New billboard features face of missing woman, Happy Charles

By Nigel Maxwell, paNOW

Regina Poitras fought back tears as she gazed up on the smiling face of her missing daughter.

A billboard designed to raise awareness about Happy Charles, was unveiled Friday afternoon near the Prince Albert Grand Council main office on 10th Ave. W. and is the first of its kind in Saskatchewan.

Poitras admitted to paNOW it was very difficult seeing her daughter’s face displayed this way.

“Because it’s not something I’d wish on any mother to see their child up there, but I’m glad she’s up there,” Poitras said.

Happy Charles was 44 when she was last seen in Prince Albert on April 3, 2017. Despite the family’s best efforts, they’ve been unable to get closure. Carson Poitras, Charle’s step-father, told the crowd that he felt like his family had grown since his daughter went missing, and thanked everyone who has helped in the search effort. He also expressed his hope the billboard will generate some new tips and pave the way for other opportunities.

“We’re hoping what it will do is raise awareness and also help us in securing funds for that (missing persons regional centre) office we want in Prince Albert and La Ronge, and the other cities in the province,” he said.

Carson Poitras looks on as a billboard displaying his daughter’s face gets set up with assistance from the Prince Albert Police Service. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

The billboard was a project done in coordination between the family of Happy Charles and the KAMADA group out of Saskatoon, as part of its Wild Rose campaign. Federation of Sovererign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Vice-Chief Heather Bear was among the special dignitaries on hand Friday. She said she thought the billboard will make a difference.

“If that perpetrator ever comes by here, he’ll see her face, he’ll know that her people love her and are still looking for her,” Bear said.

Prince Albert Grand Chief (PAGC) Brian Hardlotte re-assured the family they would continue to have the PAGC’s full support.

“I acknowledge you and thank you for not giving up,” he said.

New Dawn, a drumming and singing group, is comprised of Charles’ daughters. In their closing song they sang “when it’s cold and the snow starts to fall, I think of you. I hear your voice always in the cloudy skies.”

Third annual Happy Charles walk

Earlier in the afternoon, an event was held at Kinsmen Park, and supporters and family of Happy Charles were on hand, as well as representatives from the Prince Albert Police Service. Police Chief Jon Bergen said the police service would never stop looking for Happy.

(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

A large number of the people then proceeded to walk from Kinsmen Park to the PAGC office on 10th Ave. W.

The PAGC women’s commission was forced to cancel its 16th annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) walk last June due to COVID-19.

“And you ask yourself how much longer do we have to go on. These walks must come to a stop. We have to find our women,” Chairperson Shirley Henderson later told the crowd. “You ask yourself how can someone disappear without a trace.”

The PAGC women’s commission has also previously announced plans for a MMIP monument. Henderson confirmed a location had been secured on the riverbank and suggested the monument should be in place next June.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell

If the Riders win on Saturday, it secures them a spot in the 111th Grey Cup in Vacnouver on Nov. 17.

New billboard features face of missing woman, Happy Charles

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