Regina and Carson Poitras, the parents of Happy Charles, spoke to everybody moments before Sunday's walk began. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D’Andrea

Still Looking for Answers

‘We’re never going to forget her’: Family and police hold fifth-anniversary walk for missing Happy Charles

Apr 3, 2022 | 3:39 PM

Regina and Carson Poitras were already receiving support before they got to the starting location of the healing walk for their daughter Happy Charles, who went missing five years ago to the day on Sunday.

As they left their hotel on Sunday, Carson said they saw two kids holding up a sign saying ‘Honk for Happy.’

“It jerked at our hearts, we weren’t really expecting something like that. I’m not even sure how they even knew we would drive by there,” Carson said. “Their support is there. We see things like that and it renews our hope in humanity, that somebody will come forward one day and let us know where our daughter is. It’s still a very tough journey today.”

The walk started in the parking lot at Prince Albert Collegiate Institute (PACI), Charles’ last known whereabouts. The school’s security cameras picked up Charles walking through its school’s lots, which is why the walk started outside of the school.

“We last had evidence of Happy Charles being right here,” Prince Albert Police Chief Jon Bergen said. “We continue to look and our police service is continuing to find those answers that we haven’t yet found. It’s a real honour to walk beside the family, and feel the emotion they still carry in the search for those answers.”

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Kathy Edwardsen, the officer assigned to the Historical Missing Persons and Homicide Section of Prince Albert police, has been working closely with the family through the past five years on following leads. She said walks like this help the case, as tips come in following each event.

“It lets people know we’re all still looking. The police are looking, the public is looking, the family, for sure, is looking,” Edwardsen said. “We need closure. We need closure for all these people that have gone missing, and are still suffering. This is traumatic for them.”

Although Carson said police have been able to respond quickly to tips or leads that come in, RCMP have taken more time to respond. He and Regina have been advocating for an office to specifically deal with missing persons, so searches and responding to leads can be done much quicker when needed.

“Happy was a very happy-go-lucky person. She was always happy. She had funny, little quirks about her, the way she would make different faces and say different things,” Carson said. “But she was always happy, she was named properly. She had a happy spirit and that’s how we like to remember her.

“One thing that’s on our mind is we’re never going to forget about her,” Carson added. “We’re going to keep looking for her. That’s not going to change until we bring her home.”

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Jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW