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Sharing on behalf of The Philosopher’s Wool Environmental Preserve…

Friends,

We hope you’ve all had a good start into 2025! Here’s our first update of the year:

Judicial review

With regards to the Tidman development proposal, we were just informed that the first hearing on the matter of standing will take place toward the end of April (exact date TBA). While of course no outcome is ever guaranteed, our legal counsel is confident that PWEP’s chances at being granted standing by the court are very good. Being granted standing would strengthen our overall case even more, so this is a really important step.

Our chances of winning this first round are excellent, and together we’ve been able to put up a strong fight so far, thanks to your help and financial support! But the opposing side has requested a whole day in court, which will drive up our costs substantially. 

We will need to raise an additional $12’000 by April as a result. The good news is that if (when!) we win, we will be able to recover up to 75% of those costs, allowing us to put that same money to work for the second hearing.

Once again we need your help: can please make a donation to help us raise the necessary funds to get us through this first hearing?

We know it’s a lot to ask, but if you can, please donate here. Thanks to our partnership with the Small Change Fund, your donation is tax creditable, and until February 28 2025, you will receive a tax receipt that can be applied to your 2024 OR 2025 taxes, as announced by the Government of Canada.

As a reminder, you can read all about the Tidman project and why PWEP is opposing it on our website. We hope you can help us in this important fight to safeguard fragile natural environments in Inverhuron.

Kincardine Comprehensive Zoning By-Law Review

Thanks to the PWEP email campaign in which you all so effectively participated, our message to municipal council and planning staff was made very clear: an urban settlement designation is not appropriate for any portion of Inverhuron, and boundaries should be reconsidered. As a result, a second Public Meeting has been scheduled by the Municipality for February 12th at 5pm. Public comments will be accepted until February 14th. The final Draft of the zoning by-law review is expected to come before the Municipal Council on March 12th. For further details, including a summary of community comments, you can visit the municipal website at the following link:

https://www.kincardine.ca/our-services/projects/comprehensive-zoning-by-law

We invite you to attend the public meeting, if you can, and submit any additional comments you may have. It has been suggested by planning staff that the changes we are requesting in the PWEP Alternative Land Use Proposal could potentially be made at a later date, outside the framework of the municipal zoning by-law review and the County Official Plan review. We maintain that it would be best not to delay. We will keep the pressure on, and will keep you informed every step of the way. 

Thank you for all you do. We’ve already come a long way, and none of this would be possible without you!

In gratitude,
The Team @ PWEP 
The Philosopher’s Wool Environmental Preserve
2 Alma Street
Tiverton, ON
pwepreserve@gmail.com

www.pwepreserve.ca

Respectfully acknowledging that we live, work and benefit from the Lands and Waters of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.

Sharing on behalf of The Philosophers Wool Environmental Preserve.

PWEP Year-End Thank You

Friends,

As the year draws to a close, we want to send out a message of gratitude. Thank you, all of you, for your support and engagement over this past year. We’ve come a long way, and none of this would have been possible without you!

And of course a big thank you to our amazing, hard-working volunteers. We also want to thank the Small Change Fund for continuing to partner with us in our efforts to protect and preserve fragile natural environments in Inverhuron. The SCF continues to provide invaluable resources as well as the fundraising platform we need to carry on our work.

Thanks to all your generous donations we are well positioned for tackling the initial challenges of 2025, but may need to reach out to you again as we progress through the year. As always, we will make every dollar count.

We will continue to oppose the Tidman development through the judicial review process. The first of two hearings is expected to be scheduled in the coming months, and PWEP’s legal counsel is optimistic as to the outcome. We will continue to keep a close eye on the proposed Sundance development; by means of reassurance, so far we have no indication that the project will move forward. And finally, we will continue to challenge the municipality and the county on their proposed Land Use designation for Inverhuron. The email campaign to municipal councillors was very effective, thanks to all of you. This is a true example of a community working together to make our voices heard, and the results are showing. PWEP’s Alternative Land Use Proposal is being considered by county planners, and we will keep you informed every step of the way.

As always, you can read about our activities on the PWEP website; we do our best to post all new material and keep the website up to date, so that it may serve as a resource for the community.

As a special year-end gesture, we leave you with a couple of brief excerpts from Braiding Sweetgrass, a beacon of a book for the field of conservation written by environmentalist and indigenous scientist Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer. We hope you find enjoyment and inspiration in these texts, and we wish you all the best for the New Year.

In gratitude,
The Team @ PWEP
The Philosopher’s Wool Environmental Preserve
2 Alma Street
Tiverton, ON
pwepreserve@gmail.com

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Gordon Barr’s passing. Gordon was more than just a resident of Inverhuron; he was a cornerstone of our community. As Board President for many years, he worked tirelessly to make our town a better place for everyone.

His dedication, vision, and countless contributions have left a mark that will not fade. Whether it was through his leadership or his quiet acts of kindness, Gordon made Inverhuron stronger, closer, and more vibrant.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time. Inverhuron has lost a great leader and friend, but his legacy will continue to shape the community he loved so much.

Details about arrangements and how we can come together to honour Gordon will be shared soon.

With heartfelt sympathy,

The IDRA Board of Directors