GROWNFOODS: Dirk Becker

Showing posts with label Dirk Becker. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Dust Bowl, 2012 - ??

Dirk Becker shared 350.org's photo.

Climate change is contributing to a massive drought in the midwest of the United States.

This is the result. Click LIKE if you agree that this isn't any kind of world to leave for our children.

5 · · · Share

11 people like this.
- Susan Anne Carter Oh dear...what have we done.
  
  9 hours ago · · 2
- Doug Janzen And Republicans still say there is no proof that man is causing the warming. Fools, mean and ignorant fools.
  
  9 hours ago ·
- Carol Spencer add Herr Harper in there as well..but is anyone stopping the rampant consumption of cheap goods from hugely polluting countries? is North AMerica the worst polluters?..and this has been affecting places closer to the equator for decades..now it is coming home to roost
  
  8 hours ago ·
- Doug Janzen I always want to simplify my life, less consumerism. Does Harper also say "no such thing" when it comes to climate change/global warming?
  
  8 hours ago ·
- Carol Spencer yes he did, but has backpedalled...decide for yourself..you might be amused.. http://www.harperindex.ca/ShowCategory.cfm?Show=Cat4
  
  The Harper Index - Positions and quotes
  www.harperindex.ca
  
  The Harper Index: Analyzing persuasion techniques of Canada's Conservatives - The Promises - The Record - The Responses
  
  7 hours ago ·
- Doug Janzen
  
  Confusing. I'd like to see Canada adopt the Kyoto guidelines. And make it a national priority to make an electric vehicle for commuting and hauling goods. We are a big country, a cold country, so we need a "made in Canada" solution for this. I want to be the world leader in this so we'd cut greenhouse gasses. Then make the oil sands as damn clean as possible. I know we need oil but REALLY make it as clean as getting the stuff out of the ground can be. I was a roughneck for a couple of years, I know the oil 'bidness' is messy but seriously just do it!
  
  7 hours ago ·
- Chris J. Slater Back to the past to see what lies in our future UNLESS we begin to take RESPONSIBILITY now (I'm thinking it's probably too late already! The canary in the coal mine died - killed by Corporations like Monsanto's monoculture Round-Up (TM ) Ready GMO's!) The Dirty Thirties http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_Bowl Only FOOLS think they can continue to take from the good earth without putting anything back! Rip out what God decided was best for the climate and microclimates and use CHEMICALS (herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, etc. to live better today!! It's foolish people, regardless of their politics, that do this to us! Dead, dry soil has no life to impart to our food. And if our food isn't dead enough already, we can always make sure its D - E - A- D by cooking the life from it! GROWNFOODS - Green, Raw, Organic, Wet (or Wild) and most important, Natural FOOD.
  
  Dust Bowl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  en.wikipedia.org
  
  The Dust Bowl, or the Dirty Thirties, was a period of severe dust storms causing...See more
  
  10 minutes ago · Edited · ·

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Harassment of Compassion Farm in Lantzville, B.C.

Compassion Farm Update – May 2012 Will "They" Never Learn?
Please read and consider http://www.synergymag.ca/compassion-farm-update-may-2012/

Having done so myself I wrote: Chris Slater says:

June 14, 2012 at 1:23 pm

In my opinion these three are nothing but paid mouthpieces (shareholders?) for multinational corporations like Monsanto. Please see “Millions Against Monsanto” http://www.organicconsumers.org/monsanto/ Why else are they so adamant over a few wheelbarrows of compost – able clippings? Good, we’ve got them running scared after all these years of poisoning OUR planet for their private profit, people are finally saying enough is enough. They never should have been allowed to patent life, especially – GMO’s – genetically modified organisms. We need common sense legislation like the European Union has: all GMO tainted so called “foods” MUST be labelled as such and give the public information we MUST have in order to avoid becoming their “guinea pigs”. Further, these three local troublemakers shouldn’t be given the time of day for their continual harassment and the invasion of privacy upon their peaceful neighbours at Compassion Farm. Shame on them!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Rope-a-Lantzville Dope

Susana Michaelis
‎(This post was buried in a long string and I think it is very important. Susana)

From: Dirk Becker
Dear folks,:

Nicole and I are very political. We feel strongly that the political is personal and involves every aspect our lives. I personally have run for office twice now. We also recognize that what we are doing here is not only political, it is also of global significance.

We have both served on many boards ranging from social, to environmental, to food.
Our lives have been turned upside down for 11 months now. I have not slept properly for most of that time (usually wake up at 4 am wet from nightmares) have been sick for 2 months, my back is out, our crops suck, the slugs are out of control, the weed are 3 feet tall etc.

Because of that and more, we have been pushed by our most trusted friends to retain a lawyer. The initial retainer will be about $5,000.00 We farm full time for a living, we also publish a magazine that is break even because we refuse to chase after and fill the magazine with ads. We also do free workshops, public talks, consult and counsel people weekly for free. I have been asked by a publisher to start a book, and another person has asked me to go on a cross canada tour to speak on this issue.

85% of farmers in canada have off farm jobs to make ends meet. I have not had a holiday for 10 years and we have not had a 2 night getaway for 2, going on 3 years now. In addition to all I have mentioned (there is more) we now need between 5,000 and $50,000.00 for this legal battle.

What we are asking is that you folks please take (this) battle to your personal face books. There are 1600+ members on this group. When they get posts from here and or join, we need them to be drawn to:
"Protect Urban Agriculture, Save Compassion Farm"

We need you and others (on this site) to direct their energy towards the future of food in canada through bottom up, grass roots actions like this.

Thank you for your understanding and support thus far, i sincerely hope you will stay the course with us, as this issue and fight affects all of in this group, the people of Vancouver Island, of British Columbia, of Canada, of North America and the rest of all people around the world.

Thank You,
Yours in Service, Dirk Becker.

7 hours ago · · ·

You and 2 others like this.
- Glenda Allard Barr Thank you, Susana. This is, indeed, an important post. It hurts to read it, but it dramatizes the ordeal that Dirk and Nicole cannot escape, and the need for our energies to find resolution for this issue. I deleted the word "try" in the last sentence, because we cannot end the struggle until good sense prevails and the value of the work our farmers do is fully recognized!
  7 hours ago · · 1 person
- Chris J. Slater Dirk and Nichol - "Rope-A-Dope!" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rope-a-dope and "Illegitimi non carborundum" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegitimi_non_carborundum . Yes those who want to be your oppressors and bullies are truly sick. Agreed? But don't feed them and what they crave by wasting your time and energies by worrying about what they have or can do. Enjoy your chosen vocations, it's always darkest before dawn. And there is one coming. There are elections in the District of Lantzville in November and rather than trying to change the minds of those now in power, we need to expose them for what they are and work for regime change. To spend $5,000 on legal retainers let alone $50,000, or on advertising, hoping to educate or change their minds is foolishness. Get on with what you need to do. If that angry neighbour, Mayor, Councillors or anyone else is harassing you or your property, report them to the RCMP, by-law enforcement or whatever authority is responsible for good law and order. And thank you for sharing what losers they are. But what about Jack De Jong's well researched solution: apply for "Farm Tax Status" ? There are 9 properties in a situation similar to yours, but they already have the Status. That designation comes from the BC Assessment Authority and that MUST be the end of The D of L's demands, unless they want to continue this charade of discrimination. Raw Manure, Flies, Plague, Etc. In my opinion, having been there personally, they are FULL of IT! Better yet, the District of L will have less of YOUR tax dollars to spend on such foolishness. Please, reconsider and get that Status, then people, let's work to "Turf The Turkeys" in November! Please, Dirk and Nicole, continue your very important fight: to restore some sanity to our RIGHT to FEED ourselves and whoever we choose without government or corporate interference! People, please, wherever you are in the world, rise up, your RIGHTS must be respected! And tell everyone who EATS: Protect Urban Agriculture, Save Compassion Farm...How? Join the fight!
  Rope-a-dope - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  en.wikipedia.org
  The Rope-a-dope is a boxing fighting style commonly associated with Muhammad Ali...See more
  12 minutes ago · · 1 person ·
- Chris J. Slater FB always has to leave off something! Send this link to whoever you know who eats! http://www.facebook.com/groups/143703205679538/ Ask them to join in a righteous campaign.
  Protect Urban Agriculture, Save Compassion Farm...
  One of our sacred local food sources (Compassion Farm - Lantzville, BC) has come under attack by those who do not understand the importance of urban agriculture. The purpose of this group is to creat...
  7 minutes ago · · 2 people ·

Monday, June 27, 2011

Educating People about Flies, Odours, Etc...

Protect Urban Agriculture, Save Compassion Farm...

Open group

Hmm: At the outset, guess we need to set out some information for Lantzville Mayor Colin Haime, certain of the councilors, ignorant neighbours and others:

Compost          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compost
Manure           http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manure
Wasp                http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasp
Hornet               http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornet
Fly                     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly
Plague            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague
Odour               http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odor
Surface runoff http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_runoff

Dirk Becker

Quote of the day from Haime's blog:

"Interesting how those that are in favour of Compassion Farm seem to keep saying that I do not understand yet have based their opinions on what others have said rather than a discussion with me regarding what I understand. I also find it interesting that those that support Compassion Farm do not question Rod Negrave or Joe Bratkowski why they have not visited the neighbour who is plagued with living beside Compassion Farm. The smell is offensive, there is concern about run off into their well from the fresh(uncomposted) manure spread amongst the plants, the flys on their house are disturbing".

Saturday at 22:17 · · ·

- Bernadette Keenan You need spiders for those flies.
  
  Saturday at 22:25 ·
- Holly Bright Flies disturb the hell out of me.
  
  Saturday at 22:37 ·
- Holly Bright c'est la vie
  
  Saturday at 22:37 ·
- Renessa Bak What ? you keeping pigs Dirk? kind of wakes up ya nosthrills don't it. Darn, I always considered manure's fragrance as a super dose of medicine like one whiff of walking in ya house with some's a cooking on ya stove and nuff to wet ya appetite. or walks in on a garden and is greeted with its beauquet of heavenscent let air about the plants as music flows through and bout our being. . .
  
  Saturday at 22:38 ·
- Holly Bright Do you think that neighbor would really welcome visits? Is your yard smell offensive, Dirk? Is there ANY way to keep those flies OUT of that man's yard? Yeesh. Is that REALLY why this Mayor is pursuing this? Are you KIDDING me? OMG, chaching, chaching...tax dollars are running down their well as we speak.
  
  Saturday at 22:39 · · 1 person
- Holly Bright
  
  I guess the Mayor didn't notice all those people at the meetings listening with their own two ears to what was being said? I agree, Quote of the day. It does get uber frustrating doesn't it. I was plagued with living next to a drug dea...See more
  
  Saturday at 22:52 · · 1 person
- Dirk Becker Ironically, what they probably took pictures of is the blue/black mason bees that warm themselves in sun on the front wall of our house before they pollinate our 20+ fruits trees.
  If they are 'regular' house flies or blue bole flies, they would coming from the 17 dogs on our street who are pooing everywhere. Do they have e coli?
  
  Saturday at 23:05 · · 2 people
- Renessa Bak
  
  funny how I totally forgot this evening of how I'd asked a violin player not so long ago "have you ever got any answers you like?". kNOw, he . share. and then started grabbing answers out of the air from all over at which, my hands gathered...See more
  
  Saturday at 23:28 ·
- Dirk Becker A comment from councilor Dempsey in November:
  "I find it interesting that Richmond does not allow chickens. Perhaps you could get everyone to jump on Richmond for their short sighted thinking."
  
  Saturday at 23:46 ·
- Dirk Becker
  
  Part of email #2 of 5 long emails from the mayor 11:30 at night on November 14th:
  Our comments marked with a *
  
  Hello Nicole,
  
  ...See more
  
  Saturday at 23:50 ·
- April Reeves
  
  I know that if it was me going through this, me and Haimes would be in court together. He's already biased his opinion with assumptions, and as a Mayor, you cannot do that, both legally and integrally. He has no real evidence of where the f...See more
  
  18 hours ago · · 1 person
- Dirk Becker Thats what we were saying when we went to bed at 2 am.
  
  16 hours ago · · 1 person
- Bernadette Keenan Document - still an option down the road.
  
  15 hours ago · · 1 person
- Robert Powelson Offensive smells? Flies? When I visited, I walked around the veggie garden and right down to the pond in sandals with bare feet... I didn't smell anything, nor was I bothered by flies ( a bee perhaps that got too close unexpectedly, but no flies)
  
  7 hours ago · · 1 person
- Tanja Verena having neighbors like the ones Dirk and Nicole have, is disturbing!!!
  
  5 hours ago · · 1 person
- Louise Reid wow this sounds llike a weird situation why is this called a compassion farm whats being grown on the property
  
  5 hours ago ·
- Vida Turok dido Robert, was at the farm last Thursday no foul smell, no flies, just butterflies...maybe that's what they meant....ha ha.
  
  4 hours ago ·

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Lawyer Letter from Lantzville, BC

Nicole Shaw
Late Friday afternoon, June 10th, we were served

with a letter (link to letter posted below) by a Law

Firm from Victoria, informing us that the District

of Lantzille, City Council, is taking further legal

action against us. We have been fighting this fight

since September of last year.

After eight months, we are feeling harassed and tired.

We rely on people to use this information each in

their own way. As many of you know, we only grow

less than 5% of our food on Vancouver Island, thus

over 95% is imported. Furthermore, there is only 2

days fresh food supply in our grocery stores. As

more people move here, and the population

increases, combined with natural disasters and

global unrest, food, water and climate change are

the three big, global issues today. It is becoming

increasingly evident that the local food movement

is the most powerful tool we have to create a

shift in our current culture.

We look forward to seeing how people respond

to yet another attack on those who are thinking

about the future, our children's future and doing

their best to create a world that we can all live

in. Thank you in advance for the action you will

take in support of sustainability and local food.

Yours in service,

Dirk and Nicole http://www.synergymag.ca/wp-co

ntent/uploads/2011/06/DOL-Lawy

erLetter-06-10-11.jpg

http://www.synergymag.ca/wp-co
ntent/uploads/2011/06/DOL-LawyerLetter-06-10-11.jpg

www.synergymag.ca

Yesterday at 19:46 · · ·

- Tara Hannaford Qua ‎3 weeks, and then what? more paperwork and harassment? This has to stop.
  
  Yesterday at 19:55 ·
- Wendell Rylander Do you have a legal fund set up yet that one could donate to?
  
  Yesterday at 20:07 · · 3 people
- Renessa Bak
  
  Dirk and Nicole, may the wait on your shoulders, life, easily as my thoughts have come to mind . . and while I never spoke up . . . this time . . for you guys. . . realize. . . you are speaking of much more than providing a wee percentage of the food for Vancouver Island.
  When first I heard . . was it marlene Ditrich or . . ah, it no matter, they spoke of needing to eat the food you count on for your life.
  Realize what the plants do for us. . . they take the element called water and l'eau by the french and lord knows. . . bet. . . that would make an awesome blog. . . what is your language's name for water?
  
  Yesterday at 20:27 ·
- Renessa Bak the element which is the happy medium tween the cosmic consciousness and the matter from which life springs forth from planet earth . . . when first I heard of we need to live within 50 miles of the food we live on. . I thought, ha ha. while now? ? ? will share more later, wish attend well as post another picture in the labum. of pics I took while wisiting with here.
  
  Yesterday at 20:44 ·
- Kathy Plant i don't want my taxes paying for this nonsense. how are they able to do this without approval from all the councilors? was there a secret board meeting? i don't get this council at all.
  
  Yesterday at 20:59 · · 2 people
- Janice Diane I'm speechless!
  
  Yesterday at 21:28 ·
- Sarah Wallbank You wont be paying, Kathy. Without support, and if they lose, then Dirk and Nicole will be.
  
  22 hours ago ·
- Dirk Becker Recently i spend 2 days a whole year of council minutes.
  Most most meetings involved an in camera "secret meeting" at the end. Many of those since june last year would have at least involved if not been specifically about us. Those references can be found on the Lantzville city website.
  
  15 hours ago ·
- Dirk Becker We are thinking that in addition to writing to the mayor and council, it is time to go beyond Lantzville Council.
  We need to contact our MLA's, MP's and the Minister of Agriculture to have the Provincial Legislation changed so that the Right to Farm Act protects Urban Farmers.
  
  15 hours ago · · 1 person
- Kathy Plant we got a flyer yesterday promoting http://mayorhaime.ca
  i wonder if our taxes are paying for that bit of fluff .. argghh
  
  15 hours ago ·
- Dirk Becker Humour: http://www.tourismnanaimo.com/calendar-of-events/bowen-road-farmers-market-10/
  
  14 hours ago ·
- Dirk Becker
  
  Ian McElroy Start contacting the press and get the MLA's and MP's involved. Once you start making it an election issue against the Council they will start backing down.
  
  Don't give up man, we need you.
  7 hours ago · Like · 1 person
  
  Ian McElroy Have you talked to the city planner as well? That would be the first step to find a workaround. If the planner won't help because it going towards the courts, or it has become a political issue, you'll need to get a zoning lawyer. There are at least two outfits in Nanaimo, maybe called the small scale food producers association and another (?) that have their own lawyers that would help you out if they got behind you.
  
  The best bet is to talk to the city planner to see if they will help you find a way to work around the zoning issue.
  
  Also, just for a kick in the teeth, the city of Nanaimo advertises small scale food producers on their webpage. http://www.tourismnanaimo.com/calendar-of-events/bowen-road-farmers-market-10/
  7 hours ago · Like
  
  Ian McElroy See if these groups can help you out: http://www.fooddemocracy.org/
  http://www.cityfarmer.org/
  http://www.ssfpa.net/
  http://www.nanaimofoodshare.ca/
  7 hours ago · Like · 1 person
  
  14 hours ago · · 1 person
- Dirk Becker
  
  Dwayne Radke "We advocate for governmental policies that protect and encourage organic agriculture in British Columbia and throughout Canada."
  http://www.buylocalthinkglobal.com/organic_grower_canada.cfm?local=British_Columbia&merchid=274
  7 hours ago · Like · 1 person
  Dirk Becker Yes, agreed! Thank you for all the excellent suggestions!
  Please paste them into an email for later when people ask what they can do so you can repost them.!
  We are thinking that in addition to writing to the mayor and council, it is time to go beyond Lantzville Council.
  We need to contact our MLA's, MP's and the Minister of Agriculture to have the Provincial Legislation changed so that the Right to Farm Act protects Urban Farmers.
  Having said that, we farm full time, started and run the Bowen Road Farmers Market, publish Synergy Magazine and i have not been on a holiday in 9 years. We need others to fight for food and farmer rights. We (already) do that every day... Tired...
  7 minutes ago · Like
  Dirk Becker Here is the back story http://www.synergymag.ca/a-lantzville-couple’s-fight-for-the-right-to-grow-food/
  
  14 hours ago ·
- David Stanley This affair is a disgrace. In November Lantzville mayor, Colin Haime, his wife, Denise Haime and the rest of Lantzville Council apart from Rod Negrave should be thrown out on their ears. I'm ready to support such a campaign financially.
  
  14 hours ago · · 1 person
- Nicole Shaw I just read the http://mayorhaime.ca site... the last words on the home page are: "do note that this site represents information provided solely by myself and the views expressed here represent my views only and not necessarily those of Council."
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Martha Foster I just can't believe this is happening in little old Lantzville. Lived here 30 years and have never seen the likes of this nonsense. Time for a new mayor and council !!!
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Gord Fuller Curious, I know they were working on a bylaw re urban gardens and believe it is still in its draft stages? Has it been through public hearing? If that bylaw was passed would it help you and Nicole in anyway? If in fact they are still in the process of adopting the bylaw how can they justify taking you to court? I'm with David above and while I can't help much would be willing to contribute to a legal fund.
  
  11 hours ago ·
- Nicole Shaw Hi Gord - they are still in the process of creating a bylaw. The two Haimes believe it is the "size" of our "operation" that is creating the "problem" (actually repeatedly calling our place "an industrial operation") so they are writing the bylaw to limit how much food can be grown on residential property. They are making sure people cannot make a living at it.
  
  11 hours ago ·
- Gord Fuller Thanx Nicole, I likely knew all this but sometimes my brain is a sieve. Seems to me that the 20% allowed for n urban food garden by this proposed bylaw might actually be increased after public input. Should be. As they do not have the final bylaw approved then you should be simply legal non-conforming until the bylaw is finalized. Anywho if there is any way I can be of service don't hesitate to let me know.
  
  11 hours ago ·
- Amanda Orum just curious what it would take to rezone your property so you could garden the way you would need? I see boards all over nanaimo that have application for rezoning... maybe lantzville has something of that sort?
  
  11 hours ago ·
- Dirk Becker Amanda and all: The mayor is in vindictive, revenge mode and not interested in anything other than shutting us down.
  
  11 hours ago ·
- Dirk Becker
  
  Letter From Edna Chadwick:
  
  This has just arrived from Nicole Shaw and Dirk Becker from Compassion Farms.
  If you're not aware of this battle of Lantzville bullies against urban farmers, look up "Protect Urban Agriculture, Save Compassion Farms" The group has 775 members and has gone global reaching as far as India.
  
  Dirk and Nicole have been harrassed now for 8, 9 months by their neighbours, Jim and Valeen Brash, Lantzville Mayor and most of Lantzville Council for daring to grow and sell organic food on their 2 1/2 acre residential property and despite a huge turn out of citizens supporting them.
  
  I'm passing this on to most people on my address list because I feel that this has to be one of the biggest travesties of justice I have experienced in a long time. I believe that Lantzville mayor, Colin Haime, his wife, Denise Haime and the rest of Lantzville Council apart from Rod Negrave should be thrown out on their ears for incurring the biggest waste of tax payers money in history, ignoring the wishes of it's citizens and harrassment of the general public.
  
  I'm shaking in my shoes as I write this and am coming to believe that the world is going stark staring mad !!!!
  
  All this while Nanaimo is just about to pass a bylaw allowing for more sustainable and local food growth and will be the first community in BC to allow the onsite sale of food from an urban garden.
  
  Please pass this on to anyone you know. Lantzville mayor and council should be bending over backwards to assist Dirk and Nicole (the founders of our wonderful Farmer's Market at Beban Park) and pioneers in the food sustainabilty movement. Instead they have caused them so much stress I don't know how they continue to do what they do. It makes one question the motives of the said Lantzville Mayor and council. I exclude from this statement councillor Rod Negrave who should be immediately elected mayor once the rest have been kicked out on their ears in November !!
  
  Best Wishes,
  
  Edna Chadwick
  
  11 hours ago · · 2 people
- Dirk Becker Gord and all:
  Please read this article: http://www.synergymag.ca/ways-means-of-bullying/
  
  11 hours ago ·
- Gord Fuller There is no doubt that the mayor et al fit the bill on bullying. I do like Amanda's idea of rezoning though there is a cost to it and if the 20% proposed in the new bylaw could be increased there would be no need to do so. There must be a way to beat the system by using the system. Question: If everyone that were to track this site were to make comments on http://mayorhaime.ca/ would that be considered bullying?
  
  10 hours ago ·
- Glenda Allard Barr That depends on the approach, and I would not like to see the people stoop to engaging in the bullying i have seen come from politicians. Please be reasonable, folks!
  
  9 hours ago ·
- Mike Suds dear dirk and nicole, i will write the lawyer and lantzville about
  this infringement on yours and everyones basic human rights. please never
  give up and never give in. remember the woody guthrie song this land is your land. blast it out your window whenever you feel threatened by those that
  oppose freedom and human rights.
  
  8 hours ago via · · 3 people
- Dirk Becker http://gopublic@cbc.ca
  
  5 hours ago · · 1 person
- Dirk Becker http://www.davidtracey.ca/2011/06/14/farmers-vs-lawyers/
  
  4 hours ago · · 1 person
- Nicole Shaw “One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” - Dr. Martin Luther King jr.
  
  4 hours ago · · 2 people
- Chris J. Slater
  
  Know those who would make themselves your enemy (including their barking dogs). Guess Lantzville decided to spend your tax dollars on a firm in Victoria, probably because no one in this area wanted to touch it with a 10' pole. So here is a little research if some night you're having trouble sleeping... - Staples Mcdannold Stewart, Victoria http://bit.ly/jKRl7q and Robert Macquisten -http://bit.ly/mlFDMK if you're interested. The legal firm is a "gun for hire" and the first shot is this so called "lawyers letter". Guess Mayor Colin has the authority to retain a legal firm to write this, but I doubt that he has authority to proceed to a court test of their now "under review" by-laws. For whatever it is worth, I believe it is best just to "file it" and show it around as you are doing. For that firm to proceed they will most likely require a "retainer fee" for this very dubious action. I suggest a "freedom of information" request to find out what was ordered and the costs would be in order. If you decide to do nothing then you have 1. Called their bluff, nothing happens and whoever ordered this wears it. 2. They have to proceed with a court action, in Provincial Court of British Columbia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provincial_Court_of_British_Columbia as this is a by-law infraction matter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bylaw, in a court which is (was?) "self representation" friendly. Also see Bylaw enforcement officer:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bylaw_enforcement_officer. Interesting the By-law enforcement officer is from the RDN - Regional District of Nanaimo. So they will have to be included in this "action", another indication of how Haime and Co. have dropped the ball. And then you will have a chance to put your case before a LOCAL Court (Request a change of venue if they try to have it heard in anywhere other than Nanaimo for the lawyers convenience.) and if under the Pilot project there are going to be fees http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/261_93_05 you should be able to apply for Indigent status. If and when you're served, use this form to REPLY
  http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/courts/forms/scl/scl002.pdf
  and COUNTERSUE them for your expenses, loss of income, peace of mind, etc. (Best defence is a good offensive) It used to be that lawyers had a hard time getting judgement against defendents in PCBC, I'm wondering if that is now changing? Any law students out there, who care to enlighten us? Legal Aid? Well, I know it sucks, but that's what they are counting on...you getting tired and worn out by their petty used oats (2 kinds of oats - before and after going through the bull...) But all they have succeeded in doing so far is to PISS OFF fair minded people who mind their own business. Expose these petty dictators for what they are. Bullies.
  
  8 minutes ago ·