The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed this week Missing Persons Week with the theme, “Never Forgotten: Honouring the Missing and Supporting their Families,” to raise awareness about missing persons and prevention and support services.
The 10th annual missing person week saw public members invited to support families in a Walk to Honour the Missing, followed by a bench dedication ceremony at the Missing Persons Tree and Bench in Wascana Park.
Missing Persons Week is organized by the Saskatchewan Missing Persons Partnership (SMPP), a collaboration between the government, police agencies, and Indigenous and community-based organizations.
Justice Minister and Attorney General Bronwyn Eyre said while the week is to raise awareness, it’s also to honour those who are missing.
“This week is about raising awareness about missing persons, highlighting prevention and safety tools and responses, and, above all, honouring missing persons and supporting their families,” she said. “Each of the flowers and messages placed at the Missing Persons Tree today represents the 137 long-term missing people in our province who are never forgotten.”
Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Christine Tell, said the search for those who are missing never stops.
“As we reflect on ten years of marking Missing Persons Week, it is significant to consider that every missing person’s case is an active file until investigators can find answers,” Tell said. “To the families of missing people, we know we cannot ease the fear you live with, yet we do support you in hope.”
The SMPP helps raise awareness about missing person issues, works to coordinate policies and legislation, shares prevention and safety tools, and supports agencies that provide services to families when people do go missing.