Saanich
OceansAsia
Research with the
BC Humanists

The Tyee, September 26, 2024
Are Reproductive Rights on the Ballot This Election?
Rustad’s assertion that there would be “no changes” in access to abortion and contraception was a “red flag” for Arthur and Teale Phelps Bondaroff, chair and co-founder of AccessBC, which advocates removing barriers around prescription contraception in B.C. Both say B.C. has taken some great steps in favour of reproductive rights but add there’s a lot more work to be done. There’s still stigma and taboo around sexual and reproductive health, a lack of access to accurate and judgment-free information and misogyny in the world, Phelps Bondaroff said.

Victoria News, July 4, 2024
Prayer now purged from B.C. council chambers, watchdog declares
The BC Humanist Association (BCHA) is declaring 'the end of municipal prayers in British Columbia' following a commitment from the City of Parksville that there will not be prayers in the city's next inaugural council meeting.
The decision avoided a lawsuit against the city by the BCHA, who dropped the threat of legal action over prayers provided at inaugural meetings in 2018 and 2022.

Victoria News, May 2, 2024
Superheroes to hand out free comics this weekend in Victoria
“It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a Little Free Library Superhero Adventure!” Phelps Bondaroff said in a press release announcing the giveaway.
It’s free comic book day at several of Victoria’s little free libraries this weekend, and some superheroes have arrived to make sure the comics get into the right hands. The Superheroes of Victoria will be at five little library locations in Fernwood between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 4.

Saanich News, April 16, 2024
Saanich councillor wins award in Ottawa for free contraception campaign
A group founded by a Saanich councillor and a local sexual health advocate is being recognized at the national level for the work done by the organization to bring free prescription contraception to B.C. Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff and AccessBC co-founder Devon Black were jointly awarded the Jack Layton Progress Prize at the Broadbent Institute’s summit in Ottawa held last week between April 10 and 12 for the organization’s successful campaign.

CHEK News, March 20, 2024
Saanich to change parking requirements for new housing developments
On Monday, in an almost unanimous vote, councillors voted to lower the parking minimums for all forms of new builds and convert those minimums into maximums for certain-sized projects. “Reducing the need to build parking also reduces building expenses,” said Coun. Teale Phelps Bandaroff.
Bandaroff and Coun. Zac de Vries brought forward a policy framework for parking requirements.

Outside Magazine, January 23, 2024
Sea Shepherd’s Sea Change
The researcher Teale Phelps Bondaroff, who was on board the Bob with me, explained over tea in the galley one day that the legal-shaming approach used against IUU fishing evolved from the moral-shaming approach that fueled anti-whaling campaigns. Countries don’t want to appear unable to enforce the law in their own waters. Still, he added, critics often say that Sea Shepherd’s crews, as nonstate actors, “can’t legally do what they’re doing. But it doesn’t matter, they’re doing it.”

Saanich News, November 2, 2023
How a free contraception campaign turned into a national movement
Black, a lawyer who has worked and volunteered at various sexual health organizations, co-founded the AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception with Saanich Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff in 2017 and has led the campaign in her spare time while also practising law. The campaign grew to have more than 80 volunteers and was endorsed by 36 B.C. municipalities. In April 2023, the provincial government responded, launching free prescription contraception in the province.

Saanich News, October 28, 2023
Stepping up to make a difference
Every so often we encounter a person who just makes the world a better place. Saanich Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff is one of those people.He is someone who has made his presence felt in such a wide spectrum of activities and causes that it seems impossible that he is only 37 years of age.

Saanich News, August 20