By Thia James

Supporters continue to speak out for Marlene Bird

Oct 7, 2014 | 6:20 AM

What Marlene Bird really wants is a permanent home.

The badly scarred woman who was violently attacked in downtown Prince Albert at the beginning of June spoke to YWCA CEO Donna Brooks on Monday. The 47 year old, who had both legs amputated as a result of the assault, wanted Brooks to relay a simple message to the public: she’s doing OK today, but what she really wants is a permanent home.

The Prince Albert YWCA, Brooks said, is helping to make this happen.

“We are advocating for her to get the best care possible,” Brooks said. She isn’t able to offer more information than that because Bird is now a client of the YWCA.

The YWCA is continuing to raise funds to help with Bird’s ongoing needs, and it’s raised more than $30,000.

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

12h ago

National

Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds

15h ago

Budget woes

Golf and curling centre faces grim season without financial boost

19h ago

“There’s always going to be care needs. Like whether, you know, no matter where she lives, there’s going to be some additional expenses,” Brooks said.

In a Facebook post, Brooks wrote on Oct. 3 that Bird arrived in Prince Albert in a taxi with nothing but her belongings, a scooter and a wheelchair. The YWCA bought medical supplies and a commode at a store in the city.

According to the post, Bird ended up at the hospital on Oct. 2 because “her addiction to hold.” A care home has since agreed to take Bird in, and it is experienced in dealing with disabilities and addictions.

Some of the funds the YWCA raised will help pay for the monthly cost, the post read.

Bird was recently released from a care facility in Saskatoon and has returned to Prince Albert. She was in the courtroom where the man facing charges in connection to the assault that left her hospitalized for months was expected to appear.

Bird declined to speak to media and did not want to be photographed.

She had fought against a publication ban preventing the media from continuing to use her name in published and broadcast reports and won.

After winning that battle, the latest one she faces has caught the attention of provincial politicians.

Green Party leader Victor Lau said he heard recent media reports that Bird was released from hospital without back-up care, income support and no home to go to. In a report published by the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Bird’s aunt said her niece continues to struggle with addiction and has no fixed home. 

He said the Green Party spoke out because it was concerned about Bird’s well-being and safety.

Lau is now calling on the provincial government to help and on Premier Brad Wall in particular to personally intervene. He said that while he and the premier butt heads on a number of issues, both are passionate about the subject of murdered and missing aboriginal women.

“Of course, Marlene is thankfully still alive, but she’s gone through so much trauma in her life. You know, we felt appealing to the premier and his good nature in this case to find out what went wrong and you know, firstly it’s the care and concern that we have for Marlene Bird’s health and safety and well-being, but secondly it’s a long-term issue.”

He said it’s Wall’s responsibility to make sure the minister of social services investigates what happened to Marlene Bird after she was released from the hospital thoroughly.

Lau is hoping that there’s enough of an outcry and pressure on the government that it will investigate.

Attempts to reach Bird’s family for comment were not successful on Monday.

The man facing charges in connection to her assault, Leslie Black is due to appear in court on Oct. 31.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames