By Aly Turnbull

We have officially filed our civil suit against the CFIA, the RCMP, and the Government of Canada in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

Filing this suit has required us to revisit every detail of what happened during the 52-day seizure, occupation, and destruction of my parents’ residential property next door to Universal Ostrich Farms, using a warrant that did not even have my parents’ names or responsibilities on it. Reliving it has been difficult in new ways I didn’t fully expect.

The experience leading up to the war-zone-style killing of animals we have loved for decades was harrowing. Preparing this case meant going back through the surveillance, the contradictions, the damage, and the violence. It has taken a real toll.

I documented everything I could, but I didn’t feel safe sharing it in real time. When you are living under constant surveillance and relying on the same officers for access to your own gate, you think very carefully about what you say.

That silence ends now. I will be sharing documentation in the weeks ahead so people can see what happened for themselves.

Thank you so much, everyone, for your immense and continued support toward my entire family during this difficult time.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EDGEWOOD, British Columbia

Feb 17, 2026

Universal Ostrich Farm Neighbours File Civil Claim Against CFIA and RCMP

The owners of a privately owned 28-acre residential property located next door to Universal Ostrich Farms have filed a civil claim in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

The property is separately owned and was not part of the farm operation. The plaintiffs state they had no prior communication with CFIA before their land was seized and occupied on September 22, 2025.

According to the claim, the residential property was described in a CFIA warrant as “UOF Secondary Quarantine Property.” The warrant named the owners of Universal Ostrich Farms, not the owners of the residential property.

RCMP and CFIA remained on the property for 52 days, until November 13, 2025.

During that time, the plaintiffs allege:

• Continuous police presence and controlled access to their own home
• Daily drone surveillance over the residence and yard
• Creation of multiple new access points and extensive property damage
• Spreading of material from the slaughter site onto their land
• Nearly 1,000 rounds fired during the November 6 cull directly beside the residence, without warning

The claim further alleges trespass, unlawful interference with property, harassment, assault and battery, and psychological harm.

The plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief, remediation of the land, and damages as determined by the Court.

“We were forced to go through an armed checkpoint just to enter and exit our own property, showing ID, waiting for permission, and dealing with shifting levels of aggression at our own gate,” said Aly Turnbull, plaintiff and daughter of the property owners. “We lived beside weeks of visible animal suffering that ended in sudden gunfire without warning. Our sense of safety and privacy were completely shattered, and we are still distraught that our land was used to facilitate something so horrific.”

Originally posted at facebook.com/share/1DEHPgqwZJ