Science in the Cinema presents Low Priority
Presented by the UCalgary's Cumming School of Medicine, and hosted in partnership with the Calgary Public Library.
Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Where: Central Library, 800 3 St SE, Calgary, AB
Doors Open: 5:00 pm
Begins at: 5:30 pm *NEW TIME*
About the film:
Low Priority is a fictional narrative film based on the lived experiences of people with diabetes experiencing homelessness. When Bobby, a man living with diabetes experiences a dangerous low blood sugar in a shelter bathroom, his journey to the hospital is not just a medical emergency — it becomes a revealing portrait of how stigma and judgment follow people experiencing homelessness through the health care system. Through his eyes, the film spotlights the resilience required to navigate not only a life-threatening condition in an impossible situation, but also an overburdened system that tends to see the circumstance before the person, challenging us to confront our assumptions about care, dignity, and humanity.
Low Priority offers a compelling portrayal of the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness when accessing medical care for their diabetes within a pressured healthcare system. The story is informed by the research and lived experience of the Calgary Diabetes Advocacy Committee (CDAC), a group leading community-based research and advocacy projects to improve the experiences and outcomes of their peers.
The film was produced in partnership with the CDAC and Calgary-based Pluto Pictures, staring Troy Greenwood, Laura Lieben, and Gurpyar Bains. It was written and directed by Scott Westby, and produced by Dr. David Campbell, Briar Greenhalgh, Sarina Aryal, Rodrigo Mota and Scott Westby.
FREE admission and snack, seating is first-come, first-serve.
Meet the Speakers
Sarina Aryal, Moderator
Sarina Aryal is a Research Associate working closely with the Calgary Diabetes Advocacy Committee and Dr. David Campbell. Through research Sarina strives to improve the health of our communities and work towards improving equitable healthcare for populations experiencing social or economic disadvantage.
Dr. David Campbell, Panelist
Dr. David Campbell, MD, PhD is a medical specialist in Endocrinology & Metabolism and a health services researcher focused on social disparities and their impacts on clinical outcomes of cardiometabolic diseases, like diabetes. He is the co-director of the Health Policy Trials Unit at the O'Brien Institute for Public Health at the University of Calgary and the medical director of the Diabetes Mobile Clinic. He conducts research that uses mixed methods, interventional approaches, community and stakeholder engagement, and knowledge translation to contribute to reducing the impact of social disadvantage on clinical outcomes by informing health policy and clinical practice.
Scott Westby, Panelist
Scott Westby is an award-winning filmmaker who was born and raised in Calgary. Over the last 20 years he has directed, written and produced hundreds of film projects, from feature films and documentaries to web series, commercials and videos for local, national and global brands. He's collaborated with Universities, Marketing Agencies, Arts Organizations, Government, Not-for-profits and large Corporations, but the projects he finds most rewarding are the ones like Low Priority — stories that make a difference in real people's lives. Also, yes there is an em dash in this bio, but that doesn't mean Scott used ChatGPT — he can write his own bio thank you very much.
CDAC Co-Researchers
The Calgary Diabetes Advocacy Committee (CDAC) is a group leading community-based research and advocacy projects to improve the experiences and outcomes of people living with diabetes. CDAC has led several impactful projects, including the Diabetes Mobile Clinic in partnership with the Alex Community Health Centre’s Mobile Health Program, the short film Low, and now Low Priority.
Save the Date: January 20, 2026
Join us for a screening of Wonder.
Wonder tells the inspiring story of August Pullman who was born with facial differences that prevented him from going to a mainstream school until 5th grade. As his classmates and community learn about compassion and acceptance, Auggie's journey will prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out.
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