Vancouver group stirs feathers at local farm
Abbotsford poultry barn under investigation
Marcia Downham, The Times
Published: Friday, June 06, 2008

A local poultry farm that has been in operation for more than 20 years is being investigated after complaints were raised by a Vancouver-based environmental group.

The poultry farm is adjacent to the Mt. Lehman Elementary School's playing field. The non-profit environmental group Lifeforce questioned why kids are allowed to play so close to a barn that has several hooded vents.

"A lot of scientific studies show a significant amount of bacteria can be blown out of poultry barns, and this barn could be putting children at risk for respiratory problems like asthma," said Lifeforce spokesman Peter Hamilton.

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A Vancouver-based group said this poultry barn is too close to an Abbotsford elementary school, and may cause health problems although no one has complained about the farm, which has been operating on Taylor Road for 40 years. The health authority and school district are looking into the matter.
Jean Konda-Witte/Times

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Font:****"Health risks to children playing near these operations are of great concern . . . immediate action must be taken," Hamilton wrote in a letter to the Fraser Health Authority and the Fraser Valley Regional District air quality and environment committee.

"This is definitely not a normal kind of complaint and this is the first time this question has ever been raised," said George Rice, manager of environmental health services with Fraser Health. He said the FHA is holding an investigation.

"We are looking at any potential health issues, especially on the school grounds. We will assess what's being discharged out of the barn and then we will do a risk assessment to determine if there's a risk of exposure," he said.

It could be a couple weeks before they can gather all the data, he said.

George Murray, secretary treasurer of the Abbotsford School District, said the district has about six schools located in agricultural zones.

"This is a first time thing, but we are working and talking with the health officer to make sure everything is okay," he said this week.

To date, there have been no complaints about the targeted farm from the school, neighbours or anyone else, said Bill Vanderspek, general manager of the B.C. Chicken Marketing Board.

"This barn has been in operation for over 20 years. It is not a problem farm, it is following all the required guidelines and is in good standing with the board in all respects," said Vanderspek.

The farm in question is fully certified in the On Farm Food Safety Assurance program, a national program for all poultry farmers in Canada, and in the B.C. Bio-Security program, created to tighten farm access to prevent the spread of disease after the 2004 Avian Influenza outbreak, said Vanderspek.

He noted someone from Lifeforce was trying to get on to valley pig farms last year.

"They have been around before," he said. Vanderspek said an advisory was sent out to area farmers because the person was traveling unannounced from farm to farm and could potentially have been carrying contaminants from one farm to another.