Our Story
Pine Brae was created by Blair Copland and his partner Connie Higgs and is the culmination of their life experience in the hospitality industry and outdoor adventure. Driven by a passion for sustainability and land stewardship, Blair's vision for Pine Brae was inspired by a diverse background. As a child of a family in the foreign service he was introduced to the tented safari camps in Kenya and Zimbabwe and his parents made sure the quintessential canadian experiences of canoeing and outdoor adventure were a part of his education when the family was back in Canada. In 2012 he purchased 100 acres of vacant land and Connie was brave enough to follow him on the wild adventure of building an off-grid home and making their livelihood in the wilderness. Pine Brae opened for business 8 years later in 2020.
When the project began, off-grid living was still in its infancy. They realised that they were somewhat pioneers but didn’t have to sacrifice too many modern comforts. Their home was built as a prototype for the cabins that would come later, and they learned a lot during the process. Solar power allowed them to put their home away from roads and neighbours as well as ultimately allowing for each cabin to be autonomous and far apart from one another, giving guests their own piece of wilderness to experience.
With no additional employees, Blair and Connie manage all aspects of the business and are the primary contacts for guests throughout their stay. On their off time, both are avid golfers and enjoy fishing and canoeing excursions. Guests will likely find Blair tending to his vegetable garden or maintaining the trails on the property while Connie is often caring for their chickens or working in her weaving studio @connielynn.art.
When the project began, off-grid living was still in its infancy. They realised that they were somewhat pioneers but didn’t have to sacrifice too many modern comforts. Their home was built as a prototype for the cabins that would come later, and they learned a lot during the process. Solar power allowed them to put their home away from roads and neighbours as well as ultimately allowing for each cabin to be autonomous and far apart from one another, giving guests their own piece of wilderness to experience.
With no additional employees, Blair and Connie manage all aspects of the business and are the primary contacts for guests throughout their stay. On their off time, both are avid golfers and enjoy fishing and canoeing excursions. Guests will likely find Blair tending to his vegetable garden or maintaining the trails on the property while Connie is often caring for their chickens or working in her weaving studio @connielynn.art.
“I was surprised to learn that adopting sustainable methods lowered costs in the long term and allowed me to truly actualize the vision for Pine Brae.”
-Blair Copland, Owner
-Blair Copland, Owner
