NorthbayBYC
Hatching
- Feb 4, 2020
- 4
- 7
- 8
Years ago we decided to try our hand at raising backyard hens here in the City of North Bay. We started by researching Canadian Cities who allowed BYC's and choosing the best from their by-laws to create a favorable environment for our hens and our neighbors. Including coops, runs, set backs from property lines, proximity to neighbors ETC.
We built a suitable coop, along with an open air roofed, predator proof chicken run. We then approached all of our neighbors in close proximity and had them sign a form acknowledging the heritage breed hens too, stating they had no issues with us having the birds. Everything was fine for a few seasons, we were sharing eggs and enjoying the benefits of daily eggs from our 3 hens. Then a fateful spring day a by law officer attended advising we were in contravention of bylaw 151-93. We eagerly pointed out that we chose to build according to ordinances set forth by other cities who allowed them, stating we choose the best remedy from each city. Falling on deaf ears we were advised to remove the hens and if we wanted a change we needed to attend city hall and make a presentation for a change to the bylaw.
We started the process gathering information on all the cities allowing hens in Canada. Extolling the benefits of the hens both as an educational tool for schools and family members to learn responsibilities. We even pointed out food sovereignty, world food charter and as well our own local food charter established by our local health unit promoting the benefits of Backyard Hens to which the city had signed and agreed upon. We also presented hundreds of signatures from our petition people saying BYC's were a good idea. https://www.change.org/p/b-r-johnso...e-by-law-may-16th-17-sign-now?use_react=false . Media such as television, news radio and social media was abuzz with the forth coming presentation.
I had 10 minutes to make a presentation to the city council members. Upon completion they thanked me for my presentation and moved onto the next order of business without even stating they would bring it to a vote and no motion from a councilor to make a change. I was not allowed to represent for another year. There was a provisioning to have another presentation if there was new information. I took advantage of that and pointed out in the now 5 minute time period additional cities who had had since allowed back yard hens including a neighboring hamlet. On closing I asked for a motion to allow for a vote and not one council member made a motion.
I was sunk for a year and could not make another presentation. I did a lot of back benching approaching each councilor for their vote and to bring forward a motion on the next presentation. Things looked favorable and after my third presentation that next year the councilor who said he would bring forward the motion never did. So still nothing from council after 2 years of waiting.
I decided to look closer at the bylaw. I researched previous years of bylaws and noticed that the list of restricted animals had changed, what used to be swine had been changed to swan an obvious typing error in another amendment to the bylaw. I questioned the bylaw officer and said that pigs were not on the list and asked him if an animal wasn't listed as restricted, could it be an animal that was allowed. He concurred
That fall I attended a local farm and purchased a wiener heritage breed fixed Berkshire Boar.and raised our aptly named pig Pork Chop on my city residential property to market weight (dressed 430 pounds) While he was growing up I made a harness for him and took him or walks around the neighborhood until he was too large to handle (who was walking who?) The local media had a hay day with the fact that one could have a pig and not a few hens. It even garnered National attention in MacLean's Magazine https://www.macleans.ca/society/how-a-north-bay-pig-is-standing-up-for-backyard-chickens/
I went to the then (soon to exit) CAO and asked for him to form a committee to look into a study on back yard hens. I was placated and advised yes that could happen and heard nothing for months. On his departure I reached out to the New Replacement CAO with no resolution forth coming ( I am sure he wasn't happy with the national attention his city was getting)
I decided to covertly bring back hens and kept them in the cellar of my century home. Giving them access to the same airy compartment under my sun-room which previously housed Pork Chop. There they contentedly resided for well over a year. When they were seen by the NEW WIFE of the same neighbor whom had signed off on saying he had no problem with the hens.
Subsequently the same bylaw officer attended and advised I had to remove them or face a charge and a fine. I told him I would see him in court. I was going to use the premise of keeping the hens as I believed they should be allowed under a moratorium while the bylaw was being reviewed by my presentations and dissertations. The crown attorney decided to add additional charges 1 keeping a Hobby Farm 2. Selling Commercially from a Hobby Farm. 3. Keeping domestic fowl in contravention of the bylaw. Adding to that if charged (if I lost) I could not plant a garden for a year and would also need to pay a $5000.00 fine.
So much for food sovereignty and any other rights as a human being to grow my own food. As opposed to fighting this for years I decided to plead to keeping domestic fowl and settled on a $500.00 fine plus court costs. Meaning I could still keep my vegetable gardens. this was first week of December of Last Year...Merry Christmas huh? and I had 8 months to pay.
At the end of December insult to injury came. My wife had a major issue and required surgery, her retina detached and we were forced to go to Ottawa spending nights in hotels while she went through surgeries and observation. Plus repeated visits back to see the specialists meaning more over night stays. This cut into our budget and many days were missed from work. Life was getting expensive.
A proponent of my fight suggested I use social media to help and suggested Go Fund Me Page. I was reluctant on doing this and decided to cave in and start one to help cover some of the costs of trying to change the bylaw all by myself. https://ca.gofundme.com/f/fined-for-having-3-backyard-hens.
So I am asking those that are fellow chicken lovers to share the page in their Social Media to draw awareness to our fight. If you can contribute even a small amount that would be nice too.
If you are out there fighting to keep your chickens from ludicrous bylaws....KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT DON'T GIVE UP.... We will keep fighting here In North Bay.
Thanks in advance for all your comments on this Thread and for sharing the link in your social medial.
We built a suitable coop, along with an open air roofed, predator proof chicken run. We then approached all of our neighbors in close proximity and had them sign a form acknowledging the heritage breed hens too, stating they had no issues with us having the birds. Everything was fine for a few seasons, we were sharing eggs and enjoying the benefits of daily eggs from our 3 hens. Then a fateful spring day a by law officer attended advising we were in contravention of bylaw 151-93. We eagerly pointed out that we chose to build according to ordinances set forth by other cities who allowed them, stating we choose the best remedy from each city. Falling on deaf ears we were advised to remove the hens and if we wanted a change we needed to attend city hall and make a presentation for a change to the bylaw.
We started the process gathering information on all the cities allowing hens in Canada. Extolling the benefits of the hens both as an educational tool for schools and family members to learn responsibilities. We even pointed out food sovereignty, world food charter and as well our own local food charter established by our local health unit promoting the benefits of Backyard Hens to which the city had signed and agreed upon. We also presented hundreds of signatures from our petition people saying BYC's were a good idea. https://www.change.org/p/b-r-johnso...e-by-law-may-16th-17-sign-now?use_react=false . Media such as television, news radio and social media was abuzz with the forth coming presentation.
I had 10 minutes to make a presentation to the city council members. Upon completion they thanked me for my presentation and moved onto the next order of business without even stating they would bring it to a vote and no motion from a councilor to make a change. I was not allowed to represent for another year. There was a provisioning to have another presentation if there was new information. I took advantage of that and pointed out in the now 5 minute time period additional cities who had had since allowed back yard hens including a neighboring hamlet. On closing I asked for a motion to allow for a vote and not one council member made a motion.
I was sunk for a year and could not make another presentation. I did a lot of back benching approaching each councilor for their vote and to bring forward a motion on the next presentation. Things looked favorable and after my third presentation that next year the councilor who said he would bring forward the motion never did. So still nothing from council after 2 years of waiting.
I decided to look closer at the bylaw. I researched previous years of bylaws and noticed that the list of restricted animals had changed, what used to be swine had been changed to swan an obvious typing error in another amendment to the bylaw. I questioned the bylaw officer and said that pigs were not on the list and asked him if an animal wasn't listed as restricted, could it be an animal that was allowed. He concurred
That fall I attended a local farm and purchased a wiener heritage breed fixed Berkshire Boar.and raised our aptly named pig Pork Chop on my city residential property to market weight (dressed 430 pounds) While he was growing up I made a harness for him and took him or walks around the neighborhood until he was too large to handle (who was walking who?) The local media had a hay day with the fact that one could have a pig and not a few hens. It even garnered National attention in MacLean's Magazine https://www.macleans.ca/society/how-a-north-bay-pig-is-standing-up-for-backyard-chickens/
I went to the then (soon to exit) CAO and asked for him to form a committee to look into a study on back yard hens. I was placated and advised yes that could happen and heard nothing for months. On his departure I reached out to the New Replacement CAO with no resolution forth coming ( I am sure he wasn't happy with the national attention his city was getting)
I decided to covertly bring back hens and kept them in the cellar of my century home. Giving them access to the same airy compartment under my sun-room which previously housed Pork Chop. There they contentedly resided for well over a year. When they were seen by the NEW WIFE of the same neighbor whom had signed off on saying he had no problem with the hens.
Subsequently the same bylaw officer attended and advised I had to remove them or face a charge and a fine. I told him I would see him in court. I was going to use the premise of keeping the hens as I believed they should be allowed under a moratorium while the bylaw was being reviewed by my presentations and dissertations. The crown attorney decided to add additional charges 1 keeping a Hobby Farm 2. Selling Commercially from a Hobby Farm. 3. Keeping domestic fowl in contravention of the bylaw. Adding to that if charged (if I lost) I could not plant a garden for a year and would also need to pay a $5000.00 fine.
So much for food sovereignty and any other rights as a human being to grow my own food. As opposed to fighting this for years I decided to plead to keeping domestic fowl and settled on a $500.00 fine plus court costs. Meaning I could still keep my vegetable gardens. this was first week of December of Last Year...Merry Christmas huh? and I had 8 months to pay.
At the end of December insult to injury came. My wife had a major issue and required surgery, her retina detached and we were forced to go to Ottawa spending nights in hotels while she went through surgeries and observation. Plus repeated visits back to see the specialists meaning more over night stays. This cut into our budget and many days were missed from work. Life was getting expensive.
A proponent of my fight suggested I use social media to help and suggested Go Fund Me Page. I was reluctant on doing this and decided to cave in and start one to help cover some of the costs of trying to change the bylaw all by myself. https://ca.gofundme.com/f/fined-for-having-3-backyard-hens.
So I am asking those that are fellow chicken lovers to share the page in their Social Media to draw awareness to our fight. If you can contribute even a small amount that would be nice too.
If you are out there fighting to keep your chickens from ludicrous bylaws....KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT DON'T GIVE UP.... We will keep fighting here In North Bay.
Thanks in advance for all your comments on this Thread and for sharing the link in your social medial.
your story.
