This makes me so angry and disgusted. It is a hate crime and violation of human rights. Elder (with dementia) abuse. Structural racism. Predatory behaviour by people who are professional carers in an environment (eg, this department, health facility, health system - I do not know) that is clearly conducive to this kind of abuse.

His niece Kathleen Crowe, speaking on behalf of the family at an Opposition NDP news conference Tuesday, said braids have a deep cultural meaning, and to have them cut off without consent was crushing.

“My uncle was a day school survivor, and in his era it wasn’t culturally safe to have long hair. So as he got older, he grew his hair long … to be able to grow his hair long was very special for him and to his spirit,” Crowe said.

"Basically, it was the essence of his spirit. And to have that cut off — it was a huge change in him.

“The braids were found in the garbage on top of soiled adult diapers … I can’t even begin to describe how awful that was.”

Crowe told CBC News the family was never provided a reason for why the braids needed to be cut. She added that Eve Adams was supposed to be making all the decisions surrounding her husband’s medical needs due to his increasing dementia.