(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Missing and Murdered Men and Women

Emotional event marks 15th anniversary in Prince Albert

Jun 27, 2019 | 3:00 PM

Families with missing or murdered loved ones came together Thursday, in a strong showing of solidarity and support.

Over 150 people participated in the ‘Honouring our Sisters and Brother’s Memorial Walk’, organized by the Prince Albert Grand Council Women’s Commission. Chairperson Shirley Henderson said the walks appear to get bigger and bigger each year.

“After the tenth year we thought maybe we should try something else but families came to us and said “no keep going, this is a good thing,” she said.

Family members of Kevin Charles and Mary Goodfellow participated in Thursday’s walk. Both have not been heard from since April of 1993. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Families from all corners of the province travelled to Prince Albert to attend Thursday’s event, including some from Regina, Yorkton, and Wollaston Lake. Ashley Morin’s family from North Battleford was also in attendance. July 11th will mark the one year anniversary since Morin was last heard from. Family spokesperson Krista Fox told paNOW walks like the one held in Prince Albert help spread awareness about Ashley.

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“Reminding people that she is in fact missing, not only from this earth but also our lives which is more important than anything,” she said.

The performance by the New Dawn Singers was not by chance. Singer Margaret Bird is the daughter of Happy Charles, who has been missing more than two years. Friends and family of Danielle Nyland were also in attendance. Nyland’s body was found in June 2015, in a wooded area east of Shellbrook. The police investigation continues in to what has been referred to by them as a suspicious death. Nyland’s uncle Lynn Regnier said he felt it was important to let other families know they have support.

“The healing is never ever done,” he said, adding the size of the crowd in attendance shows how important the issue is.

PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte was presented with a blanket by the women’s commission, for his work forming the PAGC Search and Rescue Unit. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Prince Albert Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte was among the dignitaries on hand. He pledged to hold the federal and provincial governments accountable to the 231 recommendations in the recent final report from the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Hardlotte thanked police for their work, but added more could be done such as keeping all missing person files open.

“And the sooner we get the report of a missing person the better, there is no such thing as a 24-hour-period,” he said

Prince Albert Police Chief Jon Bergen thanked the PAGC Grand Chief for his comments and promised to not only keep the files open but active as well. Bergen acknowledged the pain of missing persons is brought home each day by the families involved, but added was also felt by the police officers investigating the files.

The large group made a series of stops across the city on their way from City Hall to Senator Allen Bird Gym, including the provincial courthouse, Court of Queen’s Bench, Kinsmen Park. At each stop a different missing person was recognized.

(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell