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Young woman plans emotional tribute at Voices of the North

Feb 21, 2018 | 4:00 PM

One of the featured performers at this year’s Voices of the North show almost didn’t make it this year due to her sister’s sudden, tragic death.

Chelsie Young, 27, who auditioned last September, almost cancelled after learning the body of her 22-year-old sister Amy Boskoyous was found on the side of a highway in the Slave Lake area in December. Despite feeling like she might be unable to sing without breaking down, Young said she knew she had to pull herself together and perform at this show.

‘It was the last show that I got to tell my sister about, the last show she was really excited about and proud of me for getting into,” she said.

Boskoyous was reported missing on Nov. 25. Young said an eyewitness saw Amy inside a vehicle pulled over to the side of the highway.

“It looked like my sister couldn’t even stand,” Young said. “Her boyfriend had to hold her up and she was sitting on the ground.”

Boskoyous’ body was found 15 days later, lying on the road near the spot she was seen. RCMP said they concluded their investigation and informed the family the death was not suspicious in nature. Young said it’s very hard not knowing exactly what happened to her sister, and can’t believe this could have been any sort of accident.

“My sister was found lying on her side with her shoes off, which doesn’t make any sense to me,” she said. “Why were her shoes off?”

Young said she still has many unanswered questions, including why the family cannot see the autopsy report and why no one responded to her sister’s 9-1-1 call.

“My sister was a fighter, like, in the literal sense,” Young said. “There was no way she would just roll over and let herself die.”

Young said her sister gave her the strength to sing and share her story. Through her participation in the Voices of the North show, Young said she hopes to honor all Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Voices of the North runs Feb. 22, 23 and 24 at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre.

 

Editor’s Note: This article was updated at 2:16 p.m. Feb. 22 to clarify the location where Boskoyous was seen.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell