Legal battle(s) update

I don’t know how to introduce this post. You’ve likely seen the news, from media or my posts on X, about having been fired from my job at Vancouver Coastal Health after 13 years as a registered nurse.

The health authority was emboldened by the guilty verdict (“unprofessional conduct”) in my BC College of Nurses case. I had been under gag orders from my former employer for more than a year before getting fired. During that time, I was subjected to a campaign of harassment and bullying—but of course it was me who was ultimately and falsely framed as the aggressor.

I wrote about it in the National Post. There is a lot more to the story than could reasonably fit into a single column. Currently, I am thinking of the ways I might tell the whole story. I think it is critical to hold people to account for their cowardly actions, and for their treatment of a woman who challenged misogynistic gender ideology.

I’ve never been fired before. I can’t believe it happened.

I have sons to take care of, so there is little time for self pity. It’s time to move on to the next phase of my life.

I did set up a “Buy Me a Coffee” page for persons interested in helping me get through this “in-between” stage in my career. It embarrasses me to share it, but I cannot lie: the support helps.

Currently, I have four separate legal issues related to my advocacy for women’s sex-based rights. My legal bills are all generously paid by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, and am mainly working with Lisa Bildy.

1. An appeal, at the BC Supreme Court, of the BCCNM ruling that found me guilty of unprofessional conduct. We are trying to get a “stay” of the penalty hearing (where my punishment will be determined) while the appeal is heard. Timelines are unknown to me at this time.

2. A BC Human Rights Tribunal complaint against the BC College of Nurses and Midwives. I filed a discrimination complaint on the basis of “political belief.” The complaint was received, and is subject to review by the HRT. They have the power to either accept or reject the complaint.

3. Pending: A BC Human Rights Tribunal complaint against Vancouver Coastal Health, also on the basis of “political belief.” We have not filed this yet.

4. The BC Nurse’s Union is (I hope) grieving both a previous unpaid suspension and my termination from Vancouver Coastal Health. At present, a union-hired lawyer is compiling information about what happened, which they will present to the BCNU. The BCNU will then decide if they are going to fight on my behalf. Should I fail to receive representation from the BCNU, I am entitled to hire a lawyer and sue for “failure to represent.” Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.

What’s next?

Well, you can expect me to do a deep dive piece on my legal appeal, which is just so, so excellent. I wasn’t expecting to have such difficulty in reviewing the materials and details of everything that has happened, but it has proven to feel quite overwhelming. But I can’t wallow — it’s time to move on to bigger and better things!

I have some leads to follow up on in terms of employment offers. You can still find my weekly (or more) column in the National Post. I will also have a weekly column in the New Westminster Times.

With a mix of terror, excitement, and pre-emptive shyness, I am going to seriously move into creating video content, and launching a YouTube channel.

And of course you can find me here! I promise that the amount of content you will find here will only grow.

By the way: I love getting story tips and ideas, or interviewing people who have strange tales to tell. Get in touch.

Thank you for reading,

xo

Amy