Jennifer Baumbusch (she/her)

NEW STUDY: Grateful to funder @HlthResearchBC and my co-lead @BCCareProviders and ready to start the new project: Climate Readiness in British Columbia’s Long-term Care Home Sector More info: healthresearchbc.ca/award/climate-… If you'd like updates please email me gero@nursing.ubc.ca

@peggy_blair Somebody Somewhere

Okay everyone. I have crave. I have seen The Pitt, Tokyo Vice, Sons of Anarchy, Borderlines, and the new James Norton psychological thriller. Also the latest Leo DiCaprio movie, the name of which I can't remember. What should I watch next?

@tamarataggart Terrible. But at least she’ll be gone from the Ministry of Social Development.

Allison Bond has been a bureaucrat since 1990. Her time as DM at MCFD caused immense harm for many families, and her time as DM of the Ministry responsible for CLBC has been abysmal. It’s shocking, 36 years as a brutal government worker and this 👇🏼#BCPoli timescolonist.com/local-news/roy…

A couple of Canadian journalists (myself included) have started a fundraiser for local Tumbler Ridge journalist Trent Ernst. Since the shooting, he's stopped writing. We're hoping to get him some short-term support for these hard times. Donate here: gofundme.com/f/support-tren…

The UN released a scathing report on Canada’s treatment of disabled people last spring—calling out inadequate support & urging a halt to MAiD expansion. I document the government's silence about the report. My piece in @TheBreachMedia 1/n breachmedia.ca/canada-sideste…

This isn’t a surprise to anyone living with a disability in Canada. Canada has been paying lip service to inclusion, accessibility, and accommodation for decades. MAID expansion was the penultimate indicator of the indifference Canada has has expressed towards disabled citizens.

Man with Down syndrome abandoned at hospital by group home Canada ratified UNCRPD. Article 19 guarantees disabled people the right to support to live in community but those & other words are ignored in policy. Canada denies disabled people essential rights as norm not exception.

"New Democrats had two options to address this: raise other children up to autism funding levels or reduce #autism funding to create parity. The party chose the latter. It lifted up some kids at the expense of others." #bcpoli

BC NDP had 2 options: raise other children up to autism funding levels or reduce autism funding. BC NDP chose the latter. It lifted up some kids at the expense of others. The move "pitted parents of children with disabilities against one another and divided advocacy groups."

Rob Shaw: Autism funding reversal leaves 10,000 B.C. kids with less support dlvr.it/TR10lW

Admin Post: Heavy snowfall warning—15-30 cm possible starting tonight. And I'm still trapped behind ice I can't cross from New Year's snow. My heart #&*%ing hurts. Gutted. Exhausted beyond words. Weeks of great weather: no snow, above freezing, paths I could've used. Days to get out with my service dog or walk the puppy, feel alive, fight the darkness in my mind that grows and smothers me when I'm housebound. But it's bigger than mental health—it's total isolation from the world. Two houses on my street never cleared their sidewalks. Thick, rutted ice like a wall. My power wheelchair can't cross. That blocks my route to the nearest bus stop. Impossible to reach transit. Parking a van with a ramp in winter in most areas? Forget it—"accessible" stalls too small, windrows piled high, street designs like snow covered boulevards that are hostile to anyone with mobility issues who needs to drive. No safe spot to deploy the ramp without risking the street or getting stuck. So what does that mean? Cut off from doctor's appointments. Groceries. Pharmacy runs. Community resources that keep me going. Everything essential. My world shrinks to this house while the city claims "accessibility is a priority." I call BS. Priorities are the things that get done. Reported to @CityofEdmonton via 311 two weeks ago. Screenshot attached: photo of the ice, report still "open." No update, no officer visit, no warning. Their process: investigate within 4 business days, then often a "courtesy" warning (not required) for voluntary compliance. This means a disabled persons right to access the community is less important than someone's opportunity to comply with a by-law. Weeks get wasted. Melt days gone. Beautiful weather I could've used—slipped away while I waited, trapped. The bylaw requires sidewalks clear of snow/ice. Enforcement? Drags. Warnings first (even after weeks), $100 fine + cleanup only if ignored. No priority for accessibility complaints, even though blocked paths don't inconvenience—they disable. They isolate. They harm mental and physical health. Year after year, it's the same failures. No change. I'm not just sad. I'm furious in a quiet, bone-deep way. My dog stares at the door, tail low, confused why we don't go. I choke out "not today" and it rips my heart out every time. This isn't living. This is surviving. @CityofEdmonton @AndrewKnack: This system is failing disabled Edmontonians. Fix it now. For accessibility-impacting cases (mobility/mental health/transit access at stake): skip courtesy warnings. Issue the fine immediately after confirming violation. Make it waivable—if homeowner proves cleared (photo/receipt), waive. If valid reason (illness, disability) and they contact the city within 2 days—waive if legit, connect to community shoveling resources. Escalate fines for second/third offenses to deter chronic neglect. Benefits: One officer visit vs. multiple follow-ups. Faster compliance. Less burden on bylaw. Real priority for people who can't wait weeks/months to access their city. The only real reason not to change this—to hold negligent homeowners more accountable—is that it would force the city to hold *itself* more accountable too. And let's be real: the city's own snow-clearing delays, windrows blocking paths, slow responses to complaints, and hostile designs have been huge accessibility fails for years. If we're serious about inclusion, everyone—including city operations—needs to step up. This incoming weather buries paths deeper. Buries hope. More snow coming, and who knows when the next chance to successfully get anywhere will come. If your sidewalk's blocked, or you've been stuck waiting on 311—reply, quote, share. Tag the city and mayor. Make them hear us. We deserve access. Not excuses. Not "open" status while we're shut in. #Edmonton #Accessibility # DisabledInYEG #WinterInYEG #BylawFail #MentalHealthMatters #311Fail #TransitAccess

I could not love this more! Surf lifesaver Michael Lord patrols a popular beach in his all-terrain wheelchair. The club's director of lifesaving, Melinda Cockshutt: "We work with his strengths, just like we would with any other member of our patrol." abc.net.au/news/2026-02-1…

Few things: when I was on various city advisory councils I advocated for charging stations placed throughout city. Wheelchair & mobility scooters need to be better designed for weather. Teens & homeless people are two most helpful groups ime.

A year ago, I analyzed MAID deaths from a report by Ontario’s Chief Coroner. Now my analysis, which includes the case of Mrs. B, is in global headlines as she received MAID the same day she was declined palliative hospice care. This is not hypothetical. people.com/husband-pushes…

@drpaulwinston An issue for patients is that if we don’t go along with all this we are labeled as difficult and non-compliant. I tried to decline the referral and the clinic reported me back to my GP who told me to be compliant.

@GERONursing Yep. We get garbage referrals from the virtual care clinics too no information no exam. We don’t know if it’s urgent or nothing worrisome.

So the expert clinic in Vancouver that does virtual diagnosis of woman and tells them they won’t get better. My family practice residents and I are in shock. Many of them have treatable conditions but get labelled with 10+ invisible diseases. No labs, no work up.

@drpaulwinston The BC govt is paying these private clinics with public health funding. No accountability. And often it’s specialists who work in the public system part time and do this part time.

@drpaulwinston I was referred to a virtual clinic > year ago. Just wanted to push ozempic. I received no actual “care” or investigation of issues I reported to the specialist. Worst care I have ever experienced. I sent detailed feedback and never even received acknowledgment from “owners”

Meet Pebbles! Pebbles is an 8-year-old hound with a heart as big as her ears. Learn more about Pebbles at ow.ly/rT9650XSCjJ. | BC SPCA Richmond ❤️

This sweet little youngster is looking for a patient, experienced home to help him grow into the wonderful pony he’s meant to be. Learn more about sweet Muffin Man at ow.ly/HVmR50XR9Zi. #AldergroveBC

My name is Pretzel, and I’m looking for my furever family! I’m a Samoyed mix with a big heart and lots of love to give. Could you be the one to give me the home I’ve been dreaming of? Visit ow.ly/gUkG50XQrxJ to learn more. | BC SPCA Abbotsford

Meet Squatch! A handsome, loyal boy who’s looking for an active, dog-free home where he can burn off all of his energy! If you think that Squatch sounds like he could be the guy for you, please submit an application online at ow.ly/IgvW50XQbfa. | BC SPCA Abbotsford ❤️