Our group, Ban the Cannons, was formed in the spring of 2001. Initially, a half dozen people started the organization, and began to raise awareness of the noise pollution issue caused by propane cannons. They were able to get some media attention, and distributed flyers to hundreds of homes in areas impacted by cannons.
As a result of these early efforts the group quickly grew. The organizers found that there are many people in the community affected by cannons, people who felt strongly about the noise pollution issue, but also felt helpless to be able to do anything about it. Individuals really can’t do much in a battle against the Ministry of Agriculture’s Farm Practices Act, or a lobby group such as the berry farmers.
However, once the group was formed and making noise of a different kind, people from many communities began to get involved. In 2001 the group grew to include members from Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley, Surrey, Mission, Delta, and Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows. During 2002 we assisted people in the Okanagan, and now have members in Summerland and Kelowna who are battling abusive grape growers and their propane cannons.
The primary goal of our group, Ban the Cannons, is to strive for a total ban of propane cannons and all other noise polluting bird scare devices in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia.