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B.C. mother pens bill that would add adults to missing person alert systems

Alerts currently only issued for children under 18 and missing seniors with AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 or dementia
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A supporter holds a poster of Shaelene Bell on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. BellB次元官网网址檚 mother, Alina Durham, is working on getting a bill passed to get an adult alert system in place called ShaeleneB次元官网网址檚 Missing Adult Alert. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

The mother of a woman whose body was found after missing for four months is working to get a bill passed that would create an B次元官网网址渁dult alertB次元官网网址 in hopes of helping families dealing with loved ones gone missing.

Alina DurhamB次元官网网址檚 daughter, 23-year-old Shaelene Keeler Bell of Chilliwack, went missing on Jan. 30, 2021. Her body was found on June 2 in the Fraser River near Coquitlam.

Durham has written up ShaeleneB次元官网网址檚 Missing Adult Alert bill and is now taking steps to try and get it passed. She created an online petition to bring attention to it and spoke with Chilliwack-Hope MP Mark Strahl earlier this week.

For the alert to be issued, first law enforcement would confirm the adult is missing and that they are at risk of imminent danger/death. An alert would then be issued and would include the personB次元官网网址檚 name, age, picture, and any other info like last known location and their vehicle description.

If ShaeleneB次元官网网址檚 Missing Adult Alert is passed, authorities would be able to expand the use of the National Public Alerting System to include adults who go missing under suspicious circumstances.

B次元官网网址淩ight now this system can only be used for children under the age of 18 and seniors who may be lost due to AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 or dementia,B次元官网网址 Strahl said.

Durham recalled how overwhelming it was amid the B次元官网网址渟hock and traumaB次元官网网址 to put up posters, banners and do media interviews when her daughter was missing.

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B次元官网网址淲hen legislation passes this bill, the impact this will have will result in dramatically reducing stress on families of a missing adult,B次元官网网址 Durham wrote in the online petition. B次元官网网址淭o know it will be put out Canada-wide via wireless devices, radio and TV is a comfort and reassurance to families of a missing adult.B次元官网网址

Durham pointed out that the infrastructure is already in place. Other alerts that are already being used include: BC Silver Alert, Amber Alert, weather alerts, B.C. COVID-19 Public Exposure mobile app, national Alert Ready system, and the British Columbia Emergency Alerting System.

Strahl said he is committed to working with Durham to find out which laws and regulations need to be changed to make ShaeleneB次元官网网址檚 Missing Adult Alert happen, and is also working on a list of criteria that would be used to trigger an alert for a missing adult.

B次元官网网址淚f there are changes that need to be made at the federal level I will certainly advance this issue in the House of Commons through a Private MemberB次元官网网址檚 Bill or motion,B次元官网网址 he said.

Durham said sheB次元官网网址檚 also going to reach out to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General Mary Simon. In the meantime, sheB次元官网网址檚 asking for folks to sign the petition.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 asking the community to step up and support this bill,B次元官网网址 Durham said. B次元官网网址淭he bill is something Shaelene would believe in strongly and would not give up on until passed. Shaelene believed in doing what is best for others.B次元官网网址

The online petition can be found at .

B次元官网网址淚t was inspiring to speak with someone who is trying to make a difference in the lives of others after suffering the unimaginable tragedy of losing a daughter,B次元官网网址 Strahl said. B次元官网网址淪he is determined to make positive change and I will help her in any way that I can.B次元官网网址


 

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Jenna Hauck

About the Author: Jenna Hauck

I started my career at The Chilliwack Progress in 2000 as a photojournalist.
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