November 23, 2012

Via Facsimile 780 422 9756

Letter to follow

Chief Crown Prosecutor Steven Bilodeau QC
6th Floor, Brownlee Building – 10365 – 97 Street,
Edmonton, AB. T5J 3W7

Dear Sir:

Fatality Inquiry – Arnold Harry Barstad – November 16, 2012 – Provincial Court
Edmonton, AB. – Judge E. Johnson presiding.

It was troubling that there was failure to call the testimony of the Medical Examiner’s Office and EMS personnel. The Inquiry had to rely on the testimony of Villa Caritas staff.

The Inquiry was informed by a Villa Caritas aide, that Mr. Barstad, Unit 1 A, Rm. # 2117, hung himself from a towel bar. In fact, when this matter was first brought forward in 2011 by Mr. Brian Mason, it was said that an elderly man hung himself by hanging himself from a hook on the wall.

The matter of his alleged, abrupt onset of paranoia was not examined although the Inquiry was told that Mr. Barstad was “smiling” and “brighter”. Our long experience with Alberta Hospital and Villa Cariitas is, that when clients complain about mistreatment at the hands of staff, they are deemed to be paranoid.

Finally, past and present clients of Villa Caritas have told us that the name on the door of Rm. # 2117 was in fact George Anderson, not Arnold Barstad.

We would be grateful if you would advise us in regard to these matters. Thank you.

Yours truly,

Elder Advocates of Alberta Society,

February 19, 2018