This presentation is to shine a light on "Missing" and the role Victim Services can provide to help families with missing loved ones (Missing Persons). Prepared for Victim Services Branch, Hamilton Police Services, ON Canada. Jan. 14, 2021.

1. “Missing” - A Conversation
Shining a Light
For: Victim Services Branch, Hamilton Police Services
New Volunteer Recruits, Existing Volunteers, Victim Services Staff and Cadets
By: Maureen Trask
On: Thur. Jan., 2021
6:00-7:00 PM
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2. Conversation Themes
I will share my journey of “Missing” and that of other families
whom I’ve come to know (the club no one wants to be part of).
 Explore “Missing”
 Needs and Gaps
 How Victim Services Can Help
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3. 3
Daniel Robert Trask
Missing Nov. 3, 2011 Found May 24, 2015

4. Explore “Missing”
I will facilitate conversation to explore “Missing” and the
gaps and issues. Conversation will focus on:
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What is a Missing Person?
(Definition)
Who goes Missing?
Where are the Missing?
When are they Found?
Why do they go Missing?
How Many go Missing?

5. Stats - Patterns in the Data*
*Source data as reported on Canada’s Missing (Public Website), under Publications www.canadasmissing.ca
5A-Adult C-Children
Year
Age
Grp
Ontario
#
Ontario
Total
Canada
#
Canada
Total
Ontario
%
Canada
%
2015 A 6,513 19,413 26,080 71,368 34% 37%
C 12,900 45,288 66% 63%
2016 A 6,717 18,465 27,789 73,398 36% 38%
C 11,748 45,609 64% 62%
2017 A 7,035 18,060 30,632 77,800 39% 39%
C 11,025 47,168 61% 61%
2018 A 7,497 17,686 31,387 73,620 42% 43%
C 10,189 42,233 58% 57%
2019 A 8,082 17,849 32,752 73,177 45% 45%
C 9,767 40,425 55% 55%
5 Yr Avg A 7,169 18,294 29,728 73,873 39% 40%
C 11,126 44,145 61% 60%

6. What is Ambiguous Loss?
Dr. Pauline Boss, principal theorist of the concept of Ambiguous Loss
and Dr. Gloria Horsley, founder and president of Open to Hope Fdn,
discuss Ambiguous Loss at the annual Association of Death Education
and Counseling (ADEC) Conference, 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2vYyefAgZ0
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7. Types of Ambiguous Loss
1. Physically Absent-
Psychologically Present
2. Psychologically Absent-
Physically Present
 Adoption
 Migration
 Miscarriage and
stillborn loss
 Missing people
 Natural disaster and
catastrophic tragedy
 Homeless?
 Addictions
 Change in Gender Identity or
Gender Expression
 Dementia and Alzheimer’s
 Mental health issues
 Separation/Divorce
 Traumatic brain injury or coma
 Pandemic (COVID-19)?
 There is no verification of death.
 There is no certainty that the person will come back.
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8. Triggers and Trauma
 “Having a missing loved one is the most painful
loss of all.” (Dr. Pauline Boss, 1999)
 The *Trauma Timeline is an important aspect when
assessing the implications of the loss.
 Triggers can affect the emotional ups and downs:
 News, tips, leads or items found, but no physical evidence
 Possible sightings or remains found
 Significant dates, events, songs, smells, places, things
 Other Missing Person stories and cases
 Officer or Jurisdiction changes
* Supporting those who are left behind, Australian Federal Police (Sarah Wayland), 2007 8

9. Needs of Families
 Be heard, believed, and supported
 Be safe and connected, with trust
 Understand the systems and resources
 Know what to expect of self and others
 Minimize the emotional roller coaster
 Take care of self first, find balance
 Cope in healthy ways, reduce stress
 Strive to maintain Hope, build Resiliency
 Access to timely information and resources
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10. Services (Support)
Support looks different to everyone
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* Someone to really listen
* Being present
* Just being there
were by far the most popular
ways to support someone.

11. Victim Services Role
 Crisis Intervention (trauma informed)
 Help with urgent practical matters
 “Navigate” the systems and resources
 Arrange and link to other services/resources
 Provide Support in a Safe Space
 Demonstrate Compassion, Kindness,
Genuine Listening, Being Present
 Plus: Understand Ambiguous Loss 11

12. How You Can Help
 Be the needed point of referral for families
 Offer peace of mind for families that you are
there for them, especially when new triggers
 Help enable families to navigate through
their journey of uncertainty
 Support families, but don’t try to advise on
investigation or searches on behalf of Police
 Listen - Empathize - Empower - Be Present
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13. Challenges with Police
(from a Family Perspective)
 Not being taken serious by police in the
first instance
 Making sense of the entire situation -
understand the process and options
 Lifestyle bias and assumptions of the
disappearance
 Lack of communications - not being
kept up to date, short or long term
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14. Legislative/Policy Advocacy
A “Missing Persons Act” is still needed in
Quebec, New Brunswick, PEI, NWT and Nunavut.
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15. Legislative/Policy Advocacy
 National Missing Persons Framework
 National Missing Persons Month in Canada
 Missing Persons Status for Guardianship or PofD
 No Body, No Parole Legislation (Bill C-437)
 Compensation for Families (those left behind)
 Support/Bill of Rights/Ombudsperson for Families
 Support/Ombudsperson for the Missing and returned
 Tools, guides and kits to help family members and
also for those who are missing or returned.
 Strategies/Education to prevent going missing.
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17. Missing Persons -
Recommendations
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Key Finding:
Canada needs a
National Missing
Persons Framework for
 Consistency
 Transparency
 Accountability
 Fairness and
 Equality.
Report Link: https://www.slideshare.net/trasker/missing-persons-recommendations

18. Any moments or thoughts?
Victims Services help victims of crime and trauma
but,
“Missing” doesn’t always have a crime.
Can Victim Services help?
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Discussion

19. From me to each of you:
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Maureen Trask: trasker@rogers.com
Support for Us – Families with
Missing Loved Ones (FB page)
Links to the Presentation and
Resource Materials will be emailed.