#RCMP Depot

[rabbitcruiser]

The Canadian Parliament established the North-West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on May 23, 1873.

[nakamopapina]

I did another redraw photo thing, but with Yukon, Sask, and Ontario. It was good pose practice!

Ollie has his little track suit, lol.

The original photo is posted by RCMP Depot’s instagram page, it’s from the post that was from Sept. 28. 2023.

[odinsblog]

Whitewashing History 101: The police “cleaned up” those “sleazy” whiskey traders :)

The RCMP Was Created To Control Indigenous People

Although the North-West Mounted Police didn’t become the RCMP proper until it absorbed the Dominion Police in 1920, its paramilitary origins are still highly visible in everything from its training depot to how it organizes its officers into troops, right down to the horse and the uniform, Hewitt says.

And while Canadians may like to position ourselves in opposition to the United States, citing their “even worse record in terms of treatment of Indigenous people,” Hewitt says that’s just a myth we tell ourselves to feel better.

The job of the Mounties “effectively, was to clear the plains, the Prairies, of Indigenous people,” he says. “Ultimately, they were there to displace Indigenous people, to move them onto reserves whether they were willing to go or not.”

History books, commissions, inquiries and public apologies reveal what happened next: Indigenous people who resisted were starved onto reserves. The federal government brought in the Indian Act and used Mounties to forcibly remove Indigenous children from their homes, placing them in residential schools rife with abuse.

(continue reading)

[atlanticcanada]

Second catalytic converter theft leaves Moncton food depot frustrated

With its catalytic converter stolen, an essential delivery truck for Food Depot Alimentaire in Moncton, N.B., is officially out of commission.

"It’s extremely frustrating, especially this time, because the robbery happened in broad daylight. So we caught them on camera, they were wearing masks, a hoodie. We filed a police report,” said executive director Stephane Sirois. “It’s very frustrating. It’s costing time and money that’s not going towards food.”

“The RCMP, we filed a police report and they're just overwhelmed with these cases,” she added.

It’s the second delivery truck from the food depot that’s been targeted this year.

"We called the garage who's fixing our truck and there's a huge waiting list for them to even get the part because so many are getting stolen, so we might have to wait several weeks... months,” said Sirois.

Overall, the organization services 64 food banks and community kitchens, plus more than 100 schools.

Sirois said this means the non-profit will have to rent another truck in the meantime, which is another added expense on top of other operational obstacles.

"We anticipate a major increase again this year, we don't see things slowing down. Donations are way down as well and we have to purchase a lot more food, so up to date in our budget, we had to buy almost 10 times more food than last year to get to the same volume," he said.

Despite the set backs, the Food Depot Alimentaire is pushing forward and in some cases even expanding.

The provincial coordinator for programs and community engagement, Carrie Delaney, says that its school breakfast program is feeding more students than ever this year.

"We're very excited to have the province on board this year, it means a lot to us and that was what was able to encourage us to be able to grow,” she said. “So we're pushing hard for a universal program where it's available to every student across the province right now.”

Delaney says the province committed $550,000 this year towards the program.

“It’s so important, some students find this is the only meal they get a day,” she said. “Breakfast is a staple in every household, so you can’t learn unless you have a full belly and it also promotes a culture of learning and engagement within the students.”

Adding, “last year we did 52 schools and this year we're doing 110. So now we're reaching about 25,000 students."

Officials say it is coming up to the busiest time of the year for donations, and while they are hopeful this holiday season will fill their shelves, they are also preparing for potential future challenges. 

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/MsCfZga

[brentwoodsask]

Our next character that resides in Brentwood.

Meet Erika Laffayette, a.k.a. Fransaskois.

Erika is a 26 year old woman who was born and raised in Brentwood. A rough and tumble woman, she became interested in boxing when she was in junior high school, and as she entered high school, she began training.

She became very good, with an ability to identify what her opponent's moves would be. She eventually entered competitions, winning a few provincial titles by the age of 19. When she turned 20, she joined Team Canada and went to the Olympics.

Sadly, while Erika's run was incredible, she only managed silver eventually losing to Ireland's Molly Flaherty. When she returned to Canada, Brentwood still considered her a hero, having gone so far on the world stage.

Erika eventually turned her attention to another passion of hers; nature photography.

Wanting to focus on the natural beauty of Saskatchewan and especially the north, Erika published several coffee table books. She also began freelancing for the newspaper the Brentwood Courier-News.

While Erika had success professionally, it was her mother who suggested that she take up the legacy that her mother started. That was the moniker of Fransaskois, a name Erika's mother took up when she was a member of the Brentwood Search and Rescue Team, along with Audrey Chen.

While Fransaskois was the name Monika, Erika's mother, took up, it is also a language dialect. One that Monka and Erika both share. Fransaskois is a dialect of French (in particular Quebecois) that is natively spoken in Saskatchewan.

It took a little convincing, even from her best friend Sloan (who was already Canadian Spirit at this time) but eventually she agreed. And thus, the second member of the 21st Century chapter of the Brentwood SAR began her training through St. Johns Ambulance Canada and at RCMP Depot.

She became recognized not only as an Olympic champion but also as an integral member of the Brentwood Search and Rescue Team. Like Sloan, she also agreed to help with fundraising efforts for the team as well as organizations like STARS Air Ambulance. Thus, a toy sold through Tim Hortons of Erika in her uniform became available.

[shahananasrin-blog]

[ad_1] The RCMP is on the cusp of a major shift in how it recruits officers into federal policing — a move that would allow some Mounties to skip the training depot in Regina and the usual tour of duty in frontline policing."We're really modernizing our approach to say we're not doing one-size-fits-all," Deputy Commissioner Mark Flynn, the head of federal policing, told CBC News."It's a recognition that not everybody wants to do frontline policing prior to coming into this very challenging and rewarding work that we have in the federal policing program."The RCMP sent out an internal note recently alerting members to the proposed change. The idea is to allow applicants who want to work on federal files — which include the RCMP's most sensitive and high-profile cases and involve things like foreign interference and counterterrorism — to apply directly to work with Flynn.Successful applicants would then train at a facility in Ottawa, instead of at the historic training grounds in Regina, and would not have to serve in a detachment.Deputy Commissioner Mark Flynn was recently promoted to lead federal policing within the RCMP. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)Flynn said he needs to change how he recruits officers to stay on top of a growing caseload. "I would love to be able to investigate every single crime that I know of and every single criminal that I know. But I cannot," he said."There are times when I am faced with lists of priority targets, where we have to triage them and work on the highest threat, even though we know about other criminal networks that are operating that we can't target."The RCMP has been sending its recruits to the RCMP Academy in Regina for more than a century. Cadets undergo a 26-week training program there before being posted to a detachment, often in a rural area. Those interested in federal policing can then request a transfer.It's what Flynn did. He said he recognizes that career path likely discourages many people from applying."If there is somebody who is interested in coming into the organization and specializing, we don't want the traditional model of having people go do frontline policing be a barrier for them," he said.Many reluctant to serve in remote detachmentsMichael Kempa, a professor of criminology at the University of Ottawa, said the policy change could address a roadblock that thwarts RCMP efforts to recruit people with higher levels of education."I obviously get lots of students coming into my office hours talking about careers in policing. Many of them have been very reluctant to consider joining the RCMP ... They say, 'I don't want to be sent to remote areas of ... northern Canada, northwest Canada to serve in local community policing initiatives," he said."I think if we're looking to recruit people that have those higher levels of education, that would certainly help."The RCMP has set up a pilot project to test the idea. It's a direct entry stream for the protective services program, which expanded its services earlier this year to provide close protection for senior federal ministers and public servants in response to the rising threat of political violence.WACTH | MPs, bureaucrats to get more RCMP securityMPs, bureaucrats to get more RCMP securityThe Royal Canadian Mounted Police say they are preparing to offer heightened security to senior government ministers and civil servants in response to rising threats of violence and instances of menacing behaviour.The plan is to review the results of the pilot, make appropriate modifications and begin dedicated training for federal policing recruits in 2024 at a facility in Ottawa, Flynn said."If we're going to remove as many barriers as we can that impact our ability to recruit and retain people ... it's also important to provide that training option in the city where the work is, and where the people want to live," he said.Flynn said the federal policing training course — which still needs to be approved by the RCMP's health and safety team — will focus on the demands of federal policing and provide updated, specialized training more often. The first cadets in the pilot project are getting 14 weeks of training, with an emphasis on close protection and driving."I went through training over 25 years ago and the training I received then was current then," said Flynn."But as I've gone into some of the positions that I have gone into, I will tell you that I should have had updated, more current training for many of those positions."RCMP union likes the depot modelNot everyone is happy with the planned change.Brian Sauvé is president of the National Police Federation, the RCMP's union. He said he couldn't comment on the specifics of the proposed training program because he wasn't involved in its development — but he praised the depot model.It "ensures members of the RCMP are well prepared to effectively respond in their own communities, or wherever needed, to whatever emergency awaits, in contract or federal policing roles," he said in a media statement issued earlier this month."The overwhelming trend across Canada is to increase the standards for basic and ongoing police training, not reduce or silo them based on a specific need."RCMP cadets attend a daily march at the Drill Hall at the RCMP depot in Regina on Friday, March 3, 2005. The depot model has been part of the RCMP's DNA for more than a century. (Troy Fleece/Canadian Press)Flynn said that while he knows there will be concerns about the new approach, he has to respond to increasingly dire recruitment numbers.The RCMP is falling short of baseline staffing levels across Canada, leaving detachments shorthanded and possibly putting public safety at risk.For years, Mounties in federal policing have been posted to detachments to address gaps in provincial policing without being replaced."When you look at ... the demand and the evolution that's occurring in the the criminal networks — whether you look at organized crime supporting hostile states, or organized crime using hostile states' funding and services to further their efforts — we don't have the resources to combat [it] all at the same time," Flynn said."The reality for me is that if we want to become a modern organization, we have to make changes."RCMP is not the 'FBI of the north': FlynnFlynn insisted the upcoming changes are not a first step toward getting the RCMP out of contract policing. Earlier this summer, the Toronto Star reported that the idea of transforming the RCMP into a Canadian version of the FBI is picking up traction in the Prime Minister's Office.The idea, which has circulated in Ottawa over the years, is to pull the RCMP out of the business of frontline contract policing in eight provinces, three territories and 150 municipalities and shift its focus to federal policing."No, this is geared towards federal policing. [It] is not the FBI of the North. We are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with a strong, proud history" said Flynn.Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc speaks to reporters during the Liberal cabinet retreat in Charlottetown, P.E.I. on August 22, 2023. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)The federal government is reviewing the RCMP's contracts with provinces, territories and municipalities, which are set to expire in 2032. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said recently it's too early to hint at a decision about the future of contract policing."We think there are some things that are working very well, some things that perhaps need to be improved and some jurisdictions may decide to go in a different direction," he said during last week's cabinet retreat in Charlottetown. "It's not even preliminary to say that there are plans to unscramble that omelette that quickly."Mass shooting report recommends phasing out depotKempa said it appears inevitable that the RCMP will shed some of its contracts. Some communities — like Surrey, B.C. — are moving to replace the Mounties with new, local police forces."The fact of the matter is it'll never be like a binary light switch, where one day you flip the switch and the RCMP is just out of contract policing entirety," he said. "There's just too many places across Canada that are very remote and don't have the resources to establish their own independent municipal policing services."The question of RCMP reform is really going to require a very measured and adult conversation in the months and years to come."LeBlanc also will have to decide soon whether his government will adopt the recommendations of the Mass Casualty Commision, the inquiry that reviewed the RCMP's response to the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia that left 22 people dead.The commissioners have called for the RCMP to phase out the depot training model by 2032 and for the federal government to replace it with a three-year, degree-based training program. [ad_2]

[newsakd]

[ad_1] For the 150th anniversary of the RCMP, a tour was given at the Regina Depot to show what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to the training academy. Every year, hundreds of cadets train at the RCMP Depot, where they learn everything from firearms training to investigative techniques.“It’s not just about learning to drive or learning how to handle a firearm, but it’s about that integration training of the scenario-based training,” said Chief Supt. Sylvie Bourassa-Muise, commanding officer. “So, simulation on firearm simulation and driving are two biggest areas…. You’re able to hone in on those and make training as much realistic as possible in a very small, constrained area so that you can move training.”Attendees also had the advantage of learning about the history of the RCMP Depot.“We also have some areas here that have great historical significance, such as the chapel, (which) is the oldest building in Regina,” said Cpl. Dean Miller of the drill and deportment unit. “This is not just about men training here. We have new Canadians that are here with us. We have different agencies that also train with us, different agencies that have trusted the RCMP.” Story continues below advertisement Miller said the drill hall, which was constructed in 1929, was originally a riding school.“This building is probably one of the most iconic ones on base. It’s certainly one of the more older ones as well,” he said. “Every current member of the RCMP, even the retired ones, remember quite fondly, I think, their time inside the drill hall. There’s a lot of time spent learning, obviously foot drill and parading.” Trending Now Avoid non-essential travel to Maui, Canada says as wildfires rage Sharp-eyed motel clerk saves 2 girls from human trafficking in Florida The RCMP Depot modernized its drill program in the last generation to make it more relevant to what Canadians expect of their modern-day police officers. The number of trainees the depot works with varies each year and each troop. The trainers at the training academy look for opportunities to develop skills that some cadets may struggle with or send them back to train with another troop.At times, the RCMP Depot puts through as many as 2,000 cadets in a year. 0:58 RCMP Depot Division offers rare behind the scenes look at Canada’s national police training academy   &copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. [ad_2] Source link

[inmycity]

MISSING: Mekayla Bali

16-year-old Mekayla Bali vanished from a bus depot in her hometown of Yorkton, Saskatchewan in 2016, leaving no trace and no clues as to where she might be now – or why.    There is a $100,000 reward for information leading to her safe return. If you have any information that could help bring Mekayla home, contact the RCMP by phone at 1-844-880-6518 or by email at RCMP.FBali.GRC@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.…

[waterworkscanada22]

Depot Companies & Waste Drop Off Thompson-nicola Regional District

A garbage disposal is put in between the underside of a sink and its entice. As plumbers, we all know simply how frustrating it is to have a damaged, smelly garbage disposal. For many owners garbage disposal, the rubbish disposal is a bit of an enigma. All landfill websites and transfer stations are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Canada Day.

This means that each municipality will create its personal program that can embody curbside assortment, depot drop-off, pay-to-throw away, or some combination of those. There is clearly flexibility on this approach, however, applications do have to be in compliance with Canada’s Environmental Protection Act. In some instances, municipalities may outsource their waste administration garbage disposal program to a 3rd celebration, otherwise often known as “privatizing” it by transferring management to a private firm. Regular family garbage and recycling is collected as soon as a week, from Tuesday to Friday, with every avenue receiving collection on a particular day.

Locate extra locations locally where you'll find a way to dispose, recycle, or donate home goods. Find out the place and how to dispose of extra yard trimmings year-round together garbage disposal with seasonal curbside collection and free drop-off choices. Yard and garden trimmings could be dropped off at the Maple Ridge Recycling and Waste Centre. Please verify Metro Vancouver's web site for applicable tipping charges.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, please set garbage to the curb between 5 p.m. Follow the links below for extra info on waste diversion, assortment dates and disposal services. Note that almost all links will redirect to the Region of Durham web site. 2022 Large Item curbside pick up assortment dates are completed for the 12 months, the companies will resume Spring 2023.

Thanks to a group engagement project, a chunk of unused land at GFL’s soil facility in Brighton, Ontario, has gone to the dogs! Working with the Town of Brighton and the local community, the Brighton facility created a public dog... It’s all the time been a significant a half of our mission to provide again to the communities we serve. The Full Circle Project is GFL's thrilling community-driven charitable giving program that permits our clients to resolve how donations are directed. FCP is a really distinctive means to ensure our charitable giving positively impacts the native communities the place we all live and work, and that we assist the causes that matter most to them.

Masks are required when entering our building to register the supplies you're dropping off for disposal. As ofOctober 30, 2020, businesses are not permitted to put a customers purchases in single-use plastic bags at checkouts. The seasonal leaf and yard drop-off websites positioned in North Sydney, New Waterford and Glace Bay will shut for the season on Saturday, November 19.

A HACCP Food Safety Plan, an important part of a Food Safety Program, is a set of written procedures based mostly on the 7 rules of HACCP that assist scale back food security hazards in a food business. Find your waste assortment schedule and download the VanCollect app to enroll in reminders. We provide providers, services, and tools to assist you do your half to maintain organics and recyclable gadgets out of the landfill. This lets you dispose of waste constantly without ready for the garbage disposal chamber to refill. There are several types of meals waste disposal units and every has its personal advantages and drawbacks.

Property homeowners with out enough insurance coverage may not be ready to clean up particles on their property. The Interim Order establishes those who can enforce it, including RCMP, local and Indigenous enforcement companions, DFO officers, and others. These measures were developed to rapidly respond to the deteriorating conditions and to protect public security. The Canadian Red Cross is encouraging folks impacted by flooding and excessive weather in B.C. The new application deadline for the DFA program is July 27, 2022.

[rabbitcruiser]

The Canadian Parliament established the North-West Mounted Police, the forerunner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on May 23, 1873.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

The withdrawal of $475,000 in cash by the man who killed 22 Nova Scotians in April matches the method the RCMP uses to send money to confidential informants and agents, sources say.

Gabriel Wortman, who is responsible for the largest mass killing in Canadian history, withdrew the money from a Brink’s depot in Dartmouth, N.S., on March 30, stashing a carryall filled with hundred-dollar bills in the trunk of his car.

According to a source close to the police investigation the money came from CIBC Intria, a subsidiary of the chartered bank that handles currency transactions.

Sources in both banking and the RCMP say the transaction is consistent with how the RCMP funnels money to its confidential informants and agents, and is not an option available to private banking customers.

The RCMP has repeatedly said that it had no “special relationship” with Wortman.

Court documents show Wortman owned a New Brunswick-registered company called Berkshire-Broman, the legal owner of two of his vehicles (including one of his police replica cars). Whatever the purpose of that company, there is no public evidence that it would have been able to move large quantities of cash. Wortman also ran his own denturist business and there is no reason to believe it also would require him to handle large amounts of cash.

If Wortman was an RCMP informant or agent, it could explain why the force appeared not to take action on complaints about his illegal guns and his assault on his common-law wife.

A Mountie familiar with the techniques used by the force in undercover operations, but not with the details of the investigation into the shooting, says Wortman could not have collected his own money from Brink’s as a private citizen.

“There’s no way a civilian can just make an arrangement like that,” he said in an interview.

He added that Wortman’s transaction is consistent with the Mountie’s experience in how the RCMP pays its assets. “I’ve worked a number of CI cases over the years and that’s how things go. All the payments are made in cash. To me that transaction alone proves he has a secret relationship with the force.”

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada @abpoli @nspoli

[northernindigenousbeautyhailey]

Stories of the Unsolved

17 years ago since The Disappearance of TAMRA KEEPNESS from the White Bear First Nations in

🇨🇦Canada🇨🇦

Stories of the Unsolved Stories of the Unsolved

years ago

EARLY LIFE:

Tamra Keepness and her twin sister, Tannis, were born on September 1, 1998 to parents Lorena and Troy Keepness. The family were from White Bear First Nation, located in the southeastern portion of Saskatchewan Canada, and resided in Regina.

Shortly after the twins were born, Lorena and Troy separated, resulting in the two girls splitting their time between their parents. The majority of the time, they lived with Lorena, her live-in partner, Dean McArthur, and their three siblings near downtown Regina, at 1843 Ottawa Street. The neighbourhood was known to have issues, particularly regarding poverty and other social problems.

It was no secret that the adults in Tamra’s life struggled with alcohol and substance abuse issues. Dean, specifically, had served two months of a three-month sentence for assaulting Lorena while in a drunken rage. Due to these issues, as well as reports of child neglect, Social Services were often involved with the family, with a total of 50 reports made to crisis workers.

Despite what some might call an unsteady home life, Tamra was a smart and caring girl. She fiercely loved her siblings, especially Tannis, and she frequently had a huge smile on her face. She was also known for being feisty and a bit mischievous, and she was always on the lookout for adventure. When not playing Mario Kart on Nintendo, she could be found climbing her favourite pine tree at the end of the block.

LEAD UP TO DISAPPEARANCE:

On the evening of July 5, 2004, Lorena, Dean and all five children were in the living room watching television. At some point, Lorena and Dean got into an argument, which they claim was about nothing serious. At around 8:30pm, Dean decided to leave the house to cool down. While out, he ran into Russell Sheepskin, a man who sometimes resided in the family’s basement, and the pair decided to grab a few drinks together. Before heading to the St. Regis Hotel, Dean made a stop at a nearby 7-11 to buy some milk for his and Lorena’s newborn baby, which he later dropped off at the house.

Lorena spent the majority of the evening with her children. Between 10:30pm and 11:00pm, she sent them to bed and decided to head to a friend’s townhouse located a block over, leaving her eldest, 11-year-old Summer, in charge. After a while, she and her friend went out to purchase more alcohol and Lorena stopped by the house to check on things. When she returned to her friend’s residence, she called Summer and told her to ring if she needed anything.

At 12:00am on July 6, Russell returned to the house, incredibly drunk. He made himself some food and checked on the children. He recalls seeing some of them, including Tamra, sleeping in the living room, meaning they must have come downstairs after Lorena put them to bed. A couple of hours later, Russell was smoking a cigarette on the front porch when he encountered Dean. The pair got into a physical altercation, resulting in Dean punching Russell and stomping on his head. Injured, Russell went to the hospital to get stitches. He claims he didn’t lock the front door before leaving.

According to Dean, after the fight he decided to walk to his aunt’s house, where he planned to spend the night. However, he ended up getting lost, so he didn’t end up arriving until two hours later, sometime between 5:00am and 5:30am. Police reports claim no one saw him during this time.

At around 3:00am, Lorena returned to the house to find all the doors locked. As such, she entered the home through a window. She was drunk at the time and doesn’t quite remember if she saw her children asleep in the living room. However, she has stated that she recalls seeing Tannis and Summer before she herself fell asleep on the couch.

DISAPPERANCE:

At some point on the morning on July 6, Tamra’s older brother, Raine, felt her leave the bed they shared. While he doesn’t remember the exact time, he does recall it was starting to get light out.

At 9:00am, Tamra’s grandmother came by for a visit and saw Lorena nursing a hangover. This is around the time Lorena herself awoke, as she had to open the door for her mother. Shortly after this, Summer and Raine left the house to attend a day camp at a nearby community centre.

Tamra was first discovered missing when she didn’t come down for breakfast. Lorena had told one of the children to go wake her up, as they were going out for a walk, but she wasn’t in her bed. After checking nearby playgrounds and contacting friends and relatives, Lorena reported her daughter missing at around 12:15pm that afternoon.

INVESTIGATION:

The search for Tamra grabbed the attention of the entire city and would become the largest and most expensive in Regina’s history. At first, patrol officers checked the neighbourhood to make sure she hadn’t simply wandered away or gone to another house, but after they could find no trace of her, the search intensified. The Regina Police Service set up a command post in the parking lot of a church in the 1900 block of Ottawa Street, and hundreds of volunteers, police and RCMP cadets began the search on foot, horseback and in the air. They scoured streets, yards, neighbourhoods, alleys, manholes and trash cans looking for her and even took the search to a local landfill and to areas outside the city. While clothing and a child’s shoe were discovered, they didn’t belong to Tamra, and overall little trace of the missing girl was uncovered.

Since the initial search, there have been others throughout downtown Regina and around the family home. Lorena signed consent forms allowing investigators to search the house. She also provided them with her DNA. Besides seeing a window that had been broken during the fight between Russell and Dean, they found no signs of forced entry or a struggle.

Police questioned sex offenders in the area. They also obtained surveillance footage from area bars, gas stations, convenience stores and a nearby Greyhound depot.

To help develop a timeline for the night before, investigators brought in the family, including Tamra’s siblings, for questioning. In particular, Dean, Russell and Lorena were under intense scrutiny. At the time, investigators felt they weren’t being completely forthcoming with information and were overall not happy with the gaps and inconsistencies in the version of events they were told. The three denied the allegations and expressed that investigators were focusing too much attention on them and not enough on finding Tamra. To help move the investigation along, they named five people they believed could be suspects, including a pedophile who had befriended Tamra some time before.

A few days after Tamra disappeared, an Amber Alert was issued. There are different reports as to why it took so long for one to happen. Some sources say the Amber Alert system hadn’t yet been implemented in Saskatchewan at the time, while a spokesperson for the Regina Police Service said the circumstances of the disappearance hadn’t met the criteria for an alert.

The disappearance soon made national headlines. While appreciative of all the coverage the case was getting, the family soon grew frustrated with both the media and police due to the way they were being treated. Rumours soon began to spread about what happened to the missing girl. One person said she had been seen at a dollar store with an older woman, while another, which has since been disproved with hospital records, claimed Tamra never existed and had been made up in order to scam money from Social Services. A third rumour, which was spread by business owners in the neighbourhood, claimed detectives were looking for a middle-aged white man named “Rocky” or “Roch”. However, police never confirmed if this was true.

To show support for Tamra and the family, residents would wrap ribbons around trees and leave both teddy bears and angels on the steps of the Keepness house.

On July 13, 2004, a $25,000 reward was issued by the Regina Police Service for information about the case, this after searches for Tamra had been suspended. The case was quickly changed from a missing persons investigation to one that was criminal in nature.

On July 19, 2004, Dean was charged with assault causing bodily harm in relation to the fight he’d had with Russell on the night of Tamra’s disappearance. While he tried to appeal, he was denied and sentenced to nine months. Two days later, Tamra’s siblings were removed from the house by Social Services and placed into foster care. Neither government officials or the police would say if this was related to the case, but the house was once again searched after they left.

Just under a month after Tamra went missing, a vigil for the missing girl was held at the family’s house.

On August 11, 2004, Troy was charged with assaulting Dean with a baseball bat, during which he sustained minor injuries. Troy told investigators that he’d gone over to the house to try and get answers about his daughter’s disappearance.

In September 2004, unsealed search warrants revealed police had evidence to believe Tamra had been abducted, as blood had been found on the floor, on the front porch and on bicycles sitting on the porch.

That same month, investigators searched Muscowpetung First Nation, approximately 60km northeast of Regina. The week-long search involved 30 people from the Regina Police Service, the RCMP, Montreal Lake Cree First Nation, and Search and Rescue Regina. While a reason wasn’t given as to why the search had moved north, it’s believed investigators were trying to establish a connection between Tamra and a burnt-out Volkswagen van found on the reserve. The van had been stolen just 10 blocks from the family home on the night the young girl went missing and a jail guard named Sherry Ann Rose had told police that she and a former inmate had stolen the van, picked up Tamra and dumped her body in a ravine on the reserve. A massive search was conducted, with special attention given to ravines and gullies. The waterways were drained with compression pumps and thoroughly searched, but nothing of interest was found. It was later deemed that remains found in the van did not belong to Tamra, and Sherry Ann Rose confessed to having made the story up in order to get her abusive boyfriend locked up. As a result, she was charged with mischief.

Pasqua First Nation was also searched based on tips from the public and visions from First Nations elders.

A six-person task force was established to investigate leads in the case. It would eventually be pared down to just two detectives.

In December 2004, Walter William Obey of Muscowpetung First Nation was charged with assaulting Sherry Ann Rose. He had also been charged with stealing the van that had been found burnt out on the reserve.

At one point during the investigation, Troy was charged with assaulting a female. He claims the assault occurred due to the stress he’d been enduring as a result of Tamra’s disappearance. He was sentenced to house arrest for the charge.

In June 2005, a new team of investigators were assigned to the investigation. That same month, a memorial march was held to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Tamra’s disappearance. This would be replaced the next year by an annual barbecue.

In October 2005, searchers brought in cadaver dogs to aid in the investigation. They searched around Regina for three days, with a specific focus on the north end of Winnipeg Street, Wascana Lake and Wascana Creek. This would be one of the last major searches for Tamra, as the search would be scaled back in April 2006.

Dean has publicly stated that he feared for his safety during the early days of the investigation because he felt the police and the community believed he played some role in Tamra’s disappearance. This sentiment sometimes resulted in the family member’s safety being put into jeopardy. In one instance, three people jumped Lorena after accusing her of selling her daughter in order to buy drugs, something she has repeatedly denied.

In August 2008, seven officers were assigned to work exclusively on the case.

The reward for information was doubled to $50,000 in June 2014. The increase was approved by the Regina Board of Police Commissioners and it has been renewed every year. The police chief hopes the continuation of the reward will allow the family to see they still care about finding Tamra.

During 2014, a hand-drawn map of Muscowpetung First Nation was uploaded to Reddit, with the user claiming the wells on the reserve contained Tamra’s remains. According to the user, she’d found the map amongst the belongings of a deceased relative and that her grandmother had gotten it from a late aunt who’d drawn it up based on visits to a person in prison. While she didn’t have any firsthand knowledge of the investigation, she recalled her family talking about wells and felt the map might be worth something to the investigation. As for why she shared the map on Reddit instead of contacting the police directly, the user claimed to have previously submitted tips via the RCMP, the Regina Police Service and Regina Crime Stoppers, only to never receive a response.

Upon learning about the map, investigators looked to see if it held any real value. This resulted in a search of the reserve, which was done by the Regina Police Service, members of Tamra’s family and the Fort Qu’Appelle detachment of the RCMP. They looked through over two dozen wells with a special camera, but found no evidence that Tamra had ever been there. While an attempt was made to contact the Reddit user in the hopes of learning more about the map, investigators have said they don’t believe it to be an authentic piece of evidence.

The experience was very upsetting for Tamra’s family. It’s been noted that the search prompted renewed interest in the case.

The family has consulted with psychics, elders and mediums. The police have also been in contact with elders, who told them they’d had visions of a child near rocks, trees and water.

In May 2015, Tamra’s case was one of 122 highlighted by the province of Saskatchewan during Missing Persons Week.

In July 2018, a class action lawsuit was filed against the federal government. Tamra’s case was one of many listed. It claimed the federal government had breached the charter rights of Indigenous families to security and freedom from discrimination, and that numerous negative experiences were had as a result of the alleged mishandling of cases. It also claimed that the RCMP shared a responsibility with the government, given it’s a branch of the federal government. The claimants sought $500 million in damages for the RCMP’s handling of the investigations and $100 million in punitive damages.

In May 2019, the RCMP launched a week-long campaign to bring more attention to 45 missing children in Canada. Tamra’s case was one of the one’s highlighted.

Toward the end of 2019, the Regina Police Service renewed its commitment to solving the case. It’s still an active investigation and is currently in the hands of the Cold Case Unit. Investigators are still reviewing and working on case files, and they continue to regularly receive tips – approximately 16 a year. While no arrests have been made and no evidence found to explain how and why Tamra went missing, it’s believed she is deceased and that foul play was involved. However, full details of the investigation haven’t been released due to the ongoing nature of the case.

Lorena has said she doesn’t like to talk about the early parts of the investigation, given the negative focus that was on the family at the time. She also shares that the numerous rumours took a toll on everyone. She agrees with investigators that someone out there is currently withholding information and, as such, she and the family continue to pursue leads on their own time.

THEORIES:

1) The general theory in the case is that Tamra was abducted by a stranger. Some people think she may have wandered away and been abducted by a driver who was cruising the area at the time, while others cite the home’s location. It’s less than a block from the Oskana Community Correctional Centre, a halfway house for federal parolees, and is located near the Salvation Army’s Waterston House, which is known to shelter former inmates and drug and alcohol users. Some feel that Tamra’s disappearance may have been at the hands of someone staying at either location.

While there are many theories surrounding who could possibly have been involved, Lorena is certain her daughter was taken between 9:00am and 10:20am on July 6, 2004. This is further supported by Raine’s version of events, which state Tamra most likely left the room during early/mid-morning.

2) Some in Regina feel Tamra may have been abducted by someone in the drug trade or potentially sold by her mother in order to pay a cocaine debt. The authorities asked Lorena if her daughter’s disappearance was related to the drug trade in some way and Lorena fiercely denied it.

3) There’s a slight chance Tamra’s disappearance is related to the argument Dean and Lorena had on the night she went missing. However, this is seen as unlikely, as both have said the argument was not about anything major and was simply a small spat between partners.

4) It’s possible her disappearance is the result of an accident. While this line of thinking opens up to many possibilities, one idea brought up theorizes that Tamra may have gotten lost after leaving her home. Possibly scared, she then crawled into somewhere so small that she’s never been found. If this is the case, then it means the young girl has most likely passed away.

5) Some have speculated that Tamra’s unstable home life could have played a role in her disappearance. They feel the evidence for this stance comes from the investigators’ theory that Lorena, Dean and Russell have not been completely forthcoming regarding the events of July 5 and July 6, 2004. However, as aforementioned, all three individuals claims they’ve been completely truthful with those investigating the case.

6) A final theory held by the family involves a drifter that used to stay at the house. Lorena informed police of the woman, whose name is currently unknown, as she used numerous aliases. However, it is known the children called her “Big Auntie”. She is said to have been a sketchy character who frequently lied to Lorena. She had been staying at the house before Tamra’s disappearance, but left after she and Lorena had a falling out. She has not been seen since.

Is it possible she abducted Tamra in revenge, or could she have had another motive for abducting the young girl, if she was indeed involved?

AFTERMATH:

Every year, the community holds a barbecue in Tamra’s honour, just a few blocks from where she disappeared. It’s held by the Regina Treaty and Status Indian Services, and the Regina Police Service sends officers to help serve food. According to the family, they hold it to show everyone they’re still looking for Tamra and to also lend support to other families of missing and murdered Indigenous women. They’ve shared that seeing the amount of people who come out and show support has helped them hold onto the hope that one day she’ll be found. Until that day happens, the barbecue will be held yearly.

Unfortunately, Lorena no longer has any family pictures of Tamra, as someone threw out a large portion of her property a few years ago. The only images she has of her daughter are those featured on the missing persons flyers.

Many of the investigators who initially worked on the case have since retired. However, they are still dedicated to solving the case and say it frequently comes to mind.

Lorena has moved repeatedly since Tamra disappeared, having been evicted numerous times. She spends her days working odd jobs and has shared that she fell into sex work not long after her daughter went missing. Her other children have never been permanently returned to her custody and the three babies she gave birth to after Tamra’s disappearance have since been taken by Social Services.

Tamra’s twin sister, Tannis, is currently in university.

Russell Sheepskin passed away on January 1, 2009. Those investigating the case wonder if he knew any more information that may have been useful in finding Tamra.

Lorena feels hopeful that she’ll one day see her daughter again. She does not think Tamra is dead, despite what investigators have said.

Troy has shared that he tries not to dwell on the case, but that it’s hard not knowing if Tamra is alive or dead. He says he harbours guilt over having lost custody of his children in the years leading up to her disappearance.

CASE CONTACT INFORMATION:

Tamra Jewel Keepness went missing from the 1800 block of Ottawa Street in Regina, Saskatchewan Canada on July 5, 2004. She was five years old, and she while what she was last wearing is unknown, it’s believe she could have had on a light blue striped halter top with pink accents; light blue jeans; and either rubber boots or pink and white shoes. She may have been barefoot. At the time of her disappearance, she stood at 3’5″ and weighed between 35 and 40 pounds. She had bobbed black hair and brown eyes. She has two circle-type birthmarks on her stomach, one dark and the other lighter in colour, and a scar on one of her legs, just below the knee.

Currently, her case is classified as a missing person. If alive, she would be 21 years old.

If you have any information regarding the case, you can contact the Regina Police Service at 306-777-6500. Tips can also be submitted to Child Find at 1-800-387-7962 or anonymously via Regina Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Russell Sheepskin👇🏾

Summer Keepness👇🏾

Troy Keepness👇🏾

Lorena Keepness👇🏾

Tamra Keepness 👇🏾

Raine Keepness👇🏾

Dean McArthur👇🏾

Ellen Keewatin👇🏾

[nakamopapina]

Made a parody of the lady yelling at cat meme, but with Kumajiro being yelled at by Regina, the gentleman with her is her little brother, Depot. (yes, as in RCMP's Depot Division) his human name is Reginald Herchman. He's supposed to look almost like a complete opposite to his big sis.

[brentwoodsask]

Stepping out of the history of Brentwood to bring one of the characters to life.

Meet Sloan Turner, also known as the costumed hero Canadian Spirit.

A 26 year old woman born in Brentwood, Saskatchewan and returned to work at CWBC 98.5 FM. Her mother, Audrey Turner (née Chen), was also a costumed hero in the late 80s and into the 90s. Sadly, Audrey passed due to complications from breast cancer in 2014 when Sloan was 18 years old.

Like Audrey, Sloan is a member of the Brentwood Search and Rescue unit. This unit surveys the area around the city in search of lost souls who happen to "make their way" to the city. As a volunteer of the unit, Sloan goes on annual training to RCMP Depot in Regina as well as training with CPR through St. John's Ambulance Canada.

Sloan and her father, Leonard, are estranged. Audrey and Leonard married young, when Audrey was 21 and Leonard had just turned 20. When Sloan was 2 years old, Audrey filed for divorce, siting abuse, both physical and emotional. Leonard bounced in and out of prison over the years since the divorce. Sloan has had no contact with her father since Audrey's passing.

Sloan comes from Chinese and Scottish heritage. She fluently speaks English, Cantonese and French, with just a smattering of Scottish Gaelic thanks to her grandparents, Liam and Mary Turner, both of whom moved to Brentwood to help Sloan after Audrey passed. Her grandparents Henry and Olivia Chen also reside in Brentwood.

Sloan was an average student in high school, but excelled in wrestling, winning the SHSAA title three times. She would later join the University of Regina wrestling team while she took classes toward her journalism degree. While an excellent wrestler, she only managed to crack the top 15 at the university level.

Upon graduation, her first job with her journalism degree landed her in The Pas, Manitoba at the radio station 1250 CJAR. She had a knack for interviewing on air, especially up and coming musical acts. This, combined with her very comforting and clear vocal abilities on air, drew the attention of Thomas Horwath, station manager of CWBC FM. He contacted Sloan, offering her an afternoon slot along with an hour in the evening dedicated to interviews. At first, Sloan interviewed local talent, but that stretched further as she began to become a trusted voice in the music industry, and she'd manage to interview bigger names from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Sloan is not just an on air announcer for a radio station. Nor a former high school wrestling champion. Not even a costumed hero volunteering for a search and rescue unit. Sloan has a magical ability. She can see spirits.

One spirit in particular she can see is that of her mother. Audrey never left her. When Sloan returned to Brentwood to take up her new position with CWBC FM, it wasn't long before she had realized that her lonely apartment wasn't so lonely. Sloan can see Audrey, even if no one else can, and she can talk to Audrey. As well as other spirits. For many spirits, it is more that she helps them come to terms with their situation and helps them move on. But often times, the spirits Sloan sees will help her, guide her, when it comes to her work as Canadian Spirit.

As for Audrey, she is exactly where she wants to be.

A few years after Sloan, under the name Canadian Spirit, and her friends joined the Brentwood Search and Rescue unity, they came up with a fundraising idea to help raise money to support not only the SAR Unit but also organizations like STARS Air Ambulance.

They came up with a toy line, sold through Tim Hortons.

A limited run, it became extremely popular, so much so that the fundraiser was done a second year, this time with some of the different equipment that Sloan and the other volunteers used, such as medi-packs, snowmobiles, ATVs and other equipment used in their work.