This document serves as a reference for a presentation on ambiguous loss, primarily focusing on the experiences of families dealing with missing persons. It includes definitions, resource materials, and legislative advocacy related to missing persons in Canada, as well as insights from experts like Dr. Pauline Boss. Various support resources, best practices in counseling, and initiatives for awareness are also discussed.

1. Presentation Reference Materials, Dec. 2, 2021
By: Maureen Trask Dec. 2, 2021 Page 1 of 3
Presentation for: Ambiguous Loss Training, Victim Specialists, OPP
Presenter Contact Information: Maureen Trask trasker@rogers.com Puslinch, Ontario Canada
Definitions on Wikipedia: Missing Person Ambiguous Loss Closure (psychology)
Reference Materials:
Ambiguous Loss Website by Pauline Boss
Ambiguous Loss - Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief, Pauline Boss, Harvard Univ. Press, 1999
Ambiguous loss in families of the missing, Pauline Boss, Lancet Supplement, 360, 2002
Loss, Trauma, and Resilience - Therapeutic Work with Ambiguous Loss, Pauline Boss, Norton & Co., 2006
Open to Hope Video: Dr. Pauline Boss and Dr. Gloria Horsley discuss Ambiguous Loss at the annual ADEC
(Association of Death Education and Counseling) conference, Dec. 2011
The Myth of Closure Transcript, Navigating Hope without Closure, Dr. Pauline Boss, June 23, 2016
Supporting those who are left behind, AFP Australian Federal Police Nat. Missing Persons Framework, 2008
Living in Limbo: 5 Years On, Missing People UK, 2013
Missing Persons - Recommendations report by Maureen Trask, Jan. 20, 2020
The Myth of Closure: Ambiguous Loss in a Time of Pandemic and Change, W.W. Norton, due Dec.14, 2021
Writings Related to the Missing:
When Someone you Love Goes Missing Poem by Tom M. Brown, Dublin, Ireland
Missing a Loved One – A Parent’s Perspective by Maureen Trask, Apr. 2012
Tips for Supporting those Coping with the disappearance of a missing loved one by Cindy S., May 2012
Both are shown on CCIMA-Missing Persons Information, under Resources
Ambiguous Loss: The Experience of Loss without Closure, BON Annual Conference Presentation
by Maureen Trask and Tania Sousa, Oct. 17, 2013
Missing Person Myths Missing Persons Week, SK
QUIZ: 9 things everyone should know about finding missing people., Sept. 19, 2017
Missing People UK Website Research about Missing
Best practice principles for counselling the families & Friends of missing persons FFMP, NSW, Australia 2003
Missing People: A Guide for family members and service providers, FFMP Unit, NSW Dept of Justice 2014
Missing Persons Guide, MPAN-Missing Persons Advocacy Network, Jan. 2016

2. Presentation Reference Materials, Dec. 2, 2021
By: Maureen Trask Dec. 2, 2021 Page 2 of 3
Missing - Information in Canada:
Canada’s Missing and Unidentified (Children, Adults, and Unidentified with Annual Statistics),
Public website, Canada Gov. for the NCMPUR of the RCMP
Canadian Centre for Information on Missing Adults (CCIMA), website by Victims of CRCVC and OMA,
Ottawa Ontario, Canada
Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime (CRCVC), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Canada's Missing Persons Research Hub, Jan. 2021 by Lorna Ferguson, London, Ontario, Canada
Government of Canada - Cold cases, missing, murdered, and wanted individuals - Canada.ca
Government of Canada - Missing persons | Royal Canadian Mounted Police (rcmp-grc.gc.ca)
Missing Children’s Society of Canada (MCSC), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) - Missing Persons Toolkit, Aug. 2014
Ontario’s Missing Adults (OMA) and Ontario's Missing Adults | Facebook ON, Canada
Support for Us – Families with Missing Loved Ones FB page by Maureen Trask
Virtual Peer Support Group for Families started June 10, 2020 (for Ontario and beyond).
Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General – Policy Group (MP Act and Supports for Families Consultation
Please Bring Me Home Website and Please Bring Me Home | Facebook ON Canada
Guardians of our Angels Website and Guardians Of Our Angels | Facebook ON Canada
Saskatchewan Missing Persons Partnership (SMPP)), Rev. March 3, 2014, resources and help for Families
Support for Families with Missing Persons, Caring Hearts, Saskatchewan, Canada
Missing - Information in Other Countries:
International Centre for Missing and Unidentified Persons (The DOE Network, Cold Cases), USA
GINA for Missing Persons Foundation Missing Squeaky Wheel™ Tour events, by Jannel Rap, California, USA
and 2015 Squeaky Wheel Tour YouTube
Media for the Missing (producers of Letters to our Missing) website, USA and International
NAMUS National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, USA Gov.
PCT MISSING: The Blog Pacific Crest Trail, USA
Fowler-O'Sullivan Foundation – Assisting Families of Missing Hikers (fofound.org) USA
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Missing Persons Website, Australia Gov., AU
Missing Persons Advisory Network (MPAN) Website by Loren O’Keeffe, Melbourne, AU
Missing Persons List Website, NZ
Family and Friends of Missing Persons Services (FFMPS) Website, Dept. of Justice, NSW, AU
including Acknowledging the Empty Space and The SOS Guide Missing Persons Mar. 4, 2019
It’s the Hope That Hurts-Best Practice in counselling models relevant to families of missing persons, FFMPU

3. Presentation Reference Materials, Dec. 2, 2021
By: Maureen Trask Dec. 2, 2021 Page 3 of 3
Missing People UK Website, London England Gov, across UK (including England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales)
Missing in Ireland: The Search Process, Ireland Times, Ireland
Taking Care of Yourself when someone goes missing, FFMPU, NSW Dept. of Justice, AU 2011
NZ Police Missing Persons, Government Website, NZ
Legislative Advocacy:
Petition “Ontario needs Missing Persons Legislation” was introduced to Ontario Parliament by MPP Catherine
Fife on Oct. 20, 2014. Bill 175 Safer Ontario Act was given royal assent in March 2018, the Missing Persons Act
is part of this bill, Schedule 7, in effect on July 1, 2019 For details: Ontario Gets Missing Person Legislation
Petition “Declare a National Missing Persons Day in Canada” tabled Jan. 29, 2018, re-response from the
government unsatisfactory, no further action. For details: Declare a National Missing Persons Day in Canada
Petition “Develop a National Silver Alert strategy for Canada” e-1588, presented Feb. 7, 2019. Gov. Response
on April 1, 2019. For details: Silver Alert Canada
Advocating that “Canada needs a national Missing Persons Framework”. For more info, read the report titled
Missing Persons - Recommendations released Jan. 20, 2020.
Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu made a Statement in tribute to the Missing and raised awareness that Canada
needs a Missing Persons Framework, Dec. 1, 2020.
Other Legislation still needed includes:
• National Missing Persons Alert System (Amber, Silver, Vulnerable etc.)
• National Missing Persons Week (like Saskatchewan)
• Guardianship/Presumption of Death or Missing Persons Status
• Leave/Compensation for Families
• No Body, No Parole
• National Missing Persons SAR Procedures
In Loving Memory of Daniel Trask