How Bruce County Boosted Exploration—One Check-In at a Time
July 14, 2025
18,000+ visits. National recognition. Zero extra staff.
That’s what Bruce County saw when they added a playful layer to their trusted print guides. Instead of replacing what already worked, they used Driftscape’s Points & Rewards to spark exploration across parks, trails, and hidden gems. The result? More visits, deeper insights, and a community-driven approach that made discovery feel like a game.
Meeting People Where They Are
Print guides are still a staple in Bruce County. But the team knew today’s visitors also crave spontaneity—and insight. So, they launched a digital check-in challenge where visitors could collect points for exploring new places and redeem them for Bruce County gear like toques and trail-ready swag.
It wasn’t just fun. It worked.
-
1,341 app downloads
-
18,880 views across 363 sites
-
Visitors followed digital trails beyond the obvious, uncovering places even locals hadn’t explored.
Quick Setup, Big Results
Here’s the kicker: this took just a few weeks to launch. No new hires. No heavy tech lift. It worked with their existing print guides—not instead of them. The Driftscape platform handled check-ins, rewards, and reporting, while the Bruce team stayed focused on what mattered: creating great experiences.
Explore the Bruce County website.
Award-Winning Innovation
In late 2024, Bruce County’s “Explore the Bruce Rewards” program—built on Driftscape—won the Best Social Media/App from the Economic Developers Association of Canada. Learn more about the award win here.
Why? Because it drove real-world results, boosted tourism, and reinforced local pride—without blowing the budget.
Could This Work In Your Community?
If you’re in a small town, rural region, or seasonal destination, Bruce County’s story offers more than inspiration—it offers a blueprint.
Ask yourself:
-
What overlooked places could you spotlight?
-
What simple, low-cost rewards could you offer?
-
What might check-in data help you prove—or improve?
Add a little play to your place.
Visitors might go farther than you think.