Missing Persons Week Declared in Saskatchewan
The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed the week of May 1-7 as Missing Persons Week in the province. This year’s theme is “Missing but Not Forgotten”.
“For the fourth year, this week will raise awareness of the hardships faced by families of missing persons, and highlight the important work of the agencies that support them,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant said. “We share the concerns of the public when it comes to all missing persons, and support national efforts on the issue of missing Aboriginal women.”
“For this year’s Missing Person’s Week, we shine a light on those who are missing, and we reaffirm our commitment of support to their families,” Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell said. “We continue to develop and improve our programs to work toward prevention and serve those in need.”
According to the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police database, there are 122 long-term missing persons in the province.
“Saskatchewan police forces are committed to investigating every possible angle of a missing persons case to find answers for friends and family who face so much uncertainty,” Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police President Chief Marlo Pritchard said. “Missing Persons Week is a chance to raise awareness, and highlight work being done to prevent these tragic situations from occurring in the future.”
In Saskatchewan, the Provincial Partnership Committee on Missing Persons, which includes representatives from government, police, First Nations, Métis, and community-based organizations, leads collaborative work to address issues related to prevention, intervention and support in cases involving missing persons. It has been recognized both nationally and internationally for its approach.
This year, a number of victim services organizations across the province will be screening documentaries related to missing persons. Police and other agencies will once again take part throughout the week by Tweeting information about their role in solving long-term missing persons cases. You can follow along by searching the Twitter hashtag #skmpw2016.
For more information on how to assist the families of missing persons, visit www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/family-and-social-support/missing-persons.