Friends,
We are pleased to announce the upcoming PWEP meeting on August 17th, from 10:30 - 11:30. We will be holding the meeting at the Bourgeois Farm, 2 Alma Street in Inverhuron. The purpose of this gathering is to thank the whole community for your ongoing support in person, and to present to you a summary of where we stand with our various projects. There will be ample opportunity for questions and discussion.
As promised in our previous newsletter, we do have some exciting news to share: the Bourgeois Farm where PWEP is headquartered has been donated to the Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT), which means that the land will be protected in perpetuity! You can read more about this in a hot off the press article by Mel Luymes that recently appeared in the Rural Voice. We will have several copies at the farm.
PWEP will continue to operate out of its current location, and we couldn't be more pleased to welcome the OFT into the neighborhood. A focus on conservation and environmental projects designed to protect rural and natural environments are some of the many values we share, and we know that the OFT will bring amazing programs and expertise to our area. We feel that this is truly a boon to our community. Martin Straathof, the executive director of the OFT, will be joining us at the meeting.
We're also very pleased to announce that on that same date we will inaugurate the new PWEP community space inside the Philosopher's Wool warehouse! The community space will consist of a small library containing Ann and Eugene Bourgeois' environmental activism archives, as well as a formidable collection of books – you will be able to browse anything from environmental studies to fiction to mystical philosophy. The space will be equipped with some cozy reading chairs, a research desk, a coffee maker and a few other small amenities. Our hope is that it will serve as a hub for research, as well as a comfortable meeting space for members of the community.
Last but not least, we want to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude for all your generous donations, which helped us meet our goal of $9,000 in a matter of weeks! We've been overwhelmed by the incredible response to our fundraising efforts, and we're truly grateful for the support. However, it appears we'll require additional funds to cover legal fees for the upcoming hearings. We’re currently gathering all the details to provide an accurate estimate of the additional funding we might need. We’ll keep you updated on our progress.
As you know, this is our group's first experience with something like this, and while we try to provide the most accurate estimates at any given time, the fluidity of the circumstances sometimes makes the necessity of funds difficult to predict. One thing is clear: this will be a challenging and prolonged battle. But we are determined to see this matter through to the end. We will not back down!
We look forward to seeing you all in person on August 17th for a fruitful exchange and a celebration of what we, all together, have accomplished so far.
In gratitude,
the Team @ PWEP
The Philosopher’s Wool Environmental Preserve
2 Alma Street
Tiverton, ON
Respectfully acknowledging that we live, work and benefit from the Lands and Waters of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.
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