March 13, 2025 – Fundraising, Land Use Update and SON comments on Sundance

Friends,

Here's our latest update for you: 

1) Land Use Designation for Inverhuron

After repeated requests, members of PWEP were finally granted a meeting with county planners just a few days ago, to discuss the designation of Inverhuron in the framework of the Bruce County Official Plan Review. The conversation was fruitful, and while nothing is certain yet, the planners appear to have heard the community's concerns and are open to endorsing PWEP's proposal that the historic Inverhuron settlement north of County Road 15 be re-designated a Hamlet, replacing the current Primary Urban Community designation. We also received some reassurance that a Special Policy Area for Inverhuron South of CR 15 will be considered. Taken together, these measures would afford stronger protection from intensive development and be an important step toward safeguarding natural environments throughout Inverhuron and along the Lakeshore. While these are very positive steps, we are aiming for even more progress and will continue to work diligently on this issue.

We will let you know how you can participate. Stay tuned!

2) Sundance Estates

We know many of you are very concerned about the proposed Sundance development, as are we, so we wanted to let you know that the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) has submitted comments expressing strong concerns related to this development. In summary, "the SON Environment Office has determined that the proposed Sundance Estates project as presented will have significant impacts on the Saugeen Ojibway Nation's natural heritage interests and should not be approved as proposed" (SON conditions for Sundance Estates p.11). If you are interested in reviewing this document you can request the document by emailing bcplpe@brucecounty.on.ca We will also be posting the document on the PWEP website shortly, so check out our Sundance page in the next few days.

3) Tidman Judicial Review

Last but not least, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your incredibly generous contributions to our crowdfunding platform! Your steadfast support has been crucial in helping us continue our fight against the Tidman development, and we are so close to reaching our goal. In April we face our first hearing, where the court will decide on the issue of standing. The reason we are asking for more contributions is that the opposing side has requested a whole day in court, which will drive up our costs substantially. Nevertheless, thanks to you we're already really close!

You've all been giving so generously already, but if you can, please donate here. 

If you've been with us for a while, you'll know that we really try to keep our fundraising messaging to a minimum, focusing instead on providing you with important information and key updates. But with April fast approaching, we still need to raise funds to cover our legal fees for this first round in court. The good news is our lawyer is confident about our chances of being granted standing, and this would be a huge win for PWEP and the community! Stopping the Tidman development would send a clear signal and go a long way in protecting Inverhuron's natural heritage for a long time to come. 

As a reminder, all donations are tax creditable thanks to our partnership with the Small Change Fund. Your continued support is vital, and together we're making a real difference. Thank you again for standing with us! 

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.