to gather, debate, decide, and move forward together is one of GOABC’s greatest strengths.
The Next 60 Years: What We Hope For
1) Wildlife decisions grounded in science and stewardship
A future where management is transparent, accountable, and rooted in evidence—protecting habitat, sustaining opportunity, and honoring the responsibility that comes with the privilege to guide.
2) A stronger, more connected membership
More ways for members to share knowledge, mentor the next generation, and build the kind of unity that turns hard problems into workable solutions.
3) The next generation of leaders
More guides and outfitters stepping into service—committee work, board leadership, advocacy, and community-building—so the organization stays strong long after any one term is over.
A Note of Thanks
To every member, volunteer, sponsor, staff person, board member, and partner who has carried this association forward—thank you. The work isn’t always visible, but the impact is real: late-night calls, hard conversations, steady representation, and a commitment to keep GOABC moving in the right direction.
The first 60 years proved what’s possible when people with shared values commit to the long view. The next 60 will ask for the same thing: steady leadership, a united community, and stewardship that matches the scale of the landscape we’re responsible for.
Here’s to what we’ve built—and to what we’re building next.
