About the Bruce Trail Conservancy
We conserve, restore and manage land along the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere to protect its ecosystems for the benefit of all. We make it available to explore by foot along the Bruce Trail and our protected natural areas.
We are a member-driven, volunteer-based, charitable organization, governed by a 19-member board of directors.
Working with each of our nine Bruce Trail Clubs, we are committed to caring for the Bruce Trail and to preserving land along its route.
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About the Bruce Trail Conservancy
We conserve, restore and manage land along the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere to protect its ecosystems for the benefit of all. We make it available to explore by foot along the Bruce Trail and our protected natural areas.
We are a member-driven, volunteer-based, charitable organization, governed by a 19-member board of directors. Working with each of our nine Bruce Trail Clubs, we are committed to caring for the Bruce Trail and to preserving land along its route.
Our Mission
Preserving a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever.
Our Vision
The Bruce Trail secured within a permanently protected natural corridor along the Niagara Escarpment.
Our Values
Commitment
We encourage, foster and benefit from the commitment of excellence from our supporters – members, volunteers, donors and staff – to achieve our vision.
Integrity
We conduct ourselves in accordance with the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour and ethics.
Stewardship
We embrace our role in responsible stewardship of the Bruce Trail, the lands in our care, and the organization’s resources, for the benefit of all including future generations.
Collaboration
We work cooperatively with landowners, funders and other partners, share best scientific and business practices, and maximize our volunteer resources.
Respect
We show respect for all individuals and groups with whom we interact, recognize our special relationship with landowners, and acknowledge the traditional homeland of the Indigenous peoples of the Escarpment.
Annual Impact Report
Our Annual Impact Report is a wonderful celebration and collection of past years’ successes. Through the generosity of our members, volunteers and donors, we have taken bold strides in preserving the Niagara Escarpment, and in caring for Bruce Trail for future generations.
Annual Impact Report 2023
Annual Impact Report 2022
Annual Impact Report 2021
Annual Impact Report 2020
Financial Statements
We work hard to ensure the best value for our supporters’ dollars. Over the past fiscal year we spent 26.2 per cent of donated funds on administration and fundraising. This means 73.8 cents of each dollar goes directly to the protection of the Niagara Escarpment conservation corridor.
Financial Statements 2023
Financial Statements 2022
Financial Statements 2021
Financial Statements 2020
Strategic Plan
We are proud to share our 2030 Strategy. The strategic plan serves as our guide to decision-making and offers a clear direction on how the organization will fulfill its vision and mission, while living its values.
Land Acknowledgement
The Bruce Trail Conservancy wishes to acknowledge and honour the lands of the Niagara Escarpment as the traditional territory of Indigenous peoples. In both spirit and partnership, we recognize and thank the Anishinaabek, Huron-Wendat, Tionontati, Neutral Nation, Haudenosaunee, Métis, and all who provided stewardship of these lands over millennia.
Recognition of the contributions of Indigenous peoples is consistent with our commitment to making the promise of Truth and Reconciliation real in our communities. We are grateful for the opportunity to live, work, and play here and thank all those who have served and continue to serve as caretakers of this special place.
We are also mindful of broken covenants and the need to reconcile with all our allies and relations. Together, may we care for this land and each other, drawing upon the strength of our mutual history through peace and friendship, to create a lasting legacy of conservation for generations to come.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The Bruce Trail Conservancy is committed to preserving a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever. To make that a reality, we must do all that we can to help make the Bruce Trail and our organization a welcoming and inclusive space. We value and welcome diversity, and aim to be an accessible and inclusive community that honours, respects, and reflects the various ways people connect with the Bruce Trail and the Bruce Trail Conservancy
We recognize:
Social inequities can impact all aspects of our lives, including engagement with the outdoors, and with environmental and conservation organizations.
We all have different lived experiences both on and off the Trail that are influenced by race, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical/mental ability, socio-economic status, and many other visible and invisible identities.
Systemic barriers prevent many people from hiking, exploring nature, and engaging with conservation organizations, and many identities have been marginalized, threatened and under-represented in these spaces.
The Bruce Trail Conservancy has a responsibility to remove barriers, address bias and promote inclusion so that all people have the chance to discover and enjoy the benefits of our outdoors spaces and be a valued part of our community.
We commit to:
Fostering, promoting and celebrating an inclusive outdoors where people of all identities are represented and feel welcome.
Cultivating an inclusive culture and environment at the Bruce Trail Conservancy where staff, volunteers and program participants of all identities are encouraged and feel valued.
Identifying and working to remove barriers to accessibility and inclusion in Bruce Trail Conservancy places and spaces.
Seeking and including a variety of voices, perspectives, stories and imagery in our communications that reflect the rich diversity of the communities we serve.
Embedding diversity, equity and inclusion in all plans and strategies.
Approaching this work with respect, transparency, and a willingness to learn and adapt.
We believe:
Exploring nature is good for people’s minds and bodies, and the Bruce Trail is a powerful way to connect with the Niagara Escarpment’s natural wonders.
Everyone has a right to enjoy and to conserve our natural environment, and should be free to do so without experiencing discrimination.
Everyone should feel represented and included in outdoor spaces and the opportunities they provide.
Just as natural systems are more resilient and better able to adapt to changing conditions when they are biologically diverse, organizations are stronger when they are inclusive and diverse.
Fulfilling the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s mission of preserving a ribbon of wilderness, for everyone, forever requires the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives.
We are in the process of developing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan that will provide concrete steps and goals for this work at the Bruce Trail Conservancy. In the meantime we continue to be guided by these commitments, our values, and our Anti-Discrimination Policy. Directions will continue to evolve as the Bruce Trail Conservancy learns. We will update this page as our plans evolve and look forward to sharing our progress.
Share your thoughts, observations and recommendations surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion with us and help us improve. If you would like to engage with us in our diversity, equity and inclusion work, work with us to share your story with the Bruce Trail Conservancy community, or are interested in partnering with the Bruce Trail Conservancy, please feel encouraged to reach out.
Accessibility
The Bruce Trail Conservancy is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity. We are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by meeting accessibility requirements and preventing and removing barriers to accessibility.
Bruce Trail
While there are a few portions of the Bruce Trail within Conservation Areas that are wheelchair accessible, the majority of the Trail is rugged and suitable for foot traffic only. We encourage people using a wheelchair to visit individual Park and Conservation Area websites for more information.
Customer Service
We provide training to all employees and volunteers who work with the public, which includes:
- An overview of the Accessibility of Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005;
- An overview of current customer services standards;
- How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or support person;
- How to interact and communicate with people with various disabilities;
- How to assist visitors who are having difficulty accessing our office; and
- How to assist a person with a disability having difficulty accessing our goods and services.
Communication
When requested, we will provide information and communication in an accessible format. We will consult with the person to determine accessibility needs and the most appropriate accessible format or communication support. Accessible formats and communication supports will be provided in a timely manner. If you have a request, please email info@brucetrail.org, subject line AODA or call 1-800-665-4453.
Feedback Process
If you wish to provide feedback on the way we communicate with people with disabilities you can contact us by phone, email or mail, and we’ll respond within 5 days.
- Email: info@brucetrail.org, subject line AODA
- Phone: 1-800-665-4453
- Mail: PO Box 857, Hamilton ON L8N 3N9 attn: AODA
Support Persons and Service Animals
We welcome people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person or a service animal into our office. Private landowners have the right to set rules for their own property in regards to animals, including service animals. We encourage all hikers to visit our website to learn where dogs are, and are not permitted.
Hiring Practices and Workplace Information
We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the application process. If an applicant or successful candidate requests an accommodation, we will discuss their needs and make adjustments to support them.
If an employee asks for workplace information in an accessible format, we will make that information available in the requested format.
Stay Informed
Our Team
Michael McDonald (he/him), Chief Executive Officer
Michael McDonald is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC), one of Ontario’s largest land trusts and steward of Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath, the iconic Bruce Trail. Before Michael joined the BTC as CEO in 2019, he spent over ten years as a volunteer for the organization. Michael leads a talented team of staff and volunteers who manage 15,000+ acres of protected natural lands along the Niagara Escarpment and over 1,300 kilometres of trail. Under Michael’s leadership and with the support of the BTC’s staff, Board of Directors, and over 1,400 volunteers, the BTC has been regularly named one of Canada’s Top 100 Charities by Charity Intelligence.
Michael is a proud graduate of McMaster University and has earned a Master Naturalist Certificate from Lakehead University. In addition to his early volunteer efforts for the BTC, Michael was one of the founding members of the Hamilton Burlington Trails Foundation and previously sat on the board of the Ontario Trails Council. He formerly achieved the rank of Private in the Canadian Armed Forces (reserves) and is a certified Hike Leader in Ontario. Michael is a lover of nature and deeply values people’s personal connections to natural environments.
Land Securement
Antoin Diamond (she/her)
Vice President of Land Securement
Joel Swagerman (he/him)
Land Securement Planner
Bess Nakashima (she/her)
Landowner Engagement Specialist
Conservation & Trail
Adam Brylowski (he/him)
Manager of Conservation & Trail
Scott Langley (he/him)
Manager of GIS & Cartographic Services
Mara McHaffie (she/her)
Land Stewardship Coordinator & Ecologist
Brian Popelier (he/him)
Land Stewardship Coordinator & Ecologist
Lyndsey Wilkerson (she/her)
Restoration Project Specialist
Fund Development
Marsha Russell (she/her)
Vice President of Fund Development
Heather Anderson (she/her)
Development Officer
Claire Davidson (she/her)
Database Administrator
Gloria Vidovich (she/her)
Planned Giving & Donor Relations Officer
Allison Wright (she/her)
Donor Services Assistant & Office Manager
Operations
Jackie Randle (she/her)
Vice President of Operations
Ali Schofield (she/her)
Manager of Communications
Brooke Henry (she/her)
Communications Coordinator
Julia Perna (she/they)
Office Assistant
Community Engagement
Laura Tuohy (she/her)
Manager of Community Engagement
Ryan Mickeloff (he/him)
Member Engagement Coordinator
Shimeem Al-Ayash (she/her)
Outreach Assistant
Meghan Croll (she/her)
Volunteer Coordinator
Finance
Katharine Albrecht (she/her)
Director of Finance
Donna Miljic (she/her)
Accountant
Interested in joining our team? See employment opportunities.
Board of Directors
The Bruce Trail Conservancy is governed by a 19-member board of directors, elected by the Bruce Trail Conservancy membership. Nine of the 19 board members are recommended for nomination by the Bruce Trail Clubs and are expected to have an affinity to one of our nine Clubs. Directors are elected for a term of three years and may serve a total of two consecutive terms, up to a maximum of six years in total. Directors must demonstrate a commitment to the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s mission and values, and a willingness to be open-minded and to think strategically. As a whole, the board seeks the appropriate balance of 10 core competencies.
The role of the Board of Directors is guided by:
Bruce Trail Conservancy Policies
Nominations for the Board Policy
Bruce Trail Clubs
The Bruce Trail Conservancy includes nine member Clubs, each corresponding to a section of the Bruce Trail. Each Bruce Trail Club is entirely volunteer-run, and is responsible for maintaining, building and rerouting Trail, caring for the land, working with local landowners, organizing hikes and work parties, and promoting the Bruce Trail and the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s conservation work.
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Contact Us
Bruce Trail Conservancy Office and Store
55 Head St, Unit 101
Dundas, ON L9H 3H8
(See location on Google Maps)
Phone: 905-529-6821 or 1-800-665-4453
Fax: 905-628-8081
Regular Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Mailing Address:
Bruce Trail Conservancy
PO Box 857, Hamilton, ON L8N 3N9