Oct. 14, 2020 Conversation about "Missing", Shining a Light - Seeking Advice for the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), Board of Directors.

1. Conversation about “Missing”
Shining a Light - Seeking Advice
For: Office for Victims of Crime (OVC),
Board of Directors
By: Maureen Trask
On: Wed. Oct. 14, 2020
10:30-11:30 PM
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2. Conversation Themes
I will share my lived experience and that of other families
whom I’ve come to know (the club no one wants to be part of).
 Explore “Missing”
 Needs of Families
 Victims vs Missing
 Discussion
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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. 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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7. 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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8. 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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9. 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:
 Possible Sightings
 Remains Found
 Other Missing Persons
 News, tips, or leads
 Items(s) found, but no physical evidence
 Officer or Jurisdiction change(s)
* Supporting those who are left behind, Australian Federal Police (Sarah Wayland), 2007 9

10. Victims vs Missing
Provide advice to the Attorney General of Ontario on
victims’ issues including:
• Ways to ensure the principles set out in the Act Respecting Victims of Crime –
Victims’ Bill of Rights, 1995 (Victims’ Bill of Rights) are respected;
• The development, implementation and maintenance of provincial standards
for services for victims of crime;
• The use of the Victims’ Justice Fund to provide and improve services for
victims of crime;
• Research and education on the treatment of victims in the criminal justice
system and ways to prevent further victimization; and
• Matters of legislation and policy on the treatment of victims of crime and on
the prevention of further victimization.
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11. Victims vs Missing
 I was struck by the desperate need for information, for
guidance, understanding and for support.
 After victimization I really appreciated being allowed to talk at
my own pace.
 Ensuring that victims are aware of the services available to
them is an important first step in helping to rebuild their lives.
 I wish there was a way to rewind my life to the day before...
 The strongest chain that kept me locked away was my
silence. The only key to release the chain was my voice.
 No one wants to think it could happen to them...
From the OVC Website Home Page: http://www.ovc.gov.on.ca/
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12. Can Victim Services Help?
 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
 + Understand Ambiguous Loss
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13. Legislative/Policy Advocacy
“Missing Persons Acts” still needed in
Quebec, New Brunswick, PEI, NWT and Nunavut.
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14. 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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15. 15

16. 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

17. Any moments or thoughts?
OVC recommend changes for Victims of Crime
but, “Missing” doesn’t always involve crime.
How can OVC help?
Who else can help?
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Discussion

18. 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.