yes, it was a grizzly. i've seen hundreds of black bears, and this was a grizzly. it was on the toba inlet on the mainland. no one in the recent past has seen a grizzly on vancouver island, but to think that one would never go there is a stretch. its an easy swim to the island, and its possible. there have been sightings of grizzlies on malcom island ( years ago)which is very close to vancouver island.