The City of Castlegar finally backed down and scrapped that ridiculous Section 8 ban. We forced them to stop treating chickens and bees like criminals. Stay sharp because we need to make sure they actually follow through on these new rules.
December 2, 2016
Final supporters
Backyard Chickens and Bees are currently banned under the Animal Controls Bylaw Section 8 prohibition which specifically targets poultry and bees.
This same legislation offers rules for smell, noise and neighbor disturbances that can be enforced against any pet owner.
We are asking that the City of Castlegar remove section 8 from the Animal Control bylaw and allow Chickens and Bees to be kept as pets so long as they do not violate the same rules set out for all other animal owners.
In a world where food sovereignty and sustainability are becoming increasingly important our legislation has seemingly taken steps backwards. Let's change this and at least give the birds and bees a chance!
Bee colonies are on the decline globally, yet urban bees are thriving thanks to the diverse pollen found within populated centers where residents keep gardens. Keeping bees not only encourages crop pollination and food production, it helps stabilize local eco systems and if you're lucky (or dedicated enough) you can even get some honey! Not all bee keeping has to do with honey though, under current legislation it is even illegal to keep mason bees - those hard working, sting free, awesome little buzzers keeping your garden beautiful.
Chickens, simply put, are GREAT PETS! Remember those eggs we hatched in Elementary School? How cool was that? Raising chickens is an absolutely fantastic experience for any child and teaches valuable life lessons. When kept in small numbers, most breeds become quite affectionate to their owners. They help with garden maintenance and pest control, they process green waste into fertilizer, they are quiet and lay eggs!
And let's face it, it ain't easy to find farm freshies in Castlegar.
Please sign this petition and ask the City of Castlegar to at least give hens a chance. With your support we should at least be able to launch a pilot project to prove that chickens do not deserve the reputation they get and that banning bees is just plain silly.
Thank you.
Updates
September 13, 2016
The City of Castlegar can no longer pretend this is a fringe issue because our momentum proves otherwise. It is pathetic that these bureaucrats keep stalling while the rest of us actually care about sustainability. We are turning up the heat until they drop this backward bylaw for good.
43 Comments
I'm a neighbour of Steve's backyard chickens. Corner of my lot borders his. I'm a fan of byelaws, and have had some trouble with neighbour's dogs over the years. The chickens, however, present no problem. The law could be re written to address numbers, roosters etc.
I have kept bees on top of my busy store and in my yard for over 6 years. There has never been anyone stung, nor do most people even realize that they are even there. Banning bees within city limits is just ignorance. Act with knowledge and intelligence instead of fear and ignorance.
Just give the chickens a chance. Vancouver Science World has 4-5 resident chickens living in the middle of the city, producing free-run eggs. Castlegar can too! Hoping this petition produces results.
I live on a half acre fully fenced within city limits and have slowly started to grow my own food. I would love to add a couple hens to my little oasis and raise my son to understand where food comes from, cycle of growth, and how to live in a sustainable manner. I say yes to chickens!
I grew container vegetables this year, lots of flowers but no fruit. We need more bees.
My family and I are moving to castlegar soon. My husband is a bee keeper and we have chickens. Our planet needs bees, they are aggressive and important.
Let people keep bees! They are such wonderful gentle creatures. The time is now! Bee the change you want to see!
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
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The City of Castlegar finally backed down and scrapped that ridiculous Section 8 ban. We forced them to stop treating chickens and bees like criminals. Stay sharp because we need to make sure they actually follow through on these new rules.
December 2, 2016
Final supporters
Backyard Chickens and Bees are currently banned under the Animal Controls Bylaw Section 8 prohibition which specifically targets poultry and bees.
This same legislation offers rules for smell, noise and neighbor disturbances that can be enforced against any pet owner.
We are asking that the City of Castlegar remove section 8 from the Animal Control bylaw and allow Chickens and Bees to be kept as pets so long as they do not violate the same rules set out for all other animal owners.
In a world where food sovereignty and sustainability are becoming increasingly important our legislation has seemingly taken steps backwards. Let's change this and at least give the birds and bees a chance!
Bee colonies are on the decline globally, yet urban bees are thriving thanks to the diverse pollen found within populated centers where residents keep gardens. Keeping bees not only encourages crop pollination and food production, it helps stabilize local eco systems and if you're lucky (or dedicated enough) you can even get some honey! Not all bee keeping has to do with honey though, under current legislation it is even illegal to keep mason bees - those hard working, sting free, awesome little buzzers keeping your garden beautiful.
Chickens, simply put, are GREAT PETS! Remember those eggs we hatched in Elementary School? How cool was that? Raising chickens is an absolutely fantastic experience for any child and teaches valuable life lessons. When kept in small numbers, most breeds become quite affectionate to their owners. They help with garden maintenance and pest control, they process green waste into fertilizer, they are quiet and lay eggs!
And let's face it, it ain't easy to find farm freshies in Castlegar.
Please sign this petition and ask the City of Castlegar to at least give hens a chance. With your support we should at least be able to launch a pilot project to prove that chickens do not deserve the reputation they get and that banning bees is just plain silly.
Thank you.
Updates
September 13, 2016
The City of Castlegar can no longer pretend this is a fringe issue because our momentum proves otherwise. It is pathetic that these bureaucrats keep stalling while the rest of us actually care about sustainability. We are turning up the heat until they drop this backward bylaw for good.
43 Comments
As Bee Inspector for the Kootenay region, I am here to help people keep bees properly, safely, and successfully. In Europe, people have kept bees in cities for centuries. European friends are amazed that we are so far behind the times.
I'm a neighbour of Steve's backyard chickens. Corner of my lot borders his. I'm a fan of byelaws, and have had some trouble with neighbour's dogs over the years. The chickens, however, present no problem. The law could be re written to address numbers, roosters etc.
I have kept bees on top of my busy store and in my yard for over 6 years. There has never been anyone stung, nor do most people even realize that they are even there. Banning bees within city limits is just ignorance. Act with knowledge and intelligence instead of fear and ignorance.
Just give the chickens a chance. Vancouver Science World has 4-5 resident chickens living in the middle of the city, producing free-run eggs. Castlegar can too! Hoping this petition produces results.
I live on a half acre fully fenced within city limits and have slowly started to grow my own food. I would love to add a couple hens to my little oasis and raise my son to understand where food comes from, cycle of growth, and how to live in a sustainable manner. I say yes to chickens!
I grew container vegetables this year, lots of flowers but no fruit. We need more bees.
My family and I are moving to castlegar soon. My husband is a bee keeper and we have chickens. Our planet needs bees, they are aggressive and important.
Let people keep bees! They are such wonderful gentle creatures. The time is now! Bee the change you want to see!
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As Bee Inspector for the Kootenay region, I am here to help people keep bees properly, safely, and successfully. In Europe, people have kept bees in cities for centuries. European friends are amazed that we are so far behind the times.