Edmonton Social Planning Council

Author: Capacity Building Coordinator

  • Blog: Invisible Disabilities – You don’t have to see it to believe it

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    Invisible disabilities are “physical, mental or neurological conditions that are not visible from the outside” which can impact in varying degrees a person’s ability to work, live and play. 

    By Amanda Labonte 

     

    When people discuss disabilities, they are often referring to visible physical characteristics that people may experience or be part of who they are. For example, when we think of someone who needs to use a parking placard for persons with disabilities, often the person who comes to mind is someone with mobility challenges who might need a walker, wheelchair, or cane to help get around.   

    For folks who have invisible disabilities, the challenge lies not only in the disability itself, but in the invisibility of it. 

    What are Invisible Disabilities? 

    As defined by the Invisible Disabilities Association, “an invisible disability is a physical, mental or neurological condition that is not visible from the outside, yet can limit or challenge a person’s movements, senses, or activities.” 

    What might this look like? 

    Some of the symptoms can be things like chronic or debilitating pain, brain injuries, cognitive dysfunction, or chronic fatigue. (1) This can include dietary struggles, severe allergies, and/or mental health challenges. They vary between people, can be difficult to diagnose and are not obvious to other people. (1) Further, the symptoms of disability can vary in and of themselves, meaning people can have ‘good’ days and bad days. (2) These challenges can impact in varying degrees peoples’ ability to work, live and play.  

    Why does this matter? 

    In a society where work equates to economic stability, having an invisible disability can and often is viewed through a discriminatory lens. Ableism, is an oppressive social construction, which views people with disabilities as deviating from the ‘norm.’ (3) What’s worse is the misperceived conception that in a “capitalist society – if you have no value in the economy, you have no value as a person” (p. 285). Society diminishes the social value and economic contributions of folks with disabilities through this lens. Further, this can lead to microaggressions which take the form of invasive questions, inappropriate jokes, and exclusion (2) intended to make the person with a disability feel less than. The hidden nature of invisible disabilities can be even more challenging as people who are experiencing them can be left trying to repeatedly explain themselves and feeling they are not believed. Further, symptoms that can lead to missed days of work can cause stress and loss of employment. The stigma of having to explain a particular disability can prevent employees from seeking much-needed accommodations at work. (2)  

    How can you reduce stigma? 

    Use a strengths-based approach. What does that mean? It means focusing on all the strengths a person has versus focusing on the potential challenges their disability might bring. For example, someone might have great wit and determination, but they might also be in excruciating pain. The two things can and do co-exist. (2) As someone not experiencing a disability, be open, curious, and accepting but not invasive. Be proactive and offer support, provide support when asked, but in both cases do not treat the person like they are fragile or not a contributing, valuable member of society. Persons with disabilities, visible or invisible, contribute a great deal to our society and should be treated with respect and value. 

    Remember, anyone can become disabled, an illness, an injury or an allergy can change how you navigate the world. You don’t have to see it to believe it.  

    To learn more and hear the voices of people who have invisible disabilities please watch the following videos: 

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      References: 

      1. Invisible Disabilities Association. (n.d.). in·vis·i·ble dis·a·bil·i·ty. https://invisibledisabilities.org/what-is-an-invisible-disability/
      2. Canadian Equity Counselling. (2021, January 8). Invisible disabilities in the workplace. https://canadianequality.ca/invisible-disabilities-in-the-workplace/
      3. Mullaly, B. & West, J. (2010). Challenging oppression and confronting privilege: A critical approach to anti-oppressive and anti-privilege theory and practice 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press.  
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      1. CM: Terra Centre: The Potential and Promise of Young Parents 

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        By Amanda Labonte and Jenna Robinson

         

        Karen Mottershead is the Executive Director of the Terra Centre, a non-profit organization that helps pregnant and parenting teens with a broad range of supports to be successful parents. She discussed some of the work that Terra Centre does and emphasized the importance of housing with us. The Terra Centre can impact the lives of both the parent and child – sometimes in large ways, sometimes in small ways. Mottershead shared how some alumni talk about ‘coming home’ – seeing Terra Centre as a place of safety and security even after they leave. There is a lot of pride and a sense of accomplishment for many of the young adults who graduate, in some cases they are the first members of their family to graduate high school.  

        Historically the focus for Terra Centre has been educational attainment by helping moms primarily with completing their high school education. (1) Today, Terra Centre has grown and offers far more resources and support, providing evidence that they understand how various challenges can and do intersect. Mottershead explained how the benefit and value of finishing school are immense but require a lot of support and resources and that becomes especially challenging when a person does not have housing and even more challenging when a young person becomes a parent. The immediacy of housing intersects with educational attainment for youth.  

        When working with young adults, it is important to remember that developmentally, they live in the present and often do not plan long term. This can lead to school not being deemed a high priority. She explained that it is important for youth to have immediate housing access because when they are ready to return to school, they can register immediately and not have to worry about where they are going to live. Terra Centre has a very deep understanding of the stage of development that young parents are at, and can offer a meaningful level of support to meet the unique needs, and understand what kinds of approaches work best to support young families. 

        Terra Centre uses wrap-around supports, when a young adult receives housing, they also get a support worker. When a student enters the Braemar school, a school just for parenting teens, Terra Centre has ensured that there are multiple services at the school to meet their needs. This includes an onsite daycare, immunization nurses that come in, support workers and more.  

        There are complicated challenges for youth trying to obtain housing, particularly if a young adult is under the age of 18. Barriers for youth include legal aspects of signing off on lease agreements, getting utilities hooked up, and negative perceptions of young people by landlords. There continues to be a community stigma around young people being irresponsible, having wild parties or that they are ‘going to trash the place.’ 

        Mottershead stated this has not been the experience of Terra Centre staff working with young people, and instead is quite the opposite; these parents care deeply and want stability for their children, much like the rest of the population. Terra Centre staff spend a substantial amount of time around advocacy working to acquire housing that is safe, stable and in a positive community.  

        Many young parents have experienced a lot of trauma in their lives. They see personal and emotional safety as a primary need that is very difficult to acquire. Many of the young people grew up living in subsidized housing, communities that exist in poverty, low-income housing, and experienced unsafe living environments. When young parents become pregnant, they want a different experience for their child. 

        One partnership in particular is crucial to what Terra Centre does. The Brentwood Partnership Housing Program “helps families build skills, resiliency and complete their education in a safe, stable and affordable environment. As the families move through the phases of our program they transition from needing help to a place of self-sufficiency. It’s our goal to see them model those skills to the children they are raising helping us to break the poverty cycle for 2 generations in one program.” (2) There are about 27 families currently living at the housing complex, with many staying there for over two years, and this can be their forever home because they do not have to leave at any given time.  

        As we discussed the stigma and community perceptions of young people who have children and how this creates challenges and barriers, Mottershead stated that the stigma for young dads is often deeper than young moms. There are societal perceptions that young dads are ‘dead beat dads, don’t want to be involved, or walked away from their child(ren).’ Young dads are an important part of the story, and they have an important role to play in the life of their children. The role of Terra Centre is to help support parental relationships for the benefit of the child, even if the parents are no longer in a partnered relationship. Terra Centre has a unique approach in that they have outreach workers who work specifically with young dads. (1) 

        Karen Mottershead shared a photovoice research project undertaken by Terra Centre through the Successful Famililes Housing Program. During the project, every week families had a different theme, they would take pictures and explain how that picture related to the theme. Karen shared a story of how one week the theme was safety and one of the participants submitted a picture of a door.  

        The comment from the parent was that this is the first time they could shut a door and feel safe. It was fundamental to have a door. 

        Community sensitivity is needed to reduce the negative perceptions young parents experience because parenting at any age is hard. Unhelpful and hurtful comments and gestures by the public to young parents are painful and negatively impacts their sense of self in terms of their capacity, who they are, and how they’ll move forward in life. Parents are doing the best they can and a gentle word would be nice and acknowledge the youth is a parent, and everyone is trying to do their best job. Young people want to feel validated in their roles and these small gestures of support could make such a difference. 

        Mottershead expressed her hope that members in the community would start seeing the potential and promise of young parents as opposed to seeing a negative or deficit. That can be done through kind words, supporting Terra Centre, or different organizations. 

        To learn more:  

        www.terracentre.ca 

         

        Note: This is an excerpt from our September 2022 Community Matters, you can read the full publication here

        Did You Enjoy this Article? Please provide feedback here

         

         

         

        Amanda Labonte is ESPC Project coordinator for research services and capacity building, as well as ESPC volunteer coordinator.  

        Jenna Robinson was the Research Assistant with ESPC in the summer of 2022 and has since moved to Calgary to complete her Master of Arts in Sociology at the University of Calgary. Her research interests include criminalized and victimized women, intersectionality, and anti-racism. 

         

         

        References: 

        1. Terra Centre Centre. (n.d.). What is Terra Centre? https://Terra Centrecentre.ca/what-is-Terra Centre/ 
        2. Brentwood Community Development Group. (2022). Program information. https://brentwoodgroup.ca/about/program-information/ 
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        1. Blog: International Overdose Awareness Day 

          [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/COLOUR-BLOCKS_spaced-300×51.png” title_text=”COLOUR BLOCKS_spaced” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” max_height=”75px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|0px|20px|0px|false|false” global_module=”96648″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”30px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#2b303a” custom_padding=”||32px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ text_text_color=”#2b303a” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008ac1″ header_2_font_size=”24px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]

          By Amanda Labonte

          International Overdose Awareness Day is a global annual event to reduce stigma, recognize the grief of loved ones and ultimately work to end overdose. (1) Globally in 2019 approximately 62 million people used opioids for non-medical reasons, with a drastic increase of death from overdose in North America. (2) In 2021, Alberta saw 1,618 overdose deaths with 620 of those in Edmonton and from January to May 2022. Alberta has seen 683 overdose deaths with 256 of those in Edmonton. (3) 

          Stigma, bias, and stereotypes around overdose or death by drug poisoning, continues to be an issue. Addiction is complex and not a choice. (4) People who use substances and experience negative attitudes and exclusionary behaviours from the public are less likely to reach out for help. (4) It is important to recognize that people who are or who have used drugs are valued members of our communities (1) and they deserve compassion, respect, and to be seen as people first. (4) 

          For family and friends of people who have died from drug poisoning, the grief can be difficult and isolating to process due to the societal stigmas around drug use. (1) Organizations like Healing Hearts Canada provide a space for people to grieve and gain support. Part of the focus of International Overdose Awareness Day is to raise awareness for those people who are grieving so they can do so publicly, without shame or guilt. (1)  

          What Can I Do to Help? 

          Drug poisoning happens in all communities. Whether you know of someone who uses substances or are someone who uses them, there are ways that you can help prevent drug poisoning. Most poisonings happen when a person is using alone. (5) Tell someone if you are going to use, go to a supervised consumption site or don’t use alone. Check in on others who use substances. You can carry a naloxone kit; they are free, and you can get one here. For other ways to be prepared and to help prevent drug poisoning read the Alberta Health Services Overdose Prevention Pamphlet. 

          How to recognize drug poisoning?  

          The Alberta Health Services website lists the following signs and symptoms of drug poisoning:  

          • Slow or no breathing 
          • Unresponsive to voice or pain (can’t wake them up) 
          • Pale face 
          • Blue lips or nails 
          • Gurgling or snoring sounds 
          • Choking or vomiting 
          • Cold and damp skin 
          • Narrow (tiny) pupils 
          • Stiff body or seizure-like movement

          Resources and Supports  

          If you or someone you care about is struggling with their mental health, addiction or substance use, there is help. Here is a list of resources:  

          Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642 (toll free) 

          Access 24/7
          780-424-2424 

          Mental Health Helpline
          1-877-303-2642  

          Alberta’s Virtual Opioid Dependency Program
          1-844-383-7688 

          AHS Opioid Dependency Program
          780-422-1302
          Mobile Team: 780-342-7810 

          References:  

          1. Pennington Institute. (2022). About the campaign. https://www.overdoseday.com/about-the-campaign/ 
          2. Government of Alberta. (2022). Acute substance deaths overview. Alberta Substance Use Surveillance System. https://healthanalytics.alberta.ca/SASVisualAnalytics/?reportUri=%2Freports%2Freports%2F1bbb695d-14b1-4346-b66e-d401a40f53e6&sectionIndex=0&sso_guest=true&reportViewOnly=true&reportContextBar=false&sas-welcome=false
          3. United Nations Office on Drug and Crime. (2021). World drug report 2021. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/wdr2021.html
          4. Government of Canada. (2022). Stigma around drug use. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/opioids/stigma.html
          5. City of Edmonton. (2022). Drug poisoning (overdose) prevention. https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/for_communities/drug-poisoning-overdose-prevention
          6. Alberta Health Services. (2022). We can’t ignore opioids. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/info/Page16025.aspx#symptoms 

          [/et_pb_text][dmpro_image_hotspot _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/dmpro_image_hotspot][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

        2. Blog: The Effect of Extreme Weather on People Experiencing Homelessness  

          [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/COLOUR-BLOCKS_spaced-300×51.png” title_text=”COLOUR BLOCKS_spaced” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” max_height=”75px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|0px|20px|0px|false|false” global_module=”96648″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”30px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#2b303a” custom_padding=”||32px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.6″ text_text_color=”#2b303a” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008ac1″ header_2_font_size=”24px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]

          By Amanda Labonte

          Changes to our climate drastically impact the severity and duration of extreme weather events. Events in 2021 included flooding, out-of-control wildfires, severe storms producing large hail, and extreme temperature fluctuations as low as -51.9 °C to extreme heat, where temperatures reached 49.6 °C under the ‘heat dome.’ (1) People who are experiencing homelessness are affected by these changes to a greater extent, are exposed to greater risk, and should be considered when examining the impacts of climate change on people (2; 3). With temperatures on the rise globally and estimates of extreme heat events doubling over the next 30 years, these events are a serious threat during the summer months. (4) 

          High temperatures can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke, or death. (4) Symptoms of heat exhaustion can often be misperceived as intoxication by the general public and sometimes by first responders which can delay critical medical attention as it can cause confusion, vomiting, and a lack of coordination (4) for people experiencing homelessness this is a common barrier.  

          The Government of Canada recommends trying to stay cool and drinking lots of fluids to stay safe during extreme heat events. (4) But what if a person does not have access to air conditioning, water to take cooling showers or clean drinking water? (4) For many of Edmonton’s population who live in low-income housing or who are experiencing homelessness, this is the case. 

          People who live in low-income housing or who are experiencing homelessness have fewer resources and less access to cooling methods, the social stigmatization of experiencing homelessness can prevent access to public spaces that are air-conditioned (5) such as libraries, malls, LRT stations, or recreation centres. 

          The City of Edmonton has installed 13 drinking taps throughout the city that are accessible 24/7 to provide access for hydration. (6) The City “monitors for dangerous health conditions,” such as those tied to events of extreme weather, particularly cold weather events. (6) The City of Edmonton has established the “Supporting Vulnerable People During Extreme Weather Conditions” the purpose of which is “ensuring a systematic response to Extreme Weather Conditions in order to safeguard the health and lives of Edmontonians who are Vulnerable People. The response will be aligned with and supportive of existing community response protocols and will result in a responsible, reliable, and transparent process for decision-making.” (7) The challenge is that the focus for many of the policies developed for extreme weather tend to focus on extreme cold, while important in a province where long and cold winters are experienced, a more robust or consistent plan and implementation for extreme heat is something that needs consideration.  

          Places like the Okananagan last year and more recently cities in the Vancouver area have developed, opened, or made accessible ‘cooling centres’ during their extreme heat events. The City of Toronto however, has implemented a hot weather response from May 15 until September 30 activating the Heat Relief Network (8). Included in the network are “shelters and 24-hour respite sites that are available to individuals experiencing homelessness.” (8) The City of Toronto has made this a standing response as previously the cooling centres were only activated during periods of extreme heat, however, this was “not a sufficient response to minimize health risks.” (8) The City of Toronto has an Interactive Map for people to find places to cool off and places to access water during high temperatures. The barrier here would be if a person does not have access to technology or the knowledge that such a resource exists. Work still needs to be done to ensure this is easily accessible to the most vulnerable. 

          Extreme storms such as those that include heavy rainfall, damaging winds, or hail are also of concern for people experiencing homelessness. (9) It is important to recognize that during extreme events such as flooding, fire, wind, or hail, people who make their homes in spaces and structures that are not secure often lose their homes. (10) For people who are close to experiencing homelessness, extreme weather can be a tipping point, (10) this can have devastating impacts.  

          It is important to create policies and procedures that are inclusive and timely. Not everyone has access to the resources and means to ensure their physical and mental safety during extreme weather events, including heat waves. Policy and procedure development should include informing the public to reduce stigmatization of the populations that experience social isolation so they are no longer barred, removed or restricted from public spaces they may need access to ensure their safety. We can do better.   

           

          Reference: 

          [1] Government of Canada. (2021, December 21). Canada’s top 10 weather stories of 2021  https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/top-ten-weather-stories/2021.html

           [2] Kidd, S. A., Greco, S., & McKenzie, K. (2020). Global Climate Implications for Homelessness: A Scoping Review. Journal of Urban Health-Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-020-00483-1 

          [3] Bezgrebelna, M., McKenzie, K., Wells, S., Ravindran, A., Kral, M., Christensen, J., Stergiopoulos, V., Gaetz, S., & Kidd, S. A. (2021). Climate Change, Weather, Housing Precarity, and Homelessness: A Systematic Review of Reviews. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(11), 5812. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115812 

          [4] Government of Canada. (2022). Infographic: Staying Healthy in the Heat. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/infographic-staying-healthy-heat.html 

          [5] Fraser Health. (2022). Extreme heat and people experiencing homelessness. https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/sun-safety/extreme-heat-and-people-experiencing-homelessness–a-primer-for-community-organizations 

          [6] City of Edmonton. (2022, June 29). Extreme weather response.  https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/emergency_preparedness/extreme-weather 

          [7] Citizen Services. (2019, July 10). Supporting vulnerable people during extreme weather conditions. City Policy. https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-files/C620.pdf?cb=1658770910 

          [8] City of Toronto. (2022, May 30). City of Toronto reminds residents to stay safe in hot weather, find a cool space in the Heat Relief Network. https://www.toronto.ca/news/city-of-toronto-reminds-residents-to-stay-safe-in-hot-weather-find-a-cool-space-in-the-heat-relief-network/#:~:text=During%20the%20summer%20season%2C%20from,activate%20its%20Heat%20Relief%20Network. 

          [9] Cusack, L., van Loon, A., Kralik, D., Arbon, P., & Gilbert, S. (2013). Extreme weather-related health needs of people who are homeless. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 19(3), 250–255. https://doi.org/10.1071/PY12048 

          [10] Every, D. (2017, September 8). Extreme weather makes homelessness even worse. Here’s how we can help. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/extreme-weather-makes-homelessness-even-worse-heres-how-we-can-help-82758 

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        3. Blog: Roe v. Wade: Implications and Impact for Abortion Access in a Canadian and Albertan Context

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          Many of us have been reeling with the seriousness from the United States Supreme Court’s overruling of Roe vs Wade, a ruling that has been in place since 1973, that is just shy of 50 years. Let that sink in. The ruling that has made it possible for countless people to access abortions for 49 years was overturned with a vote of 6-3. This has created conversation, controversy, and distress for many.   

          In this three-part blog series, we are going to dive deeper into why this ruling must be discussed, its implications for Albertans, and how decisions made by privileged people who hold power impact the living realities of the marginalized. 

          Why does this ruling matter? 

          This ruling is not a federal ban on abortions; however, it does turn over the decision to individual states to determine legality and access. (1) Did you know that while abortion is legal in Canada, the access is determined provincially

          In Canada, there is no specific reference to abortion, in the constitution, however, it does state, “The provinces have the authority to make laws about education, property, civil rights, the administration of justice, hospitals, municipalities, and other local or private matters within the provinces.” (2). What about the Canadian Bill of Rights? – there is no mention there either. How does this relate to the Roe v. Wade overturn? “In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Court ruled 6-3 that ‘the Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision.’” (3) 

          Abortion should be, and technically is, protected under the current Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and through precedents set in court according to the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (2022). They state that “laws and the justice system tend to be used not to help marginalized groups but to control them, including people of colour, Indigenous peoples, the 2SLGBTQI+ community, sex workers, and of course ciswomen. A well-intentioned law could potentially do more harm than good, or not much good at all.” (4)  

          What is the history of Abortion Rights in Canada? 

          Canada had its own monumental court decision on abortion in 1988 R. v. Morgentaler. (5) This decision was a 5-2 vote and part of the decision written by Chief Justice Brian Dickson stated that “forcing a woman, by threat of criminal sanction, to carry a fetus to term unless she meets certain criteria unrelated to her own priorities and aspirations, is a profound interference with a woman’s body and thus a violation of security of the person.” (5). This ruling was made as a reflection of the violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms “because it infringed upon a woman’s right to ‘life, liberty and security of person’.”(5)  In 1990, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney put forward Bill C-43 which would have seen medical professionals incarcerated for performing non-life threatening abortions. “The bill was passed by the House of Commons but died in the Senate after a tie vote.” (5) 

          The Canada Health Act states, “tThe Act sets out the primary objective of Canadian health care policy, which is to protect, promote and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada and to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers.” (6) While the Act may set out the objectives, the actual implementation is done by the provinces. “Today, abortion falls under provincial health-care systems as a medical procedure, meaning that access to the procedure varies considerably from place to place.” (7) 

          What does access in Alberta look like?  

          Is abortion legal in Canada? Yes. Does that mean abortion is easily accessed? No. 

          There are 3 clinics outside of hospitals in Alberta where medical or surgical abortions can be done, but these are only located in Edmonton and Calgary. Mifegymiso® is an oral drug used to terminate pregnancy (8) and has only been available in Canada since 2017. (5) It can be dispensed directly to patients by pharmacists, which means a person can take their prescription from their doctor to the pharmacist and then take the medication at home. (8) As with physicians and medical staff, pharmacists can also claim “conscientious objection” where dispensing the medication may go against their moral beliefs. (8) While medical practitioners and pharmacists are required to pass the person on to someone who will administer the medication or procedure, this is not always the case and is particularly difficult in rural communities where often there are limited options. Even rural communities that have obstetrical and/or surgical options are often still not abortion accessible, in part due to conscientious objection, misinformation regarding abortion, and stigma. (9) 

          The federal government is well aware of the potential barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health care. “While barriers vary from coast to coast to coast, in some instances they include a lack of availability, a lack of financial and logistical resources required to travel to access abortion care, and lack of culturally safe, stigma-free sexual and reproductive health services. Previous experiences of discrimination within the health care system also create access barriers for minority and marginalized groups, such as Indigenous and racialized people, members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and youth.” (10)

          Yes, there are potential consequences for provinces that do not provide adequate access to sexual and reproductive health care such as a restriction of funds. This happened in New Brunswick, where $140,000 was withheld from “New Brunswick for failing to provide funding for abortions at a Fredericton clinic.” (7) Reducing funding as a consequence for something they did not want to do in the first place does not seem like much of a consequence and has broader ramifications for people needing access to care. 

          What Can We Do? 

          The question is not if abortion is legal in Canada, it is. Instead, the conversation needs to be about access, accountability and reducing stigma. 

          Access 

          Information pertaining to abortion access in Alberta is often misleading and at times contradictory. Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) website titled ‘Abortion Health Services’ is one example. The resource options at the site are minimal; they focus on external clinics and imply obtaining Mifepristone/Misoprostol for a medical abortion is only available through two clinics in Alberta, which is incorrect. (11) There is a newer AHS website titled “Abortion” that better explains abortion options in Alberta. (12) The issue is that both pages appear when searching Google. There needs to be clarity around availability and choice and information needs to be accurate and accessible. 

          For people living in rural areas, there needs to be more accessible options. Having to travel to receive an abortion is costly and is an unnecessary barrier. There needs to be special consideration for access to marginalized groups and consideration of lived experiences. We need to have meaningful conversations around ways in which access is expanded and barriers can be reduced.  

          Accountability 

          The issue of physicians or facilities not providing certain reproductive health services is a problem. While practitioners and pharmacists have the right to “conscientious objection,” they are required by their professional bodies to ensure that the human being coming into their office has other options for care which means referring them to someone who will not object.  

          The Canada Health Act exists for a reason. The federal government needs to ensure provinces comply. Provinces must be held accountable as they are responsible for providing access; while Health Canada states that financial investments into sexual and reproductive health “reflect our belief that women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies and that no matter who you are or where you live, we will always protect reproductive rights for all individuals in Canada,”(Health Canada, 2022) it means little if people cannot access the resources they need to support those same decisions.  

          Reduce Stigma and Shame 

          People who are considering, experiencing, or recovering from an abortion should be supported in their decision physically and mentally. There are many myths surrounding abortion and this creates barriers of misinformation.  

          Abortion should be de-stigmatized and seen as an important component of sexual and reproductive health rather than something to be ashamed of.  

          It is imperative that these conversations continue to happen because there will always be people trying to suppress and/or eliminate the rights. People in positions of power and privilege have a responsibility to ensure that rights are protected for the marginalized. 

           

          Resources About Abortion: 

          Alberta Abortion Resource Network 

          https://www.albertaabortionaccess.com/

          Abortion Clinics in Alberta 

          https://www.albertaabortionaccess.com/clinics-in-alberta 

          Abortion Clinics and Resources in Canada 

          https://www.arcc-cdac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/list-abortion-clinics-canada.pdf 

          About Abortion 

          https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=tw1040 

          Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights: Common Myths About Abortion

          https://www.actioncanadashr.org/campaigns/common-myths-about-abortion 

           

          References: 

          1. McClain, E. & Huberfeld. N. (2022, June 24). Roe overturned: What you need to know about the Supreme Court abortion decision. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/roe-overturned-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-supreme-court-abortion-decision-184692?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20June%2025-26%202022&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20June%2025-26%202022+CID_cf957f25141a8f31a0b9164d8b0a79ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor_ca&utm_term=Roe%20overturned%20What%20you%20need%20to%20know%20about%20the%20Supreme%20Court%20abortion%20decision Government of Canada. (2021). The Canadian Constitution. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/just/05.html  
          2. Flowers, P. (June 24, 2022) US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade – but for abortion opponents, this is just the beginning. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/us-supreme-court-overturns-roe-v-wade-but-for-abortion-opponents-this-is-just-the-beginning-185768?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20June%2025-26%202022&utm_content=Latest%20from%20The%20Conversation%20for%20June%2025-26%202022+CID_cf957f25141a8f31a0b9164d8b0a79ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor_ca&utm_term=US%20Supreme%20Court%20overturns%20Roe%20v%20Wade%20%20but%20for%20abortion%20opponents%20this%20is%20just%20the%20beginning 
          3. Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC). (June, 2022). Position paper #66 Why we do NOT need to enshrine abortion rights into law. https://www.arcc-cdac.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/66-dont-enshrine-abortion-rights-into-law.pdf
          4. National Abortion Federation of Canada. (2022). History of Abortion in Canada. https://nafcanada.org/history-abortion-canada/ 
          5. Government of Canada, (2020). Canada Health Act. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/canada-health-care-system-medicare/canada-health-act.html 
          6. Smith, MD. (2022, June 28). Canada has no abortion right law. Does it need one? CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada-abortion-law-1.6503899 
          7. Alberta College of Pharmacy. (2019). Guidelines for dispensing Mifegymiso®  https://abpharmacy.ca/sites/default/files/Guidelines_Mifegymiso.pdf 
          8. Yousif, N. (2019, January 19). Rural Albertans still have ‘no choices’ when it comes to abortions, activists say. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2019/01/19/rural-albertans-still-have-no-choices-when-it-comes-to-abortions-activists-say.html 
          9. Health Canada (2022, May 11). Government of Canada strengthens access to abortion services. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2022/05/government-of-canada-strengthens-access-to-abortion-services.html 
          10. Alberta Health Services. (n.d.). Abortion health services. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/service.aspx?Id=1003402 
          11. MyHealthAlberta. (2022). Abortion. Alberta Health Services. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=tw1040 

                                 

                                 

                                 

                                 

                                 

                                 

                                 

                                 

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