Disrupting Death: The Alberta Episode

What this episode covers

This month’s episode is a double interview with three Albertans: in part 1 we speak with Dr. Stacy Hume about her father and his unfulfilled choice of MAiD at end of life. In part 2, Dr. Tracy Powell and Tania Stilson share updates about Bill 18 and its implications for Alberta and the rest of the country. Part 1: Dr. Stacey Hume is a geneticist whose childhood was spent moving across Canada while her father worked in the mining industry. During her career, she made time to raise three children, choosing to settle in Edmonton so they could grow up near her parents—something she herself didn’t experience. Outside of work, Stacey and her husband enjoy the outdoors, whether they’re camping on their rural acreage, walking their two dogs, or finding a quiet moment to read. She also has a passion for glasswork, a creative pursuit she looks forward to dedicating more time to in retirement. Stacey currently works with Newborn Screening Ontario, where she reviews screening results for all newborns to help ensure that babies with treatable serious conditions receive timely care. Link to Stacey’s interview with the CBC: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7096687 Part 2: Dr. Tracy Powell (she/her) is a Registered Nurse and tenured Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Mount Royal University in Calgary. With more than 30 years of experience across clinical practice and academia, her work is grounded in oncology, cancer care, and palliative care. Dr. Powell’s research focuses on medical assistance in dying (MAiD), with particular attention to the experiences of family members and caregivers, as well as the ethical and policy dimensions shaping their experiences. Dr. Powell is also Board Chair and Director of Bridge C-14, a national non-profit organization providing peer support to individuals and their loved ones throughout all stages of the MAiD journey. Tania Stilson is an end-of-life advocate whose work is grounded in compassion, lived experience, and a belief that no one should face death—or the path toward it—alone. Her journey began with her father, who lived for over a decade with debilitating chronic pain before choosing Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in 2023 through the Track 2 pathway. What followed was a deeply emotional and unexpected experience, including a prolonged 90-day assessment period that meant living through a goodbye their family hadn’t anticipated. It was a time shaped by love, uncertainty, and the quiet weight of walking alongside someone toward a scheduled death. Today, Tania is a dedicated volunteer and Board Member with Bridge C-14 as well as MAiD Family Support Society, offering peer support and creating space for honest conversations about death and dying. Bridge C-14: https://www.bridgec14.org/ MAID Family Support Society: https://maidfamilysupport.ca/ Music for Disrupting Death was created by the ever-lovely Sarah McInnis. Sarah is a music therapist, a songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist and End-of-Life Doula. In 2021, Sarah began The Legacy Song Project, writing original songs for folks at the end-of-life, and for folks who have lost loved ones. To learn more about Sarah, visit her website https://sarahmcinnis.com. This episode of Disrupting Death was produced by Keri-Lyn Durant.

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