The American Billionaire Taking Over BC Ranches — Episode 5

I want to let you in on something that’s been sitting heavy on my heart lately: who really owns the farmland in our province?

This past weekend, Jay and I took a scenic route home from a family wedding and decided to drive through Douglas Lake Ranch, the largest operating cattle ranch in Canada. It was meant to be a peaceful detour through beautiful British Columbia, but it stirred up more than just admiration for the landscape, it sparked a conversation that we need to be having.

And it’s a conversation I couldn’t shake.

From Scenic Drive to Serious Questions

Driving through those rolling ranch lands reminded me of how little most people know about the ownership of these vast, historic properties. When I shared a few photos and reflections online, the floodgates opened and my DMs were filled with people saying, “Wait, what?!”

And honestly, same.

I knew the ranch had been sold to a U.S. billionaire years ago but I didn’t know he also owns the Los Angeles Rams and is married to an heir of the Walmart fortune, which took things from concerning to infuriating.

Because it’s not just Douglas Lake Ranch. He now owns several of BC’s largest and most historic ranches and the more I dug into it, the more I realized this isn’t a one-off situation, it’s a trend.

Why It Matters (Even If You’re Not a Rancher)

This isn’t about foreign investors being “bad” it’s about the bigger picture — food security, economic sovereignty, and who gets to decide the future of our land.

Unlike provinces like Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, BC doesn’t have a cap on how many acres can be bought by foreign buyers which means while other provinces are protecting their agricultural land, BC is up for grabs.

And when land ownership is consolidated in the hands of billionaires with no real connection to the communities or food systems they’re buying into, we risk losing more than just property lines, we lose control over how that land is used, and who it’s used for.

What Happens When the Land Isn't Ours

Yes, Douglas Lake Ranch is still operating as a cattle ranch and for that, I’m grateful. It hasn’t turned into a trophy property or been stripped of its purpose, but that doesn’t mean everything’s fine.

Because when farmland becomes an investment vehicle, it stops being about feeding people and that’s a dangerous shift.

When a foreign-owned company controls large swaths of agricultural land, the revenue flows out of the country, local jobs and decisions can be compromised, and worst of all, it pushes out small, local farmers who are already struggling to compete.

Reform Isn’t Optional—It’s Urgent

We need national regulations not just province-by-province policies that let loopholes thrive because right now, BC is being targeted precisely because we don’t have protections in place, and our most productive, historic, and beautiful ranches are being quietly picked off.

This isn’t about nationalism, it’s about food sovereignty, economic sustainability, and protecting the future of Canadian agriculture.

What You Can Do

If this stirred something in you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. This is one of those topics where the more we talk about it, the more attention it gets, and attention is what leads to policy change.

So let’s start the conversation. Slide into my DMs on Instagram @centralparkfarms or reply to this week’s newsletter.

In the meantime, I’ll be over here pouring concrete, sheeting walls, and working on building a farm business that keeps money, food, and opportunity in our local community, right where it belongs.

Because when farming stays local, we all win.