Neighbours to Universal Ostrich Farm have filed a civil suit following weeks of occupation by police and officials last year.
A notice of civil claim was filed with the Vernon Courthouse Feb. 10 naming Alyson Turnbull, Trevor Klug and Margaret Greba as plaintiffs.
The suit is against the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), RCMP and His Majesty the King in Right of Canada.
The residents live on a 28-acre property on Langille Road, next to the Universal Ostrich Farm.
But their own farm and property has taken a toll from the ostrich farm occupation that extended onto their land by RCMP and CFIA last fall.
“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,” Turnbull said in a social media post. “Reliving it has been difficult in new ways I didn’t fully expect.”
A search warrant issued Sept. 3, 2025 to ostrich farm co-owner Karen Greba, when the plaintiffs were not home, included their property.
The claim says the defendants trespassed between Sept. 22 to Nov. 13 and the conduct of the RCMP and CFIA “constituted abuse and caused mental distress to the plaintiffs.”
Along with alleged property damage, the suit says property access was restricted, harvest of garlic and/or apples was refused (resulting in loss of income) and the owners’ use and enjoyment of the property was restricted.
“The experience leading up to the war zone style killing of animals we have loved for decades was harrowing,” said Turnbull, noting nearly 1,000 rounds were fired during the Nov. 6 cull directly beside the residence, 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.”
Relief sought includes damages to property as well as for trespass, assault and battery. A permanent injunction restraining the defendants from trespassing on the property is also sought.
The defendants have 21 days to respond.