‘Ban Fur Farms BC’ Draws Attention to Public Health Risks and Calls for Provincial Fur Farm Ban
North Vancouver, BC– The Spring Leaders Reception with Premier David Eby was disrupted by Ban Fur Farms BC (BFFBC) on Tuesday, April 11, at The Polygon Gallery in North Vancouver. The reception, which was hosted by MLA Bowinn Ma, featured cocktails, art, and an unexpected guest – a fox, which was revealed to be an activist wearing a fox mascot head. The activist proceeded to throw confetti around the room, which had the text “fur farms spread avian flu” written on it, calling attention to the role of fur farms in disease transmission and their threat to public health.
The disruption did not end there, as outside the gallery stood around half a dozen people wearing bio hazard suits and masks, holding signs that read “fur farms spread avian flu.” BFFBC, a group spearheading a campaign to draw attention to the detrimental effects of the fur farm industry in BC, organized the disruption.
Following several COVID-19 outbreaks on mink fur farms in BC during the pandemic, BFFBC had been pressuring the BC government to implement a provincial fur farm ban. In November 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health announced that due to public health concerns, a mink fur farm phase-out would be happening in British Columbia, a process which concluded this year on April 1st.
Zoe Peled, co-founder of BFFBC, revealed that “despite knowing the risks of fur farms during the pandemic, the Ministry of Agriculture was considering establishing two new fur farms in Prince George and Langley.” Peled explained that the Langley facility in discussion is a fox fur farm. The group has been informed by a Guelph University virologist that “the first case of avian flu has been reported in a fox,” highlighting the risks of disease transmission associated with fur farms. Peled stated that “while the government has taken measures to mitigate the current pandemic, by banning mink farming, fur farms remain catastrophic breeding grounds for other diseases.”
Currently, there is one active chinchilla fur farm in British Columbia, and BFFBC’s main concern lies within the lack of provincial legislation for the industry to pivot to other fur farms outside of mink. “While all the mink fur farms in BC are now empty, we worry that those farms will simply transition to another common species of fur-farmed animal, such as fox, chinchilla, or raccoon,” said Amy Soranno, another co-founder of BFFBC. She explained that the group is still campaigning for the Ministry of Agriculture to institute a “complete” fur farm ban, in order to “combat the climate crisis and adequately address public health threats, such as avian influenza and other future viruses.”
The Spring Leaders Reception concluded with several discussions outside between the activist group and event attendees, which BFFBC said included positive words of support for a fur farm ban.
About Ban Fur Farms BC (BFFBC): BFFBC is a grassroots organization that aims to end fur farming in British Columbia. They are campaigning for the Ministry of Agriculture to institute a ban on all fur farming in BC. More information is available on their Instagram @banfurfarmsbc, for an interview contact Zoe Peled at 604-729-8627 or banfurfarmsbc@gmail.com.
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______________________________________________________ Ban Fur Farms British Columbia
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
