Egg farmer hatches Ethics in Action award

“There’s going to be party in the hen house tonight,” exclaimed Stephen Easterbrook of Rabbit River Farms as he accepted the Ethics in Action Award back in 2001. Rabbit River – whose name originates from Stephen’s name Easter (Rabbit) and brook (River) – is an impressive example of combining socially responsible ethics in a sustainable business environment. Established in 1994, Rabbit River was the first certified organic free-range egg farm in Canada. Founder and owner Easterbrook is responsible for developing organic free-range husbandry techniques; he even co-wrote the organic poultry farming certification standards that are now used by all BC egg farmers.

The living conditions of the Rabbit River Farms chickens are extremely progressive by poultry farming standards and are in drastic contrast to conventional poultry farms where economy of scales and productivity are the ultimate priority. These operations typically house birds in layered cages not much larger than the bird’s body, where they are fed by an automated system and never see the light of day.

“There is a real need to strike a balance between animal welfare and our need for food,” says Easterbrook. “Provisional regulations must be reviewed to accommodate smaller-scale agriculture and humane treatment of all animals.” The ethical road is not always the easy road, and Easterbrook is no stranger to standing behind his beliefs and speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves. He has made significant contributions to Canadian organic agriculture and to the humane treatment of animals at great personal expense and time. Despite the many challenges, Easterbrook has remained true to his convictions and to his ultimate goal: to provide a natural and humane existence for his flock. Sponsored and created in large part by Vancity, the Ethics in Action Awards celebrate British Columbians who are leaders in the growing movement of corporate socially responsibility. Their actions and beliefs have a positive impact on our communities through emphasizing accountability and a strong commitment to social justice and environmental sustainability.