Over 200 supporters joined the family of missing 25-year-old Chelsea Poorman and shut down a busy downtown Vancouver intersection — where Poorman was last seen on Sept. 6, 2020 just after midnight.
Cecilia Point from the Musqueam Nation addressed the crowd as the big drum rang out.
“I raise my hands to all of you today, we will walk in vigil. It’s not a protest, today we are walking in prayer praying for our sister to come home,” she said.
“We don’t want her to be forgotten,” said Chelsea’s mom Sheila Poorman. “We want her name to be remembered, we want her face to be remembered. Somebody knows something out, somebody knows where my daughter is.”
Last September, Chelsea and her sister Paige decided to go for a night on the town.
After leaving a bar they went to Paige’s friend’s condo nearby.
Paige says shortly after arriving there, her sister left without saying anything.
“I called Chelsea to see where she went. She didn’t really tell me or anything. I called her again, and the last conversation I had with her around one o’clock she said she was with a new boy and she didn’t tell me where,” explained Paige.
That was the last time anyone heard from her.
For the Poorman family it’s been a grueling seven months wondering what happened to her. Everyday they walk the streets — handing out business cards with her missing poster on it.
The family says as soon as they put up poster, someone takes them down shortly after.
“Not having any answers and we’ve had an overwhelming support from everyone,” said Lashawn Speck, Chelsea’s cousin.
This event was organized by Lorelei Williams who, along with her Butterflies in Spirit Dance Troupe featuring JB the First Lady, performed their hit song “Where is My Sister.”
The family then led the way down Granville Street passing by six bus stops that features Chelsea Poorman’s missing poster on digital screens that also illuminate at night.
Then a candlelight vigil was held at Victory Square featuring Cree singers and jingle dress dancers. Chelsea’s face was illuminated on the glass candle holders.
For Sheila Poorman, she was she was overcome with emotion seeing all the support.
“If you do know any information if you do know where Chelsea is — I ask you to come forward phone the tip line you can be anonymous. We just need her home, we need her home with us,” she says.
The family has fundraised and have a $10,000 reward for any information leading to her whereabouts.
