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Three residents of Edgewood, B.C., neighbours of Universal Ostrich Farm, are suing the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the RCMP for allegedly trespassing on their property, according to a notice of civil claim.
The claim was filed on Feb. 10 by Alyson Turnbull, Trevor Klug and Margaret Greba — who all live on a property at 224 Langille Rd. in Edgewood.
That property is next to Universal Ostrich Farm, which had hundreds of its ostriches culled by the CFIA in November due to an avian flu outbreak — and the neighbours claim the two federal agencies trespassed on their property after obtaining a warrant.
“The warrant used to enter the property was not based upon any disclosed fact and the ongoing occupation of the property was without legal right,” said the claim.
The Edgewood residents said they are not involved in the ostrich farm adjacent to their property or in “the activities forming the basis of the warrant,” which included failure to notify a veterinary officer and obstructing an inspector.
The claim said the CFIA and RCMP trespassed on the Edgewood property “on numerous occasions” from Sept. 22 to November 2025.
“The defendants were notified of the trespass on a constant basis and have, in a high handed, capricious, and arbitrary fashion continued to trespass on the property,” said the claim.
- For a full account of the story that unfolded at Universal Ostrich Farms after the country’s top court declined to hear the farm’s appeal, read CBC News’ live coverage here.
The residents said the CFIA constructed hay-bale enclosures or “kill pens” using their property without any lawful authority and transported “contaminated hay” across the property without consent.
According to the claim, the RCMP and CFIA “mocked” the residents when they tried to enforce their property rights and caused mental distress to the plaintiffs. The residents said their property has been damaged by the agencies.
The residents are seeking a permanent injunction against the RCMP and CFIA, damages, and other relief.
In an emailed statement, the B.C. RCMP said it is aware of the notice of civil claim.
“As we are subject to it and the court process, it would be inappropriate for us to comment. Once served, the Department of Justice will review the claim and a statement of defence for the RCMP will be issued through the appropriate court process.”
The CFIA told CBC News it has received the civil claim and “will be responding in accordance with the timelines established by the British Columbia Supreme Court.”
None of the allegations has been proven in court.
