District survey launched to obtain public input into a community chicken co-op

The District of Squamish is seeking input from residents into a proposed community chicken co-op, which is being explored as a solution to address community interest in raising chickens in a safe, controlled environment. The survey is available at Squamish.ca/survey until December 12, 2013.

“Urban agriculture is recognized in the Official Community Plan as an increasingly important mechanism to diversify and localize the food system in order to address food security,” says District of Squamish Mayor, Rob Kirkham. “While urban agriculture is about much more than chickens, we recognize there is community interest in raising chickens for food security reasons, access to free-range eggs, and education purposes. A community co-op could achieve these goals while maintaining our ability to minimize wildlife conflicts.”

Backyard chickens attract wildlife, and District resources are focused on reducing the potential for wildlife-human conflicts in Squamish neighbourhoods. Through the WildSafeBC program, the partners involved work hard to reduce and manage existing wildlife attractants, not increase them.

District Council is committed to exploring the idea of a community chicken co-op whereby chickens are raised on appropriately zoned property, in a controlled environment, and looked after by a committed group of community members. Such co-ops address the issue of food security and education, while maintaining controlled environments that would not attract wildlife into urban density residential neighbourhoods.

“Gaining public input into the logistics of how a chicken co-op concept could be executed is an important piece of making this the best possible solution,” continues Kirkham.

The public is invited to provide input by December 12, 2013. Click here to complete the survey.

November 12, 2013