Presentation Missing - A Conversation, Shining a Light for Please Bring Me Home by Maureen Trask on May 16, 2021.

1. Missing - A Conversation
Shining a Light
For: Please Bring Me Home
Board of Directors
By: Maureen Trask
Advocate for the Missing and Families
On: Sun. May 16, 2021
8:00-9:00 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”
 Understand the Needs and Gaps
 How Can Please Bring Me Home 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
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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

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10. 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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11. Biggest Challenge
(from a Police Perspective)
Police were limited in their ability to investigate reports of missing
persons when there was no evidence of criminal activity.
Missing legislation gives police a tool to respond to missing persons
investigations by allowing them access to personal information
(health, banking, employment, social media, phone, travel, vehicle
records) and locations to search while balancing considerations
for an individual’s privacy.
In Ontario, the Missing Persons Act went into effect on July 1, 2019
(5 year effort) with regulations for process, annual reporting, and
a full review after 5 years in use (July 2024).
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12. Legislative/Policy Advocacy
A “Missing Persons Act” is still needed in
Quebec, New Brunswick, PEI, NWT and Nunavut.
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13. Legislative/Policy Advocacy
 National Missing Persons Framework
 National Missing Persons Day (Month) in Canada
 Missing Person Status for Guardianship or
Proof of Death
 No from 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 from going missing.
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14. 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

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16. Missing Persons Framework
Focus Areas
 PREVENT: To introduce preventive measures to reduce the
number of missing persons occurrences.
 RESPOND: To respond consistently and appropriately to missing
persons occurrences.
 SUPPORT: To provide the best possible support to both missing
people and their families.
 PROTECT: To protect vulnerable missing people and reduce the
risks of harm.
New technology is a factor that can help advance all key areas of the
Framework. 16

17.  Expand the recruitment base and partners
(Education, Police, Media, Business) *
 Support/Advocate for Families
(Resources, Family Liaison, Tools & Tips)
 Regular Public Information Sharing
(Progress, Tools & Techniques, Press, Podcast)
 Reciprocal collaboration with Police/Coroners
 Share best practises and prevention ideas
(how to make it better)
Locate International, UK
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How Can Please Bring Me
Home Help? (My Thoughts)

18. Any moments or thoughts?
Please Bring Me Home’s goal is to solicit tips and
investigate missing persons cold cases from
across Canada.
What more can be done?
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Discussion

19. From me to each of you:
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Maureen Trask trasker@rogers.com
Links to the Presentation and Resource Materials will be emailed.