In the quiet city of Kelowna, British Columbia, an act of vandalism at a government office has drawn national attention and reignited a heated debate over animal welfare, public health, and government accountability. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) office on Bredin Road became the target of public outrage on Sunday, November 9, 2025, when feces were smeared over its windows and doors and eggs were hurled at the building. This brazen display of anger came just two days after the CFIA carried out a dramatic and controversial cull of over 300 ostriches at the Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, a small rural community not far from Kelowna.
According to local police, the vandalism occurred around 3 p.m. on Sunday. Cpl. Allison Konsmo, media relations officer for the Kelowna RCMP, stated, "Our teams are canvassing the area, collecting video surveillance and attempting to identify the suspects. No other details can be released at this time to keep the integrity of the investigation." The RCMP is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact their main detachment, referencing file number 2025-67770, or to leave an anonymous tip with Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers.
While vandalism is hardly a new form of protest, the timing and symbolism of this act are impossible to ignore. The events that sparked this outrage began late on Thursday, November 6, when the CFIA, with the backing of law enforcement, euthanized more than 300 ostriches at the Edgewood farm. The method—shooting the birds in the middle of the night—has since become the central focus of public scrutiny and family grief.
Videos shared online by protesters and supporters of the farm show gunfire erupting in the darkness of the ostrich pens, which the CFIA had controlled since September. The farm, owned by the Pasitney family, had been locked in a legal battle with the federal agency for months, fighting a cull order that traced its origins back to an avian influenza outbreak declared in December 2024. The farm’s resistance through every available legal channel delayed the cull until November, but ultimately, the agency’s authority prevailed.
On November 10, just days after the cull, Katie Pasitney—whose mother co-owns the ostrich farm—spoke publicly about the ordeal, her voice raw with emotion and frustration. As reported by Global News, Pasitney accused the CFIA of acting without warning or compassion. "The ostriches were gunned down in the middle of the night by cowards by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency," she said, adding that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police did not inform the family about the impending gunfire. For the Pasitneys, the shock was not just in the loss of their animals but in the manner and secrecy with which it was carried out.
Pasitney’s anger was palpable. She continued, "That night was not the end, but it was a beginning. And it started a new waging, a new kind of war. And it's not one of weapons, but of accountability for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency." Such strong language reflects a broader sense of betrayal and a call for transparency and responsibility from federal authorities.
The CFIA’s actions were not without precedent. As the agency responsible for safeguarding Canada’s food supply and animal health, it has the legal authority to order the destruction of livestock in the event of a contagious disease outbreak. Avian influenza, known for its rapid spread and devastating impact on both commercial and backyard flocks, is treated with utmost seriousness. Since the outbreak was declared at the Edgewood farm in December 2024, the CFIA had maintained strict control over the ostrich pens, citing the need to contain the virus and prevent its spread to other farms or wildlife.
But the manner of the cull—carried out under the cover of darkness, with no prior notification to the owners—has raised difficult questions about how such operations should be conducted. For animal welfare advocates, the use of firearms rather than more conventional euthanasia methods is deeply troubling. For the Pasitney family and their supporters, the lack of communication and perceived disregard for their rights and feelings is a wound that will not heal easily.
According to Global News, the family’s online posts and videos have galvanized a wave of sympathy and anger across social media platforms. Many commenters have echoed Pasitney’s characterization of the event as a "war"—not just against the birds, but against the values of fairness and due process. Others, however, have pointed out the difficult position faced by the CFIA, tasked with making hard decisions to protect public health, sometimes at the expense of individual livelihoods and emotional bonds with animals.
In the days following the cull, emotions ran high in Edgewood and beyond. The vandalism at the Kelowna CFIA office, while condemned by authorities, was interpreted by some as a desperate act of protest—an attempt to force a conversation about the power wielded by federal agencies and the need for empathy in the enforcement of public health measures.
The CFIA, for its part, has remained largely silent, citing the ongoing police investigation and the need to maintain the integrity of their disease control protocols. The agency’s standard procedures are designed to minimize the risk of further outbreaks, but critics argue that more humane and transparent approaches are needed, especially when dealing with family-run farms and rare livestock like ostriches.
The ostrich cull and its aftermath have also sparked wider discussions about the intersection of science, policy, and rural life in Canada. The avian influenza outbreak at the Edgewood farm was not the first of its kind, nor will it likely be the last. As climate change, global trade, and shifting agricultural practices increase the risk of animal-borne diseases, the challenge for authorities is to balance swift, effective action with compassion and respect for those most affected.
For the Pasitney family, the fight is far from over. Their calls for accountability have resonated with others who feel marginalized or unheard by government agencies. Whether the vandalism at the CFIA office was the work of a rogue individual or a symptom of deeper unrest, it is clear that this story has touched a nerve in Canadian society.
As the RCMP continues its investigation and the national conversation unfolds, one thing is certain: the events in Kelowna and Edgewood have forced Canadians to confront uncomfortable questions about how we treat animals, each other, and the institutions meant to protect us all.
