The Trail Conservancy Project, a partnership between footwear brand Baffin and the Bruce Trail Conservancy, has been completed.
Launched in 2023 with the goal of building and installing 100 co-branded boot brush stations by 2025, the project aimed to help stop the spread of invasive species on the Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath. The initiative reached its final chapter this Earth Day, when the final 40 stations were constructed at Baffin’s Stoney Creek, Ontario, headquarters by employees, community members and representatives from the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
Invasive species are one of the most pressing threats to the biodiversity of the Niagara Escarpment, often introduced unknowingly by hikers’ footwear. Boot brush stations encourage trail users to clean their boots before and after their hikes, which has significantly reduced the transfer of non-native species. When the Trail Conservancy Project launched in 2023, there were only 35 stations along 900km of trail.
“At Baffin, we have always believed that adventure begins with your footwear, but it doesn’t end there. As explorers, hikers, and nature loves, we know that every step we take leaves a mark. With the completion of the Trail Conservancy Project, we are proud to be leaving behind something meaningful on the Bruce Trail: not just footprints, but 100 boot brush stations,” said Baffin’s brand director, Jessica Liut.
“This project demonstrates the power of community and the collective responsibility we all share in protecting and preserving natural spaces. We are honoured to support the Bruce Trail Conservancy and their work in safeguarding the trail, so that future generations can continue to explore, challenge themselves, and find peace in the same wild places we cherish today.”
Over the past three years, Baffin employees have hand-built each station.
“The Bruce Trail Conservancy is thrilled with the results of our partnership with Baffin, a Canadian company that balances exploration with a desire to care for the natural world,” said Michael McDonald, CEO of the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
“With 100 boot brush stations now installed along the Bruce Trail, we are mitigating the spread of invasive species while educating the public on which species threaten the incredible biodiversity that makes the Bruce Trail such a special place to explore and preserve. With the continued support of dedicated Canadian conservation champions like Baffin, we are protecting our ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever, together.”
Crafted from durable cedar and standing approximately three feet tall, each boot brush station features a rugged plastic scrubber base and an informative display panel. These displays educate hikers about the dangers of invasive species and promote trail-friendly habits. The stations blend function and form to deliver real environmental impact. Turkstra Lumber, a family-owned Ontario business, played a role by donating materials throughout the project’s duration.
Baffin has supported the Bruce Trail Conservancy for more than a decade, contributing to conservation programming that protects, restores, and manages land along the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere. Baffin said it will continue to support the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s ongoing efforts to preserve natural lands and ensure the trail remains a thriving biodiverse corridor.
