They are called “cold cases” by law enforcement, or “historic homicides.” To a parent, this cold case is called “my daughter.” Unsolved murders leave a gaping wound that has scarred over, yet never fully healed. There is always the waiting and the hoping that one day someone will come forward with the truth.

Kathy King is the mother of Cara King, whose body was found in a farmer’s field near Fort Saskatchewan on September 1, 1997. Kathy decided to write her life story via a website that anyone can access rather than self-publish a book. She named the website MissingCara.ca. Not only does she tell her story and offer us glimpses into Cara’s life, she lists the names of many people who were murdered, so that they are never forgotten.

She bid on a one-month digital ad at a silent auction and placed this ad at the SE corner of 97 Street and 111 Avenue for the first two weeks in August, and on the Yellowhead Trail heading east to Fort Saskatchewan for the last two weeks. Her goal was to raise awareness, and maybe, just maybe, to generate tips.

The body of 20 year old Georgette Flint’s was found in Elk Island Park 30 years ago on September 13. Thirty years. Georgette would be 50 had she lived. I remember reading the stories of both Georgette and Cara in the Edmonton Journal all those years ago.

Georgette’s mother came to several of our neighbourhood meetings in the years when street sexual exploitation affected our daily lives. She helped us see the fuller picture of why girls and women were standing on our corners and the impact on their families. A bridge of understanding was forged as we sought to create a more comprehensive response to these heavy issues.

Kathy and I met at a presentation at MacEwan. She asked if she could speak at the “john school,” now called the Sex Trade Offender Program. She has given countless Saturdays to educate men about the impact of their actions.

Each August 14, CEASE hosts an Annual Memorial to remember all those whose lives were stolen through the sex trade. Some were murdered, some died by suicide, some died from addictions, some died of illness. The first names of each person and the year they died is read. They are loved, missed, and remembered.

Kate is the Executive Director of the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (CEASE).