About Us

A little bit about who we are.

The KARE logo is an important part of our branding. It represents the families of those who have been murdered or who are missing.

The detached leaf represents the victim, having been torn from their family tree.

The triangle represents the Command Triangle, a symbol used in investigative policing. It is used to signify the Team Commander, Primary Investigator and File Coordinator – the key members of an investigative team. Since we work closely with police, we wanted to acknowledge and give respect to the hard work that they do.

The healing wheel (the four people surrounding the crest) denotes everyone supporting the family and police investigation. This includes KARE Victim Services Society, the communities and family/friends of the murdered/missing, and anyone else who offers support. We use different colours to represent the many ethnicities and cultures of people who are searching for loved ones or who have lost them to violence. Particularly First Nations communities, who we work with and support frequently.

 

Our History

In 2003, a policing unit was established within the RCMP. At the time, the unit was referred to as Project KARE. The sole purpose of this unit was to investigate the deaths of several vulnerable missing persons in the Edmonton area. Later, this unit was expanded and became the Alberta RCMP Missing Persons Unit.

As the workload of this unit increased, the RCMP realized there was a growing need to support the families and loved ones of missing and murdered persons, as well as a need for culturally sensitive assistance. So, in 2007 specialized victim services were established under the name KARE Victim Services. The entire program was provided by just one coordinator.

Today, these services are still being provided through our one Victim Services Coordinator. Our coordinator works closely with the RCMP, and provides information, emotional support, community referrals, and justice system support to numerous families per year.

Our roots have strengthened since our inception in 2003, and we look forward to growing and optimizing our services as we move into the future!

Why Our Work Matters 

We often hear about murdered or missing people. These cases flood our local news outlets and flash on our television screens. But soon, the interest fades and the case grows cold. What happens to the families and loved ones of a murdered or missing person after the media attention goes away?

Many people don’t know that there are many barriers that friends and loved ones face in the days, months, and years after they lose someone they love.

Some of these barriers include:

  • Their local Victim Services Unit does not have, or has limited, policies or practices to support them
  • Existing support programs in their communities lack the knowledge, training and experience to provide consistent, appropriate assistance to families of missing and murdered persons
  • They are geographically isolated from support programs
  • Those who are providing support to victims do not have the expertise level to provide a well-rounded, multi-dimensional approach to healing
  • Lack of financial means to access psychological support in order to address trauma, depression, PTSD and other lasting mental conditions

 

Call us or email us for help now!

780-995-5273

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Did you know:

The loved ones of murdered or missing people often describe feeling turmoil and numbness. The experience of losing a loved one often remains very vivid in the minds of family members, resulting in a range of thoughts, feelings and emotions. Commonly, the family member will go back and forth between intense outbursts of anger, sadness or frustration, and isolation or “numbness”. Navigating these emotional states and providing support is a delicate process, and one that should always be done by a professional.