Ezra Wellness tries again in Kamloops, but without ‘nurzes’

Glenn Aalderink has found a new location to base his wellness clinic for unvaccinated healthcare workers, but they'll be changing their titles.

The healthcare workers at Ezra Wellness will refer to themselves as "wellness advocates," Aalderink said, because they cannot medically practice there.

Originally, Ezra Wellness healthcare workers were to be called "nurzes," Aalderink told iNFOnews.ca.

The term was floated by Ezra Wellness organizers looking to open locations across the country, but using it would be a risk because it's too close to nursing titles, which are protected terms.

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Aalderink leads a team of healthcare workers who were suspended from their jobs because they are not vaccinated against COVID-19. He was also a key architect behind the September pandemic protests near hospitals across the country.

He attempted to open Ezra Wellness in Kamloops in late-October, but before they could land a business license, the building's landlord shut down the operation.

Now setting up at their new location, Aalderink said he has restarted the process of getting a business licence through the City.

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Aalderink said he and the other employees can only advise patients based on symptoms because of nursing regulations, which is why they will call themselves "wellness advocates."

The B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives warned on Nov. 2 that anyone using their protected titles is a "privilege" and not a right.

"(College) registrants are free to voice their own opinions in a lawful manner but are not entitled to use a protected title to spread misinformation," the College said in statement. "(The College) can and will take action against registrants whose use of title poses a risk to the public or could bring the profession of nursing or midwifery into disrepute."

Protected titles, according to the college, include Nurse, Registered Nurse, Registered Psychiatric Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Nurse Practitioner and Midwife.

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"'Nurz' is way too close to 'nurses,' and that's a battle I'm not willing to have," Aalderink said. "I'm not willing to die on that hill and it's not worth it to me."

Aalderink, while considered a "wellness advocate" at Ezra, currently remains registered with the B.C. College of Nurses and is authorized to practice until March 31, 2022.

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