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All around the world last week, thoughts and prayers turned towards missing children, as people marked National Missing Children Day. To observe the occasion in Park Extension, the Missing Children’s Network hosted a commemorative ceremony at Villeray―Saint-Michel―Park Extension Borough Hall on Ogilvy Avenue. At the same time, the organization renewed its longstanding commitment to helping locate and recover these children until all are safely back home.
Hope for the missing
Among the many guests were parents of missing children, including Eric Fortin and Caroline Lachance, whose son, David, left home this past Feb. 10, but never arrived at school, Andrée Béchard and Michel Bergeron, whose daughter, Marilyn, was last seen running errands one day in February 2008, Dolores Soucy, who recently commemorated the 10th anniversary of her daughter Jolène’s disappearance, Patricia Albert, whose son, François Albert-Cloutier, was last seen on April 15, 2006, and Michel Surprenant, whose daughter, Julie, has been missing nearly a decade.
Among the speakers were Borough Mayor Anie Samson, who was an honourary godparent for the occasion, Corporal Robert Beaulieu, coordinator of the RCMP’s ‘Our Missing Children’ program, and Andrée Béchard, a mother whose child is missing and who is currently living a parent’s worst nightmare. The children’s choir from Dante School performed two inspirational songs, I believe and Quante Storie Nascono Con Te in Italian.
A common vision
“Hillary Clinton once said it takes a village to raise a child, but we now know it takes an entire community,” said Pina Arcamone, executive-director of the Missing Children’s Network’s Quebec, whose offices are located on Park Avenue on the edge of Park Extension. “Today as I look around this room, this is what I see ― a community made up of kind, caring compassionate people who all share the same vision.”
“For nearly 25 years, the Missing Children’s Network has been providing invaluable assistance and support to families who are living the worst nightmare imaginable ― a missing child,” said Samson. “Missing Children’s Day reminds us all about the importance of organizations such as the network, who work tirelessly towards implementing sound personal safety programs for children and adolescents.” Keeping children safe “is everyone’s responsibility and this can only be accomplished if we all continue to work together in partnership,” said Corporal Beaulieu.
A grim reality – Mary Deros
“I think it’s important that everybody is informed of the reality of child abduction,” said Park Extension city councillor Mary Deros, recalling the crisis that many parents in the district faced on learning that a halfway house for pedophiles was operating in the area two years ago. It no longer takes in pedophiles. “We have a very large number of young children and we shouldn’t have those types of criminals ― and they are criminals.
“It is an illness,” she added. “I don’t know if they can be rehabilitated. They have to be medically suppressed from their urges. And when I see that so many children are still missing, it really shakes me up. As a parent, I’m very concerned. A third of our population is under 25. The danger is always there. We can only inform parents to be careful. They should always know where their children are.”
A valuable service
“For families whose lives have been devastated by the disappearance of a loved one, it is comforting to know that we can turn to the Missing Children’s Network,” said Andrée Béchard, who gave an emotional testimonial about the disappearance of her daughter. “Their office feels like home to us and the staff is always available to listen and lend their shoulders to cry on. This allows us to draw the strength and the courage needed to never give up hope that one day our child will be returned safely home.”
Founded in 1985, the Missing Children’s Network is the only non-profit organization in Quebec whose mandate is to provide front-line services to families who are searching for a missing child. The staff accompanies, supports and counsels these people in the search for their child by working in conjunction with law enforcement agencies, other child search organizations, as well as the media. The Missing Children’s Network also offers comprehensive educational and prevention programs designed especially for children, parents and professionals.