ABOUT US
Who We Are
We are a community run, volunteer based non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving fragile natural environments in Inverhuron and throughout the Penetangore Watershed. PWEP operates out of the former Bourgeois sheep farm in Inverhuron. For more information about what we do, please refer to our Mission and Projects page. We are grateful to be able to carry out these activities within the Traditional Territory of the Anishinabek Nation: The People of the Three Fires known as Ojibway, Odawa, and Pottawatomie Nations; and further give thanks to the Chippewas of Saugeen, and the Chippewas of Nawash, now known as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, as the traditional keepers of this land.
OUR STORY
The Philosopher’s Wool Environmental Preserve was founded by Ann and Eugene Bourgeois with the goal of protecting and enhancing the environment. Long-time residents of Inverhuron, sheep farmers and lifelong environmental advocates, Ann and Eugene both died in 2020, before they were able to take on active roles in the organization. PWEP lay dormant until recently, when in September 2023 a grassroots movement formed around the issue of protecting fragile natural environments in Inverhuron from development (see PWEP’s recent press statement). A group of friends and neighbors was able to adopt PWEP as a non-profit entity to protect the local environment and carry out the founders’ wishes.
Ann and Eugene Bourgeois had no concerns about nuclear energy when, back in in 1974, they settled next to what is now the world’s largest nuclear facility. However during the period in which the Bruce site functioned as a heavy water plant, the Bourgeois farm was frequently exposed to hydrogen sulphide, a deadly gas. The industry denied any wrongdoing, but Ann and Eugene dedicated the rest of their lives to pushing their nuclear neighbor for greater transparency and accountability. Their story is chronicled in a recently released film called “Toxic Neighbour” by Canadian filmmaker, author and educator Colin Scheyen.
Ann and Eugene were not opposed to nuclear energy in principle, they simply wanted to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment. They wished their farm to continue functioning as a nexus for environmental protection even after they were gone. Through PWEP, we are doing our best to live up to that promise. We have preserved the archives relating to the Bourgeois’ environmental activism, especially as they relate to the DGR (Deep Ground Repository) proposal for Inverhuron which was rejected by the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) in 2020. The archives will be kept on the farm and will be available to the public.
