Wayne and Janet Clowery have lived all over the world, although never in Nova Scotia, so how did this globe-trotting couple come to be Nature Trust supporters?

Wayne and Janet met in Montreal and the newlyweds were quickly bitten by the travel bug. From the beginning, Wayne saw that becoming a chartered accountant would open doors for him, and travelling was his goal. Their first move together took them to Sept-Îles, Quebec and then not long afterwards they made the decision to move to Guinea, West Africa.

“We arrived as totally inexperienced newcomers, not knowing what we were getting into,” said Janet. Although the remote location, heat, humidity, and political dictatorship were challenging, the Clowerys grew together as a family through shared sports like softball and tennis, acting in amateur theatre and enjoying quiz nights.

From Guinea, their globe-trotting ways brought them to New Zealand, Surinam, Colombia, and Costa Rica over the course of 27 years. Wayne and Janet’s experiences over the years fostered an array of interests and stories that could fill several books, and after many international adventures in incredible locations, they eventually returned to Canada settling in New Brunswick.

Regardless of the location or unique cultures in which they were immersed, a common thread that developed through their lives was an interest in conservation. Much of Wayne’s career was spent working for mining companies, and over time he noted that these companies can vary widely in how carefully they guard the environment.

In Surinam and Colombia, the companies Wayne worked for considered themselves stewards of the land, with the goal of improving the lives of both the employees and local citizens while ensuring to return the land to its natural state. This focus on conservation resonated with both Wayne and Janet, and during their travels they tried to visit protected lands and areas to see the various ways in which nature and culture are being saved around the world.

When they returned to settle in the Maritimes, it wasn’t long before they heard about the work of the Nature Trust, and the connection was immediate. The idea of preserving beautiful and ecologically important landscapes made sense to them. After seeing various approaches to conservation in other countries, they were inspired to make their first gift to the Nature Trust when they learned of our focus to save and protect coastal areas.

We’re thankful to count the Clowerys among our extended community of friends who are dedicated to saving nature in Nova Scotia!

You can join Wayne and Janet in helping save Nova Scotia’s wild places by Donating Here or contacting Cynthia McLaren-Lloyd for more information at Cynthia@nsnt.ca.