On Monday, the family and supporters of Barbara Kentner marched to the Parole Board of Canada's office in Ottawa, seeking answers as to why Brayden Bushby, the man responsible for her death, has been granted full parole. This march was a poignant reminder of the ongoing pain and grief experienced by Kentner's family, who are grappling with the loss of their loved one and the feeling of being overlooked by the justice system.

"Barbara was my sister, she was a mother, an aunt and a friend; she was loved, she had a family who needed her, we still need her," stated Connie, Kentner's sister. She expressed the family's outrage at the parole decision, highlighting the emotional toll of allowing Bushby to return to Thunder Bay, where the crime took place.

On January 2017, 34-year-old Barbara Kentner was walking along a quiet street in Thunder Bay with her sister when Brayden Bushby, then 18, threw a trailer hitch from a passing vehicle, striking Kentner in the stomach. She succumbed to her injuries several months later, leading to Bushby's 2021 conviction for manslaughter, for which he was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison, minus time served. The court acknowledged that his unlawful act had significantly contributed to Kentner's death.

Despite his history of violating parole conditions, Bushby was granted full parole in August. His prior day parole had been revoked earlier in 2023 after he failed a breathalyzer test during a traffic stop, and was involved in other incidents, including reversing his vehicle into another car and being linked to a car theft investigation.

Connie shared the family's frustration regarding the lack of consideration given to victims in the justice process. "We are forced to ask ourselves the question, what kind of considerations for victims is that?" she lamented. The Kentner family feels as though they have been repeatedly failed by a system that professes to respect crime victims, as they were not consulted or informed about the conditions of Bushby's parole.

Caludent Commanda, a supporter of the Kentner family, voiced the broader implications of this case, stating, "Barbara Kentner is another statistic of murdered and missing Indigenous women. The murder and killing of our women must stop." He emphasized that while Bushby is walking free, Barbara's family will continue to endure a life sentence of sorrow and trauma. He called for accountability from Canada's justice system and the Parole Board of Canada in recognizing the pain caused by such decisions.

Connie also pointed out the chilling effect that the justice system's failures have on Indigenous women and girls. "There are Indigenous women and girls watching, there are families who are asking themselves whether the justice system will protect them and whether their voices will matter if something happens to them," she articulated, underscoring the systemic issues at play in these situations.

As the Kentner family awaits a response from the parole board, they continue to honor Barbara's life, celebrating her as a loving mother and friend. The injustice they feel is profound, and they remain determined to advocate for change and recognition in the face of their ongoing grief.