On Thursday, May 15, 2025, Luna — known to many on Salt Spring Island as Kimberly Berthelot — died by suicide. Her passing has left a deep hole in the lives of those who loved her, cared for her, worked beside her, and stood with her in both struggle and joy. Luna was not only a dedicated worker and animal lover — she was also a vulnerable human being trying to survive in a world that too often failed to offer her dignity, fairness, or compassion.

Just days after her death, her former employer at Salty Dog Retreat released a public statement containing highly personal, speculative, and misleading information about Luna’s mental health, history of addiction, work performance, and even the timeline of her involvement in the business. This message was circulated while Luna’s friends and family were still in shock and grief — a time when many were just beginning to process the fact that she was gone.

To release such a statement — filled with unverified claims, narrative distortion, and blame-shifting — so soon after her death is deeply inappropriate, retraumatizing, and harmful. It is a further violation of her dignity, and it threatens to shape public perception with misinformation while silencing the lived truth of those closest to her.

At the time of her death, Luna, who had a trailer on the property where she worked, was being evicted by her employer, was overworked, unpaid for long stretches of her labor, and placed in unsafe working conditions without proper support or accountability. Those who knew her best have reported instances of emotional manipulation, harassment, and exploitation. We believe it is vital that Luna’s story not be rewritten or erased to serve the reputational interests of others.

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We, the undersigned, call for the following:
 1. An independent investigation by WorkSafeBC and/or the BC Human Rights Tribunal into potential workplace harassment, coercion, unsafe conditions, and unpaid labor that may have contributed to Luna’s suffering and death.
 2. A safe and open process for former staff, volunteers, and clients who witnessed or experienced inappropriate working conditions to come forward with statements — free from fear of retaliation.
 3. A commitment to trauma-informed, respectful public discourse about Luna’s life and death — with harmful, one-sided narratives challenged and corrected to ensure truth and justice prevail.
 4. Public acknowledgment of the harm caused by the employer’s posthumous statement — and recognition that it does not represent the full truth of Luna’s experience.

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Important Note:
There is currently an active investigation by the BC SPCA into the conditions at Salty Dog Retreat. If you have witnessed or experienced animal neglect, cruelty, or dangerous conditions at that facility, please contact the BC SPCA Cruelty Investigations line at 1-855-622-7722.

Your voice can help ensure that both animals and workers are protected, and that preventable tragedies like this never happen again.

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This petition will be submitted to:
 • WorkSafeBC
 • The BC Human Rights Tribunal
 • Local and provincial elected representatives
 • The Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee
 • Media outlets committed to trauma-informed, ethical journalism

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Luna deserved better — in life, and in memory.
Let us stand for her now. Let us ensure that her truth is not buried with her.

Support for Luna’s Pack and Partner: Luna’s beloved pack is now being cared for by her grieving partner, Thomas, who has taken time off work to manage both his loss and their ongoing care. A GoFundMe has been set up to help with immediate expenses, and community support has already made a meaningful difference.

If You Have Information:

If you witnessed or have any information related to circumstances that may have contributed to Luna’s tragic death, please consider contacting the Salt Spring Island RCMP. Reference File #25-805 and reach out to Constable Banhan at (250) 537-5555. Your voice matters — even small details may help provide clarity and accountability.