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 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 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
Bryan Kellam (he/him)
Office Assistant
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 three consecutive terms, up to a maximum of nine years in total. Directors must demonstrate a commitment to the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s mission and values, 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:
Leah is an experienced public policy executive, with a proven track record over her 30-year career with the Ontario government of shaping new strategic directions and plans, working collaboratively with a broad array of stakeholders, and leading complex initiatives. She has highly developed strategic communications and partnership-building skills and has demonstrated success in building high-performing teams and organizations. She is currently involved in various projects as an independent consultant.
Leah is a certified Board Director (ICD.D) and currently sits on the board of the Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto.
Leah has been involved in the Bruce Trail Conservancy for more than a decade, as a member and donor, and more. She sees the Bruce Trail corridor as a treasure for all Ontarians, and the work of the Conservancy as representing our commitment to the natural environment and to protecting it for responsible and healthy use for generations to come. She first joined the Bruce Trail Conservancy Board in 2016. She stepped off the Board in late 2018 to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Bruce Trail Conservancy on an interim basis, during which time she gained a new appreciation of and an even deeper commitment to the mission of the organization. She was brought back on to the Board in June 2019 and became Chair in January 2020.
Graham has been an active BTC Member for ten years and a Toronto Bruce Trail Club Board Member for five years. He has served as Volunteer Coordinator, Vice President and as President since 2018. Graham has extensive non-profit and industry association board experience which includes Supply Chain Management Association, National Board of Directors, as well as serving on Finance, Nomination & Governance (Chair), Leadership Development and CEO Search Committees; Mountain Equipment Coop – Board Nominating Committee Member at Large. Graham has a strong interest in board governance.
Financial experience includes significant profit and loss responsibility and development of annual operating budgets. Graham currently works for the Ontario Public Service and prior to that in the Canadian resource industry. He graduated from the University of British Columbia with a BComm.
Graham completed the Bruce Trail End-to-End in 2014 and may eventually complete his second End-to-End in 2022. Graham is inspired by the commonality of interest and dedication that unites all Bruce Trail Members, users and volunteers.
Heidi has been a member of the BTC since 2012. In 2016 she joined the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club’s board, serving first as webmaster, then vice president, and currently as club director. She can also be seen helping out at various club events and fundraisers such as Bruce Trail Day, the annual End-to-End, and selling Christmas Trees. Heidi joined the BTC board in October 2020, and in 2021, she became the Finance Co-Chair of the BTC’s Finance and Risk Committee.
Heidi is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Waterloo. She has over 20 years of experience in the municipal finance sector, most of which has been in leadership roles. She has worked with financial and program policies and legislation, multiple provincially funded programs, as well as facilitated the development of a
multi-billion dollar annual budget. Heidi has been a director on the Association of Public Health Business Administrators’ Executive Committee and a member of the Canadian Public Health Association’s Finance Committee. Heidi strongly values having a “ribbon of wilderness” in southern Ontario, and is excited to leverage her municipal background and club experience to advance the Bruce Trail Conservancy’s key goals and mandate.
Gail was a Partner and Vice-President Operations with Larus Technologies, a data analytics software development and research company. She also has significant professional and corporate consulting experience in technology, strategic planning and governance.
Gail is an experienced Board Director, having served on various for-profit, not-for-profit, and volunteer organizations, including health care and health research institutions, and credit unions. She has taken on board leadership roles in Fundraising, Risk Management, HR/Governance, and other committees. She currently serves on the Accerta Board, a Certified B Corp Social Enterprise organization.
Gail has recently returned to Toronto and is a member of the Toronto Club. She enjoys the companionship and enthusiasm of like-minded BTC members as they explore and reflect upon our shared access to the natural beauty from Tobermory to Niagara. She is passionate about supporting the BTC’s conservation mandate, the membership and the surrounding communities.
Nadia is a business professional with a career spanning over 20 years, mainly spent in the banking industry at BMO Financial Group. She has worked in various corporate areas including Investor Relations, Office of Strategic Management, and Commercial Banking. She has extensive experience in creating strategic plans and executing against them, and deep knowledge in finance, risk management and governance. She has a successful track record of building and leading teams, and partnering and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver results. Nadia holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree and MBA degree.
Nadia has been a supporter, member and volunteer of the Bruce Trail Conservancy for many years. When she retired from her corporate career and moved to her farm, she joined the local Beaver Valley Bruce Trail Club and has been a Beaver Valley Club Board member for over 3 years. Working with the Club, Nadia has gained the grounding and understanding of what it takes to make a great trail and steward the lands, develop interesting hike programs and events, and connect with members, volunteers, landowners and local agencies.
Nadia is an avid hiker and outdoors enthusiast, and is committed to the mission of the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
Bill and Melody Duron are 30 year Mulmur residents on the Niagara Escarpment. The Main Trail and Melodonna Side Trail run through their property. They have 5 children and 9 grandchildren who all appreciate nature and hiking.
Bill’s career in Toronto started as President of Tourism Toronto, the destination marketing organization for tourism and conventions in the city. He held the position for 20 years. During that time, he led the tourism marketing effort which accelerated Toronto’s popularity as a major world tourism destination. Bill also advanced public policy and funding for the development of major tourism and community events and facilities such as the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. He also represented Canada’s tourism industry in negotiating the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the United States, authored a Canadian Tourism Strategy which led to the creation of the Canadian Tourism Commission, and was elected as the first non US President of Washington D.C. based Destinations International. Upon resignation, Bill was appointed a Chair of the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership and was a given an award for Life Time Achievement by the Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
Bill was then appointed Publisher of Toronto’s popular and authoritative city magazine, Toronto Life, and later became President of the parent company, Key Media Ltd., owner of Where Magazines, Fashion, Quill and Quire and Fashion File TV. After selling the company to St. Joseph Communications, Bill became independent advisor to the company while becoming CEO of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and Royal Horse Show, a 10 day event that attracts 350,000 people, 6500 farm animals and 1800 horses. Under his leadership, the Royal achieved record attendance, became the most prestigious indoor horse show in North America and also exceeded financial targets. He also formed and became Chairman of York Bay Marine Corp. which operates Toronto Island Marina, Island Yacht Club, Hanlan’s Point Dock Wall and Yonge Street Dock Wall. These facilities provide mooring and marine services for approximately 600 recreational boats, along with extensive food and beverage operations.
Bill’s voluntary service includes Board, Executive Committee, and Chair appointments to the United Way of Greater Toronto, Toronto Board of Trade, Greenbelt Foundation, RCMP Foundation, Canadian National Sportsmen Shows, Opera Atelier, and Headwaters Healthcare Foundation. He is also the co producer of the Jim Cuddy Jamboree, an event with the lead musician of the iconic Blue Rodeo iconic band, which raises funds for conservation and arts and culture within the Dufferin Caledon area.
Michael Edney moved back to southern Ontario in 2013 and soon got involved in the Bruce Trail. Since his move to Owen Sound he has hiked the Trail end- to end with his wife, performed sweeping duties for numerous organized hikes in the Sydenham section and joined the Sydenham Bruce Tail Club’s board of directors as treasurer, a position he continues to hold. He especially enjoys hiking in the hardwood forests that are so plentiful along the Trail.
Michael was a cereal chemist for 25 years in the federal government’s Grain Research Laboratory in Winnipeg where he researched malt barley quality. During his career Michael published extensively and travelled the world presenting his research results at scientific conferences and providing technical expertise on Canadian malting barley for marketing missions.
Jesse brings her background in law, governance, and strategic leadership – alongside her passion for the environment and conservation – to the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
Jesse is currently the Manager of the Bay Area Climate Change Council, which is an environmental collective working to advance climate action in the Hamilton and Burlington Bay Area.
Prior to her current work on climate policy, Jesse gained nearly a decade of experience practicing law with an expertise in litigation, employment law, and human rights law. She has acted as a legal advisor to numerous not-for-profit boards in the areas of employment and human rights law. Jesse graduated from the University of Toronto with degrees in environmental ethics and law.
Jesse enjoys hiking and trail running on the Bruce Trail near her home in Hamilton, and she supported The Nous Bruce Project all-female relay running team in 2016 as a night runner.
Robin is a tourism professional and community builder with a passion for hiking, nature and conservation. She has served on diverse boards and is an advocate for sustainable tourism.
Robin has served in government and public agency leadership roles including Assistant Deputy Minister for the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development & Trade, President & CEO of Destination Ontario, and CEO of the Tourism Partnership of Niagara. In these roles, Robin derived great satisfaction creating economic development strategies that help businesses and communities thrive. Prior to joining the public sector, Robin served in association management roles at Restaurants Canada, and Food & Consumer Products of Canada. Robin has also taught tourism management at Niagara College including courses in sustainable tourism, marketing and product development.
Currently an independent consultant, Robin specializes in strategy, marketing and business development applying her experience in economic development, tourism, hospitality and food industries.
Robin has served on both charitable and public sector boards including Chair of the Niagara District Airport Commission, Board Member of the Muskoka Airport Board, Board Member of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, Founding Chair of Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts, and Chair of Food Banks Canada.
Robin obtained her Ontario Hike Leader Certificate in 2021 and is an active hike leader for the Niagara Bruce Trail Club. Also a certified yoga instructor, Robin incorporates the principles of yoga in her hikes – nurturing our relationship with the natural world. Robin looks forward to contributing to the success of the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
Tim Johnson is senior advisor to the Niagara Parks Commission, senior advisor to the Indigenous organization Plenty Canada, artistic director of The Great Niagara Escarpment Indigenous Cultural Map, artistic producer of Celebration of Nations, and executive producer of the multiple award-winning documentary RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked The World.
As the former associate director for Museum Programs at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian, Tim managed the museum’s largest organizational group across its facilities in Washington and New York. A long list of critically acclaimed exhibits and programs were produced during his tenure, creating an era that significantly advanced the institution’s museology and reputation. Over the course of his work at the Smithsonian Tim edited, conceptualized, and strategically initiated several Smithsonian books showcasing Native arts and history, and developed and directed exhibits ranging in cost from $15,000 to $5.65 million representing myriad orientations from ethnography and history to contemporary art. Among his many highly successful Smithsonian programs was the museum’s Mother Earth Festival, curated and implemented in conjunction with Al Gore’s global Live Earth initiative held on July 7, 2007, which diffused American Indian knowledge and scientific evidence concerning environmental sustainability to thousands in attendance and millions watching around the world.
Tim also served on the executive committee of the Smithsonian’s ‘Living in the Anthropocene Initiative,’ a pan-institutional committee formed to advance public education about climate change and the implications of human conduct on the planet. Since leaving the Smithsonian, he has dedicated himself to creating legacy spaces that educate the public about the contributions made by Indigenous and other peoples underrepresented in the history of the Niagara Region and Canada.
Brian has enjoyed more than 35 years in the real estate industry in varying progressive positions. He is the former Chief Executive Officer of CreateTO, the City of Toronto’s real estate arm with a mandate to develop City buildings and lands for municipal purposes. Prior to that, Brian served as Chief Operating Officer of Mattamy Homes from 2012 to 2018 and in several management roles at Monarch Corporation from 1984 to 2012, serving as President from 2000 to 2012.
Brian is a Chartered Professional Accountant and currently serves as a Director of the C.D. Howe Institute, and as a member of the Board of Regents at Victoria University in the University of Toronto. He is also a Director of Mortgage Corporation of Canada as well as Sienna Senior Living.
Brian and his wife Colleen are outdoor enthusiasts that enjoy hiking, both at home in Ontario, including the Bruce Trail, as well as places like Alberta, Arizona, the Great Smoky Mountains, and Europe. He believes that the Bruce Trail is a legacy that should be preserved for future generations. The work of the Bruce Trail Conservancy is a key element of this effort and Brian looks forward to continuing to assist in the efforts undertaken by the organization.
Linda is an innovative marketing communications leader with multidisciplinary expertise in video, digital, content, storytelling and experiential marketing. She is an award-winning producer and director of more than 15 nature documentaries and has worked closely with conservation organizations including Parks Canada, Ontario Parks, Nature Conservancy of Canada, World Wildlife Fund and the Jane Goodall Institute.
Currently, Linda works as a digital marketing director, partnering with clients to bring their digital marketing and communications campaigns to life.
Linda and her family live in Hamilton. She enjoys spending time outdoors, whether hiking the Bruce Trail with her husband, or tending to her pollinator garden.
Jaclyn has more than a decade of experience working in the financial services industry in various roles including compliance, client relations, corporate governance, risk management, and operations. Currently, she is VP of Sustainability & Institutional Services at Burgundy Asset Management Ltd., a global investment manager. Jaclyn serves as Governor for the North York General Foundation and is Chair of the Canadian Investment Performance Council of the CFA Societies Canada. She is a former Board member of the National Society of Compliance Professionals. Jaclyn is excited and honoured to utilize her experience in corporate governance, risk management, policy implementation, and project management to assist the Bruce Trail Conservancy in meeting its strategic goals.
Jaclyn earned a Bachelor of Science, Honours, Major in Biological Sciences degree from the University of Guelph. After graduating and prior to her career in the investment industry, Jaclyn spent over five years working alongside veterinarians pursuing her passion for wildlife.
Jaclyn is an outdoors enthusiast and can frequently be seen on the Bruce Trail with her friends, mother, husband and their son.
Lori is employed as a lawyer for a major global automotive company, responsible for both legal and policy matters. She has significant experience on not-for-profit Boards and holds the ICD.D designation through the Rotman School of Business.
Lori joined the BTC in 2020. She and her husband enjoy hiking and the outdoors. She is looking forward to assisting with the collective effort to preserve the Trail as a source of enjoyment for generations to come.
Doug brings over 35 years of career progression in the accounting profession to our board. In addition to supporting local business through his Hamilton-based accountancy firm since 2011, he has also been highly involved in lending his expertise to various non-profit organizations across Ontario and Quebec for the past 26 years.
He and his family moved to Campbellville in 2012, just minutes away from the Bruce Trail. Since then, he has been a dedicated member of the Iroquoia Bruce Trail Club, serving as a Board member in various different capacities.
In addition to his experience, Doug is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and has completed the ICD-Rotman Not-for-Profit program. He is also a Chartered Professional Accountant holding a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting & Finance and a Graduate Diploma in Public Accountancy from McGill University.Doug is a passionate advocate for environmental conservation and sustainability, and is eager to apply his expertise towards driving positive change as part of the board and contributing to preserving a “ribbon of wilderness” for everyone.
Wendy is a lawyer who, until retiring recently, specialized in Business Law. She was a partner
at Gowlings LLP and, before that, of Morris/Rose/Ledgett LLP. She is a graduate of the
Directors Education Program through the Institute of Corporate Directors and has extensive experience as a director on the boards of a number of not for profit and for profit organizations including several where she has contributed her expertise in corporate governance and her energy in fundraising. Wendy has recently retired from the board of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club where she was Rear Commodore, Governance.
Wendy chairs the Bruce Trail Board’s Governance Committee. Wendy has been an active member and supporter of the Bruce Trail Conservancy for many years. She has hiked extensively on all sections of the trail, in particular in Mulmur (Dufferin Hi-Land section) where she lives part time. She is proud to be a Board member of the BTC, an organization that is contributing significantly to the conservation and protection of a ribbon of wilderness from Niagara to Tobermory, a treasure for current and future generations.
Bonni Titgemeyer is an avid hiker, end-to-ender, and Bruce Trail landowner with an insatiable interest in all things related to the Niagara Escarpment and its conservation.
Bonni is the Managing Director of The Employers’ Choice Inc. and has been in the human resources consulting field for over thirty years. In her practice, she focuses on projects that involve transactions, compensation, auditing and compliance, and organizational effectiveness. She holds five human resources professional designations including the CEBS, SPHR, CHRL, CMS, and SHRM-SCP.
She has previously served on other not-for-profit boards including as President of the Human Resources Professionals Association of Peel, and as a Director of the Community Foundation of Mississauga, Easter Seals (Ontario), Art Gallery of Mississauga, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Peel. She is the 2012 Toronto Star HR Professional of the Year.
Michael studied engineering in Montreal and retired from a 40-year career in the computer industry. He worked as a sales engineer, department manager, health industry specialist and information technology business writer.
Over the last 15 years he has volunteered in many areas. These include door-to-door fundraising, career counselling, several Board positions at a social service agency, and eight years as president of his condo corporation.
He became an outdoors enthusiast through spending the full summer at a lakeside camp in his teens ending with becoming a camp counsellor and the sailing and water-skiing instructor. After moving to Toronto, he began spending weekends in Blue Mountains twenty years ago. He joined the Blue Mountains Bruce Trail Club in 2001 where he is a trail captain, land steward and hike leader, and served as President for three years. In 2015 Michael joined the BTC Risk Committee, and in 2017 he was first elected to the BTC Board of Directors.
John has been a Bruce Trail Conservancy member for 20 years. After completing an End-to-End and experiencing the beauty of our Niagara Escarpment lands, he became active in the Peninsula Bruce Trail Club (PBTC) in order to support the Bruce Trail Conservancy mission. He is active in PBTC in land securement, conservation, and trail development and maintenance. He is also past President of PBTC.
For the last 3 years, John has been a member of the Bruce Trail Conservancy Land Securement Committee where he championed the securement of the MapleCross Nature Reserve at Cape Chin.
John is a retired Management Consultant with a focus on Process Excellence. He and his family live in Guelph, Ontario. They also have a cottage at Sauble Beach, conveniently close to the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula.
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
CLOSED Friday July 11, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Mailing Address:
Bruce Trail Conservancy
PO Box 857, Hamilton, ON L8N 3N9
