An open letter from the family.
This website is dedicated to all of “those who cannot speak.”
Donald H. Broder October 11, 1929 – April 11, 2012
Joyce M. Broder December 6, 1929 – September 23, 2011
The Alberta Justice Department (Justice Myra Bielby) incarcerated Donald Broder at 75 years of age in a wheelchair on April 23, 2004. An innocent senior citizen, they made him a prisoner in the Edmonton Remand Center for 11 days, sometimes in isolation and without necessary medical attention, then with involvement from his own family finally being fed cold pancakes and potatoes.
It’s incomprehensible that The Provincial and Federal Governments of Canada treat the innocent elderly like a prisoner.
We understood that the Government of Canada had Donald H. Broder incarcerated so they could take good care of him. Surely, the Alberta Justice Department would only incarcerate an innocent 75 year old senior citizen because The Governments of Canada treat prisoners better than the elderly?
Donald H. Broder became a prisoner again on April 29, 2004. Justice Myra Bielby saw him in a wheelchair during the Court appearance that date and realized that he needed someone to push his wheelchair to ensure he attends court. That must be why Justice Myra Bieby remanded Donald H. Broder back into custody—so that one of Edmonton’s finest from the Edmonton Police Services could push his wheelchair to and from court.
This is unspeakable behavior and treatment of an elderly, unwell man. To treat a senior citizen in such a cruel and inhumane manner is a direct violation of the values Canadians hold dear. This is not how we treat our elders—individuals who have contributed to society, raised families, and paid their taxes with the reasonable expectation that, in their final years, they would be treated with care, respect, and dignity to the end.
That expectation was shattered in the case of Donald H. Broder. His age, his condition, and his clear need for medical attention and support were ignored in favor of a cold, bureaucratic punishment that should never befall someone in his vulnerable state. This is not just a personal tragedy, it is a shameful failure of a system that is supposed to protect, not persecute, its senior citizens.
Alison Redford, former Premier of Alberta, should write a formal apology to Donald H. Broder and family. We are sill waiting! Refund all their damages. We are still waiting! And pledge to all Canadians, for whom will all eventually be vulnerable senior citizens themselves, that the Canadian Governments will ensure all Canadians are protected from harm by The Canadian Constitution. That the Government of Alberta will ensure that all Senior Citizens of Alberta, Canada, will be allowed to live retirement in peace.
Safe guards should be legislated to protect the health, safety, and net worth of vulnerable senior citizens and at the end of their life; and that they should be allowed to live and die with dignity.