Respect Wildlife or Pay the Price

🦭 Respect Wildlife or Pay the Price: Seals, Birds & the Law in British Columbia

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
July 14, 2025

British Columbia’s stunning coastlines and parks are home to incredible wildlife—harbour seals, Canadian geese, ducks, otters, gulls—but every summer, we see an increase in harmful, ignorant, or outright cruel behaviour by people who don’t understand the law, or worse, don’t care.

We are here to say loud and clear: STOP harassing wildlife. It’s illegal. It’s dangerous. And it can cost you thousands of dollars in fines.

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🚫 Recent Incidents: What’s Going On?

• A seal pup was kicked into the ocean in Victoria by a tourist. The pup was left shivering and distressed.
• Another pup was grabbed by a person wading in the water trying to "help" it, disrupting its mother's return.
• Children and unleashed dogs are chasing ducklings and goslings in city parks. A woman had to wade into a pond to stop a dog attacking a duck family.
• Gulls, geese, and seals are being fed by hand or cornered for selfies.

This must stop.

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⚖️ What the Law Says

Under Canada’s Marine Mammal Regulations (part of the Fisheries Act) and B.C.’s Wildlife Act, it is illegal to:

• Touch, feed, disturb, or interfere with a marine mammal (including seals and sea lions)
• Approach a seal, sea lion, or whale within 100 metres
• Harass birds and waterfowl (like ducks, geese, herons, gulls) or interfere with nesting

💥 Penalties can include:

• Fines from $345 to $12,000+
• Confiscation of boats, cameras, drones, or gear
• Criminal charges for repeated or malicious acts

In 2023, a B.C. boat operator was fined $10,000 for feeding seals. A jet skier in 2025 was fined $5,000 for approaching dolphins too closely.

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🐾 Why Wildlife Needs Space

Seal pups are often left on beaches while mothers hunt. Human presence can scare off the mom permanently—leaving a healthy pup orphaned.

Ducklings and goslings can die from stress, injury, or drowning if chased by dogs or children.

Feeding wildlife changes their behaviour, increases dependency, and exposes them to harm.

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✅ What a Good Human Does

• Keep dogs leashed at all times near water or nesting areas
• Stay back at least 100 metres from seals and marine mammals
• Never feed or touch wild animals—this includes birds and squirrels
• Teach children to observe, not disturb
• Report abuse to:
• DFO Marine Mammal Hotline: 1-800-465-4336
• BC Conservation Officer Service: 1-877-952-7277

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🌊 Our Message: Be a Guardian, Not a Threat

We are lucky to share this province with such remarkable creatures. But with that privilege comes responsibility. Whether you're a tourist, newcomer, or lifelong local, you play a role in protecting them.

Harming wildlife is not just unkind—it’s criminal. Fines and charges will apply. And the emotional damage—to animals, to children watching, and to ecosystems—lasts even longer.

Please share this post widely. Education is protection. Respect is love.

🖌️ Blog by Zipolita | Tina Winterlik | @zipolita
💚 Advocate. Artist. Mother. Guardian of the Wild.

If You Wanted to Destroy a Country, You’d Start With Its Kids

If You Wanted to Destroy a Country, You’d Start With Its Kids

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

If you wanted to take over a country quietly—without a single bomb or bullet—what would you do?

You’d drug the kids.
You’d flood the streets with poison.
You’d let them die, slowly, publicly, painfully.
And you’d make sure no one in power stopped it.

Sound extreme?

Look around.

We are watching an entire generation slip away—one fentanyl hit at a time.
Kids, teens, young adults. Slumped on sidewalks. Disappearing from schools. Vanishing from families.

And no one is treating it like the emergency it is.

Where are the full-scale treatment centers?
Where are the emergency mental health teams?
Where is the housing, the education, the grief support for families burying their children?

Instead, we get photo ops. PR spin. Condos no one can afford. And more obituaries.

If this was a war—and let’s be honest, it is—then these are the casualties.
But no one is fighting for them.

You want to weaken a nation?
You take out its young people.
You break them with trauma, drown them in hopelessness, and leave them with no future.
You call them “unhousable” instead of human.
You blame them while doing nothing to stop the bleeding.

And you make sure the survivors are too broken, too isolated, or too poor to push back.

But here's what they didn't count on:

We see what’s happening.
We’re not all asleep.
And some of us are done being polite about it.

This isn’t a “crisis.”
It’s a form of erasure.
And if we don’t say it—bluntly, loudly, relentlessly—it will keep happening until there’s nothing left.

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📢 If you feel this in your bones, share it.
Talk to your kids.
Talk to your neighbours.
Call it what it is.
And never stop demanding better.

They’ve taken too many already.
They don’t get the rest without a fight.

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No More Silence

No More Silence: It's Time to Stand Together – A Call for Justice for BC’s Forgotten Families

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

For decades, people in British Columbia—especially single mothers and their children—have suffered in silence. We’ve endured the consequences of heartless cuts to social assistance, housing, and essential services under former Premier Gordon Campbell and successive governments. And it’s not over.

Many of us are still paying the price, day after day.

I recently learned about the courageous single mothers in Nova Scotia who stood up against discriminatory policies. Back in the 1980s, they formed Mothers United for Metro Housing (MUMS) to challenge unfair housing laws that made it legal for landlords to refuse them shelter just because they had children or were on welfare. Today, single mothers in Nova Scotia are still fighting against cruel policies like the child support clawback—which takes money meant for their children and deducts it from their already meager social assistance.

Sound familiar?

Here in BC, we’ve lived through similar injustices. Under the Campbell government in the early 2000s, the social safety net was torn apart:

• Thousands were kicked off welfare rolls under stricter eligibility.
• The Human Rights Commission was eliminated.
• Disability support was slashed.
• Affordable housing vanished while rents skyrocketed.
• Legal aid and education funding were gutted.
• Services for women, children, Indigenous communities, and people with disabilities were decimated.

The impact? Devastating.

Single moms were forced into deeper poverty.
Children grew up without stability.
Some lost their homes. Others lost hope.
Many of those children are now adults—struggling with trauma, housing, mental health, and discrimination rooted in policies made when they were just kids.

We Need to Make This Right.

We’re calling for a Class Action Lawsuit—against the government policies that caused irreversible harm.

We want to unite everyone who suffered under those cuts: single parents, people with disabilities, former foster kids, homeless individuals, and anyone who still carries the weight of that injustice.

But we need your help to do this.

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JOIN US: Rally for Justice

Date: Thursday, May 29
Location: Insert location here (e.g., Vancouver Art Gallery or BC Legislature)
Time: Insert time here

Let’s show up in numbers. Let’s speak up. Let’s show the government we won’t be ignored any longer.

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Here’s What You Can Do Right Now:

1. Sign the Petition – Start or sign here
2. Write a Letter – To your MLA, to the Premier, to the media. Tell your story.
3. Share This Post – Help spread the word far and wide.
4. Offer Support – Are you a lawyer, advocate, or journalist? We need you.
5. Join the Rally – Bring a friend, bring your truth, bring your power.

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Calling All Organizers:

If you're planning a rally, event, or action on May 29 (or after), please copy and paste this post to your own blogs, pages, or emails. Add your group name, contact info, and rally details.

We are stronger together.

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We’ve been suffering in silence for far too long.
Now it’s time to rise together and demand dignity, justice, and change.

If you're someone who lived through the cuts…
If you’re still struggling because of them…
If you care about fairness and equity in BC…

Stand with us. May 29 is just the beginning.

#JusticeForBC
#RiseUpBC
#MakeThemPay
#ClassActionNow
#ZipolitaSpeaks

To the Ones Who Can’t March: I See You

  To the Ones Who Can’t March: I See You.

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

I see you.

I see you hurting, exhausted, and just trying to survive — too tired, too poor, or too sick to come to the rally.
I see you wondering if it even matters, if anyone will ever really fight for us — or if it’s just more noise no one listens to.

You’re not alone. I feel the same way.

For over ten years, I’ve tried to get help. Real help. Dignified help. And it never came. All I got was judgment.

“It’s your fault,” they say.
“Your fault for working too hard.”
“Your fault for having a baby.”
“Your fault for being sick.”
“Your fault for saying no to Big Pharma, even though you saw what it did to your mother.”

They blame us for everything.

We’re punished for being too old to qualify for student jobs, but not old enough for a pension.
Punished for being born here, but not qualifying for the supports offered to newcomers.
Punished for not being able to prove we’re Métis, and not being First Nations either.
Punished for not dying, for staying alive, for “existing wrong.”

They say:

“We worked hard for our money — we’re not giving it to lazy losers who sit around all day.”

But they don’t see the truth:
We worked hard too. We still are. We survived trauma, illness, heartbreak, homelessness, and hunger.
And now we’re just asking to live with dignity — and they call that laziness?

This is why many of us don’t rally. Because we’re too busy just trying to breathe.

And yet, we have to keep trying.
Even if no one changes the rates.
Even if they don’t listen.
Even if they call us names.

Because someone out there might read this and realize they’re not alone.
And someone else might stop and finally understand that this system is broken, and it’s breaking us.

If you can’t march — I march with your voice in my heart.
If you can’t shout — I’ll write it for you.
If you can’t speak — I see you. I hear you. You matter.

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#ISeeYou #EndPovertyBC #DisabilityJustice #WeDeserveBetter #ZipolitaSpeaks

How the Royal Legacy Impacted Indigenous Families

 

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From Queen Victoria to Residential Schools: How the Royal Legacy Impacted Indigenous Families

Did Queen Victoria ever visit British Columbia?
The answer is no — Queen Victoria never set foot in what is now Canada. Yet, her name is everywhere: British Columbia, Victoria (the capital city), schools, parks, and public buildings. She ruled during a period when the British Empire rapidly expanded, including deep into Indigenous lands across Turtle Island (North America).

But if she didn’t come here… who did? And how does her family tie into what happened to Indigenous children?

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The Royal Web: How Queen Victoria’s Legacy Shaped Canada

Queen Victoria (1819–1901)

• Reigned during the establishment of colonial British Columbia (1858).
• Her government oversaw policies that enabled the dispossession of Indigenous lands, the Indian Act, and laid the groundwork for the residential school system.
• While she may not have signed every policy herself, the Crown’s authority under her name was used to enforce them.

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Key Members of Her Family & Their Role in Canadian History

Prince Arthur (Duke of Connaught) — Her Son

• Governor General of Canada (1911–1916).
• Symbolized Crown authority; visited Indigenous communities ceremonially.

King Edward VII — Her Son

• Continued Victoria’s imperial legacy.
• His reign coincided with increasing enforcement of assimilation policies.

King George V — Her Grandson

• Oversaw the height of residential school expansion.
• Canadian policies under his reign continued to strip Indigenous rights and identities.

King George VI — Her Great-Grandson

• Visited Canada in 1939.
• His time saw Canada’s wartime unification but colonial policies remained intact.

Queen Elizabeth II — Her Great-Great-Granddaughter

• Longest-reigning monarch until 2022.
• Represented Canada’s head of state throughout decades of survivor testimony, hearings, and truths emerging around residential schools.

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Why This Matters

This isn’t just history — the legacy of Queen Victoria and her descendants is deeply tied to how land was claimed and governed in Canada. The systems put in place under her reign and continued by her family caused real harm to Indigenous families — especially through the removal of children, their placement in residential schools, and the attempt to erase Indigenous languages and culture.

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Take Time to Learn

If you live on this land — whether it’s called British Columbia, Turtle Island, or another name — take the time to learn about the real history of how it came to be under colonial rule.

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Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that this post was written on the unceded, ancestral, and occupied territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. We honour the Indigenous peoples of these lands and their ongoing connection to land, culture, and community.

Learning history means listening to Indigenous voices — past and present.

Who was Queen Victoria?

Who Was Queen Victoria—and Why Is She Called the "Grandmother of Europe"?

By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita

As many in British Columbia enjoy the long weekend for Victoria Day, it’s a great time to reflect on who Queen Victoria really was—and why she still matters today.

Most people know the city of Victoria, BC is named after her, and that Victoria Day celebrates her birthday. But did you know she’s called the “Grandmother of Europe”?

Let’s unpack the legacy of this remarkable woman—and how her family shaped the modern world.

Queen Victoria at a Glance

• Born: May 24, 1819
• Reigned: 1837 to 1901 (over 63 years!)
• Legacy: Oversaw an era of major change—industrialization, colonization, the expansion of the British Empire, and the birth of Canada as a nation in 1867.

She was known for her strict morals, deep devotion to her husband Prince Albert, and a strong belief in monarchy, duty, and family.

How She Became the Grandmother of Europe

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had nine children. They strategically married their children into royal families across Europe, creating powerful alliances. That means her descendants ruled (or married into) the royal houses of:

• Germany
• Russia
• Greece
• Romania
• Norway
• Sweden
• Spain
• Denmark
• And, of course, Britain

This massive family network earned her the title “Grandmother of Europe.”

Royal Family Drama—And World War I

Here’s where it gets tragic and strange:
Many of Victoria’s grandchildren became kings, queens, emperors, and empresses—but during World War I, her grandsons were on opposite sides of the war:

• King George V of the UK
• Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany
• Tsar Nicholas II of Russia

They were first cousins—but despite their blood ties, they led their nations into a war that destroyed monarchies and killed millions. It’s a haunting reminder that family alone can’t prevent conflict when power and politics get involved.

Why This Matters in BC Today

In British Columbia, we live on land named after a Queen who never set foot here, but whose empire shaped borders, governance, and even the struggles for Indigenous sovereignty.

Victoria Day is an opportunity not just to enjoy a day off, but to learn, reflect, and connect with our shared past. Queen Victoria’s legacy is complicated—marked by empire, colonialism, family, and ambition.

Understanding it helps us ask better questions about who we are and where we want to go next.

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Did you know all this about Queen Victoria?
How do you feel about Victoria Day now?
Let’s have conversations that matter.

Happy long weekend, BC!

PUPPETS FOR PEACE - "Peace Dancer Project"

Have you heard about Puppets for Peace? https://puppetsforpeace.org/

 "September 23 & 24, 2017, PUPPETS FOR PEACE, in Victoria, B.C. celebrates the UN International Day of Peace with a nonpartisan inter-generational community festival. This year we focus on North America’s first puppeteers with The Roy Henry Vickers PEACE DANCER Project. Our full festival includes a cultural mosaic of artistic activities united through the art of the puppet."


The Indiegogo has ended but you can still donate for this if you would like, they could use it
Check out the link for all the great details.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/puppets-for-peace-roy-henry-vickers-peace-dancer--2#/ 

This is what Tim wrote when I inquired about sharing the info.
----------------------------
Hi Tina, please share and spread the word as much as possible. I am better being in contact via timgosley@telus.net

 ... yes the Indiegogo is finished but I thought it defined the project well. If you know folks wanting to donate we still could use a couple of thousand. However we have enough to do the project in some form and I think it will be pretty neat. Thank you for your interest. I'll check out your blog when I'm on a better computer. Tim
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SUPPORT the Sasquatch!! Save The Walbran!!

OH DEAR!! POOR SASQUATCH! 

ARRESTED FOR PROTECTING THE FOREST!!  

This event is taking place on 

UNCEDED LEKWUNGEN SONGHEES & ESQUIMALT TERRITORIES

Sasquatch was arrested in the Walbran Valley for protecting his home the Ancient Forest Ecosystem with Nonviolent Civil Disobedient Direct Action. 

https://www.gofundme.com/ztcemwu6

 Please Come Out and Support 

 our Friend and our Planets Biodiversity to show that Old Growth Logging is an outdated and Unsustainable Practice that we cannot and will not accept anymore. 

Bring Signs. Bring Music. Bring Food to Share. 

Potluck to start off with and the court hearing starts at 2 

https://www.facebook.com/events/767501253393226/

https://www.gofundme.com/ztcemwu6

https://www.gofundme.com/ztcemwu6

https://www.gofundme.com/ztcemwu6

https://www.gofundme.com/ztcemwu6

Court 
Court injunctions have been sought by the company and are in effect until the end of March, meaning they are extracting 500-800 year old trees from unceded indigenous territory/ public land,and the ancient Rain Forest. They have now made it  illegal for anyone to interfere with their logging operations, meaning "road blocks" (only they can create roadblocks?)

These court injunctions however do not prevent people from travelling the logging roads, currently only accessible from Cowichan Lake and exercising their rights to camp, to hike the trail system, to participate in trail-building activities and to protest the logging activities, in whichever way they choose, remaining mindful that anyone who breaches the court order in effect in the Walbran valley until March 31st, may be subject to arrest for contempt of court, not a criminal code offense.

https://www.gofundme.com/ztcemwu6

Related Links

http://www.joejack.com/sasquatch.html

 http://theforestfairybyzipolita.blogspot.ca/2016/01/original-forest-fairy-tale-video.html

http://theforestfairybyzipolita.blogspot.ca/p/walbran.html

Do YOU Dance ENOUGH?

https://twitter.com/shimmymob

Years ago....many many years ago, I went to a gym and I did aerobics...as everyone esle did at the time...I even joined a Jazz class...I wish I had kept going...I chickened out sadly. :(

But I was good at doing all the little routines and I think I could start slow...I love the idea of doing bellydancing. When I was 18 I remember going to a restaurant and saw the belly dancer and always thought how wonderful to be able to move like that.

So like this lady says...you get to some place in your life and you want to do more...



Have you heard of this? #ShimmyMob

http://www.shimmymob.com 
https://twitter.com/shimmymob
 
It looks like lots of fun and for a good cause.





























http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.ca/2016/01/revealution-speakup-violence-hope-youth.html

Homeless Partners Website

Blog post by Tina Winterlik © 2012
zipolita@gmail.com
http://tinawinterlik.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/#!/zipolita @zipolita
http://gplus.to/zipolita Google+


Sometimes the littlest thing can make a HUGE difference in someone elses life.  Here's  a great website that connects people with each other.

Welcome to HomelessPartners.com
Connecting the community to individual homeless people

http://www.homelesspartners.com/site/# 

Read about someone reality and give what you can. They are not asking for much, mainly clothing, sleeping bags and toys for kids.