'Poured our life into this investigation': Regina police, community members mark 18 years since Tamra Keepness' disappearance
For the past 18 years, community members have gathered on the anniversary of Tamra Keepness' disappearance to keep her memory alive.
Tamra was five years-old when she was reported missing from her home on Ottawa Street on July 6, 2004. The Regina Police Service (RPS) reported she was last seen on July 5.
Regina Police Service Deputy Chief Dean Rae said he remembers the day the young girl was reported missing.
“Pretty much the whole organization was tasked with doing some work in regards to the investigation,” Rae said.
“We were very busy for the first number of months tracking down many, many different types of tips and investigative information that was passed on to us.”
He said police received hundreds of thousands of tips within the year following her disappearance.
Although they’ve slowed, Rae said tips continue to come in about Tamra’s potential whereabouts.
“[This year] we had a tip that led us down into the States,” Rae said.
“We’re always hoping that we’re going to get that one piece of information that’s going to give us some lead where we can follow up and hopefully locate Tamra.”
Rae said the police service has a strong connection with Tamra’s family and they’re updated regularly about any potential leads that are received.
Erica Beaudin, the executive director of Regina/Treaty Status Indian Services (RTSIS), has been closely connected with Tamra’s family since she went missing.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Beaudin said the anniversary of her disappearance serves as a day to remember Tamra, as well as the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.
An annual barbecue is held at Regina’s Pepsi Park on the day of Tamra’s disappearance, and Beaudin said it helps remind the family they are not alone.
“There are other people who miss her, who wonder where she is, who support them as a family in bringing her home,” Beaudin said.
However Beaudin said the family feels re-traumatized every time a social media post or message about Tamra comes through, or they are approached about her disappearance.
“All of us, as citizens and as people who know and love this little girl that we have not met, we feel as though we are part of her family. We feel as though we have that connection with her. But the reality is that they are her family,” Beaudin said.
“We continue to ask any person who has any tips, any leads, to please contact the police service as opposed to the family or [RTSIS] or the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.”
Deputy Chief Rae said this case holds a special place with him, the rest of the police service and the community as a whole because it’s something everyone can relate to.
“It’s a little girl. It tugged at our heart strings,” Rae said.
“We poured our life into this investigation to try to find out where Tamra went. I would say we all can relate to it. I can remember exactly where I was when I heard about it and I would think many people could.”
A $50,000 reward is in place for anyone who can help solve this case, which remains open. Anyone with information is asked to contact Regina police or Crime Stoppers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
BREAKING Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.