Ownership of Flying "L" Ranch
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Contrary to Michael’s repeated public assertions or implications of personal or Lares-family ownership, Michael’s own court materials show that neither he nor his family own Flying "L" Ranch outright. The ranch is not personally owned by Michael or the Lares family but is operated through a B.C. company, Flying "L" Ranch Ltd. Michael’s Petition, discussed below, states that Flying “L” Ranch Ltd. has two equal shareholders and directors: Michael Lares and Peter van der Heyden, each holding 50%. In our review of Michael's public-facing ranch materials, we have found no comparable disclosure that another person owns half the Company and is also a director.[1]
| ⭑Update: | On December 20, 2024 Michael filed a Petition in the Supreme Court of British Columbia against the other shareholder/director of Flying "L" Ranch Ltd., Peter van der Heyden, seeking an order requiring Mr. van der Heyden to sell his 50% shares in the Company to Michael, and to transfer his privately-owned 80-acre adjacent parcel of land to the Company, for a collective price of two million dollars ($2,000,000) to be paid by Michael. The end result would make Michael the sole shareholder of Flying "L" Ranch. Additional corporate and land titles records are being sought to determine whether the sale and transfer have taken place. Find our more about Michael's $2million petition here. |
In contradiction to his numerous public statements that Flying "L" Ranch is owned by he and his family, in his own court filings Michael makes it clear he is one of two equal shareholders/directors of Flying "L" Ranch Ltd., and the company owns the ranch. For example, in paragraph 2 of Michael's 1st affidavit (December 19, 2024) he confirms he is has only a 50% interest in the company:
I am a rancher, and the co-director and 50% shareholder of the Flying "L" Ranch Ltd., which I will refer to as the ‘‘Company". Attached as Exhibit “A" Is a true copy of a company search for the Company obtained by my lawyer's office.
Exhibit "A" of Michael's affidavit is a January 9, 2024 BC Company Search for Flying "L" Ranch affirming Michael is not the sole director, but one of two directors, Mr. van der Heyden being the other.
In fact, Michael and his wife Nicole do not own the ranch lands or any property in British Columbia.
By visiting the BC Registries and OnLine Services anyone can, for a small fee, verify Flying "L" Ranch Ltd. was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) on June 3, 2019 with Incorporation Number BC1211100 and Business Number 789488533.
Prior to obtaining Michael's petition and affidavit from the courts company searches revealed Michael to be one of two directors. Michael's court filings now confirm he is one of two shareholders, each holding 50% of the shares, and both are the company's two directors.
By visiting the BC Land Title & Survey Authority (LTSA) portal anyone can, for a small fee verify DL383 is the full extent of lands held by the Company. LTSA records reveal Flying "L" Ranch Ltd. owns 160 (not 240) acres of land legally described as District Lot 383 Range 2 Coast District, Parcel Identifier 011–225–661 (DL383).
LTSA records reveal the 80 acre lot, legally described as District Lot 199 Range 2 Coast District, Parcel Identifier 011–216-395 (DL199) is privately owned by Mr. van der Heyden, not by the Company, Michael, or his family. DL199 is adjacent to the east of the DL383 and it appears a fence encloses both lots (Google maps).
[1] This article addresses the ownership position reflected in the court materials and public records cited above. If we independently verify, or are provided with verified documentation showing, that ownership of Flying “L” Ranch Ltd., DL383, or DL199 changed after the period addressed in those records, appropriate edits or updates will be made.
May 1, 2026
