Marlene Bird to spend weeks in hospital after attack

A homeless woman from Prince Albert will remain in hospital for another five to six weeks as she recovers from a vicious attack.

Marlene Bird, 47, has had both of her legs amputated and still faces more surgery, while police continue to search for a suspect.

“There are three family members staying with her in Edmonton for the duration of her stay there,” Prince Albert YWCA executive director Donna Brooks said.

So far, about $7,000 has been raised through online donations for Bird and her family but Brooks said there is more that can be done.

“They can raise awareness of the plight of the homeless, they can raise awareness of the missing and murdered aboriginal women, lobby their politicians, volunteer at a shelter,” she said Monday in an interview on John Gormley Live.

According to Brooks, Bird was a regular at the P.A. homeless shelter and is known for her kindness and generosity on the streets.

“She did receive a residential school settlement at the time those were being handed out and she actually ended up giving most of it away,” she said.

Police in Prince Albert are asking anyone with information to come forward. They believe the attack happened between midnight and 10 a.m. on June 1.

“Was it a gang initiation? Was it an attack against women? Was it an attack against homeless people? Those are questions we are all asking ourselves around this case,” Brooks said.( [email protected])