Man dies suddenly at protest camp outside B.C. ostrich farm amid ongoing court dispute

A man has died at a protest camp outside a British Columbia ostrich farm that has been fighting a federal order to cull its birds following an avian flu outbreak.

Nakusp RCMP said officers were called around 7 a.m. Monday after a police liaison team discovered an unresponsive man at the Universal Ostrich Farm near Edgewood. Officers performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but despite continued efforts, the man could not be revived.

Police confirmed the man’s identity but said next of kin are still being notified. Investigators said the death does not appear suspicious, and the BC Coroners Service is now leading the investigation.

A representative for the farm, Katie Pasitney, shared an online tribute describing the man as “kind” and “protecting life,” reflecting the emotional toll of a months-long battle over the fate of the farm’s flock.

The Supreme Court of Canada is expected to decide Thursday whether it will hear the farm’s appeal against the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s cull order. The agency ordered hundreds of ostriches destroyed last December after an H5N1 avian flu outbreak killed 69 birds. The court previously granted a temporary stay of the cull while it considers whether to take the case.

If the court declines to hear the appeal, the stay will be lifted, allowing the cull to proceed. If the case moves forward, the birds’ fate will hinge on a future hearing. Supporters have been maintaining a presence at the site for months, and three protesters were recently arrested for allegedly interfering with CFIA operations.