The Government of Saskatchewan officially proclaimed the week of May 5-11 as Missing Persons Week in the province.
Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant and Minister responsible for Corrections and Policing Christine Tell joined families and community members in Regina earlier this week to recognize missing people in Saskatchewan.
"A missing loved one is a distressing experience for any family," Wyant says. "This is an important time to support families and communities by recognizing the on-going need to resolve missing persons cases in our province."
"Sadly, there are 114 men, women and children missing in Saskatchewan today," Tell adds. "We are working together with our partners to ensure that we continue to be diligent in our response to cases of missing persons."
Missing Persons Week is an opportunity to raise awareness about the reasons people go missing and provides an understanding about what families and friends can do when someone goes missing. Throughout the week, specific cases from across the province are being profiled.
"Having a family member or friend go missing is not an experience for which most people prepare and so often, in those critical first hours, people hesitate," Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police President Chief Troy Hagen says. "One of the goals of Missing Persons Week is to dispel myths with clear direction, which we hope will resolve missing persons cases quickly and with positive outcomes."
In 2006, the Provincial Partnership Committee on Missing Persons was created to raise awareness, promote prevention strategies, and encourage a collaborative approach to better support families and communities of missing persons. The committee consists of representatives from government, police, First Nations, Métis and community-based organizations.
For information on how to assist families of missing persons, visit www.justice.gov.sk.ca/MissingPersons.
