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Concert marks anniversary of woman's disappearance

By: Staff Writer

25/07/2009 6:22 PM | Comments: 5

Claudette Osborne-Tyo (HANDOUT PHOTO)

WINNIPEG — More than 200 people gathered at the Oodena Circle at The Forks Saturday afternoon to mark the one-year anniversary of Claudette Osborne-Tyo’s disappearance and pay tribute to the province’s missing and murdered women.

The No Stone Unturned concert kicked-off with a candlelight vigil and showcased performances by Troy "Little Hawk" Westwood, Billy Joe Green and Sierra Noble. The concert was scheduled to run until 9 p.m. Saturday, ending with a candlelight vigil.

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The event comes on the heals of comments by Justice Minister Dave Chomiak that Winnipeg Police and the RCMP are taking another look at the open cases to ensure a serial predator is not at work.

Osborne-Tyo is one of 75 Aboriginal women who have gone missing or whose murders are unsolved across the province, according to a national advocacy group that is tracking the problem.

Osborne-Tyo, a 21-year-old mother of four, was last seen July 24, 2008 in the area of Mountain Avenue and McPhillips Street. She is described as aboriginal, 5-4, with light brown hair, hazel eyes and fair skin.

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5 Comments

Posted by: KT

July 26, 2009 at 12:44 PM

how many woman of other races are missing or have been murdered - or does that not matter?

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Posted by: Henri C

July 26, 2009 at 8:34 AM

75 is just the last twenty years in Winnipeg.
According to the Governments web site:
• As of March 31, 2009, the estimated number of missing or murdered Aboriginal women in Canada since 1970 is 520;
• 347 of the 520, or 67 percent, have been murdered. 126 (24 percent) remain missing;
• 43 percent of the cases – or 223 women – have gone missing since 2000. (The report does not provide an annual breakdown);
• 150 of the 347 murder cases remain unsolved;
• The vast majority of cases occurred in Western provinces, with 137 incidents in B.C. alone. Twenty-six of the B.C. cases are women whose remains were found at the Pickton pig farm. Alberta and Manitoba have the next highest rates of disappearance;
• 52 percent of the missing women were under the age of 30 at the time of their disappearances. 14 percent were younger than 18.
Yes, where is the media? They are covering white kids that run away. At the same time ignoring native girls who get abducted.

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Posted by: Finnghali

July 25, 2009 at 9:46 PM

75 women go missing when 70 of them work in the sex trade, and they have no ID or fixed address. Many of these women show up in other city centres years later, but that never gets reported.