Building Toward Conservation: Baffin Steps Up for the Bruce Trail

At Baffin, we’ve always believed that adventure begins with your footwear – but it doesn’t end there. As explorers, hikers, and nature lovers, we know that every step we take leaves a mark. That’s why we’re proud to be leaving behind something meaningful on the Bruce Trail, Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath: not footprints, but boot brush stations.

In 2023, we launched the Trail Conservancy Project in partnership with the Bruce Trail Conservancy, an initiative to build and install 100 boot brush stations along the Bruce Trail by 2025. Designed to help stop the spread of invasive species, these stations are part of a larger mission to protect the biodiversity of the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere and one of Ontario’s most treasured natural spaces.

This Earth Day, Baffin employees will team up with Bruce Trail Conservancy staff and volunteers to construct the final 40 boot brush stations.

What’s the Big Deal About Invasive Species?

Imagine hiking a gorgeous stretch of the Bruce Trail, unaware that your boots are carrying tiny stowaways – seeds from invasive species. The spread of invasive species is one of the top threats to Niagara Escarpment biodiversity. The most common found along the Bruce Trail are Garlic Mustard, European Buckthorn, or Dog-Strangling Vine. These non-native species aren’t just plants out of place; they’re ecological bullies. With no natural predators and strong survival tactics, they crowd out local flora, erase habitats, and transform diverse ecosystems into single-species monocultures.

But there’s a surprisingly simple solution: brush your boots.

Meet the Boot Brush Station

Boot Brush Stations have been shown to significantly decrease the spread of invasive species along trail corridors. They encourage hikers to brush off their boots before their journey – an effort to knock these seeds off their footwear before they continue the spread through the native ecosystem of the Bruce Trail.

Crafted from cedar and standing at about three feet tall, each Boot Brush Station features a sturdy scrubber base and a large, educational display. These stations teach trail users why it matters to give their boots a good clean before setting off or heading home. It’s a small moment of mindfulness that makes a big impact.

A Collective Effort, Rooted in Community

This initiative isn’t just a corporate project – it’s a passion project. Over the past three years, Baffin employees have donated their time and energy to build these stations themselves, right at our Stoney Creek production facility.

We’re not doing this alone, either. Turkstra Lumber, a long-standing Ontario business rooted in Hamilton and the Niagara region, has generously donated the materials to help us build.

Why We Do It

Baffin’s commitment to Real-World Testing™ means we rely on wild spaces to push our products to the limit, from polar expeditions to peaceful forest hikes. The Trail Conservancy Project is our way of giving back to those very environments that inspire and challenge us. By protecting the trail today, we can keep exploring it tomorrow.

To learn more about how you can support the Bruce Trail Conservancy, visit brucetrail.org.