A mother of Chilliwack, whose daughter disappeared in 2021 said that the British Columbia Government and the RCMO division E told him that he was working on the development of a public assistance alert system for adults.
Alina Durham’s daughter, Shaelene Keeler Bell, disappeared in 2021. The body was found in the Fraser river More than four months later.
Durham said she had contacted Garry Begg, the Minister of Public Security and General Solicitor, about the development of a Missing adult alert System and asked him to send a proposal to his office.
“My proposal was that we took the Amber alert which is already in place and that we were going into a wording in it so that he would indicate the victim,” said Durham.
“This would therefore apply to kidnapped children or imminent danger or an adult who could be removed or imminent.”
She said that she had received an answer on May 12 asking her to contact the Division of the missing person of the BC RCB and now something is in preparation.
“Basically, at the end of the day, I would like to see the Canada alert loan system used,” added Durham.
Sam Noh, whose father Shin Noh disappeared in September 2013 and never returned, was a defender of the creation of an “ money alert ” system ” This would inform the communities of the disappearance of an elder, in particular that with dementia. He co -founded the group, British Columbia silver alert.
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However, there has never been an official alert system in place, apart from Amber alerts, which are for children who have been removed.
The NPD of British Columbia promised to develop a money alert system when it trained the government in 2020, then commanding the Minister of Public Security Mike Farnworth to supervise its development in its 2020 Mandate letter.
However, a system has still not been put in place.
In the letter to Durham, he said that the Missing Persons Center de la GRC “actively works” on the development of a public assistance alert system in the province.
“This initiative focuses on adults or missing children and can be vulnerable due to a cognitive impairment or other health concerns,” said the letter.
“It is a major step in the improvement of our response to these cases, and your support strengthens the importance of this work.”
Durham said she was happy to have received an answer.
“I would like to see everyone inclusive,” said Durham. “I get tired of segregation and realize what it is really, right?”
“You know, at the end of the day, it is a safety measure and it is peace of mind for families, like me, when my daughter has disappeared.”
She said that her daughter, who was 23, had never disappeared before and that Durham would have liked an alert to have been issued in this case, especially if the circumstances around the missing person were suspicious or out of character.
“This ensures our safety community, we all work together, we need a village,” said Durham.
“When I recovered my letter, I was very, very happy because we have to start somewhere, and it’s a start. And so if we start with this alert, no, for adults and the elderly and adults with cognitive problems, this is the beginning.
“My conviction is that once something starts, it can move forward.”
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