Poster campaign for missing, murdered people launched in Winnipeg

Winnipeggers will soon be seeing posters on transit buses aroundthe city of missing or murdered people.

It is important to "bring those faces forward to the public" and keep them in people's minds, saidWinnipeg police spokesmanConst.JasonMichalyshen.

"It'sa blunt reminder that we want information.We're hoping this is going to catch everyone's eye."

RAW: Project Devote launches new poster campaign

9 years ago

Duration 1:21

Constable Jason Michalyshen talks about the new poster campaign appealing to the public for more information on missing and murdered people.

The campaign, which will start Nov. 30 and run for four weeks, is part ofProject Devote, a joint task forced between the Winnipeg Police Service and RCMPfocused oneight missing persons and 20 homicide victims.

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Michalyshensaid police areconfident there are people in the community who know what happened to them or who might have something to share.

"The tiniest nugget of information could be vitalthe steppingstoneto something more," he said. "We need the public's assistance. It's vital that we receive that for the sake of the investigation and the families of these people."

Police let Janet Bruyere know the campaign was coming. Bruyere is Fonassa Bruyere's grandmother. Fonassa, 17,was found stabbed to death in 2007, her body discovered in the northwest part of the city.

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"I was hoping that there [will] be a lead to who did this to her and I hope they find out the person or persons that did this to my grandaughter," Bruyere said, adding someone from Project Devote contacts her every month.

"It's hard for me yes.. Especially when it comes near Christmas and her birthday is coming up (Feb.2),"

She said not knowing what happened keeps her up at night.

"Maybe I could sleep. I'll have a good sleep if I ever find out who did this to her," she said. "I don't know if I'll ever find out. Maybe I won't find out.By the time they find out, maybe I'll be gone too. "

There are many devastated families deserving of answers,Michalyshen added.

"We have two police agencies dedicated and motivated to finding that," he said.These individuals are not forgotten; they are important to us and it's important that we get the answers for the families."

The postercampaign includes 26 of the 28 people featured in Project Devote. One is not included because police have not been able to get a photograph, while another is a 54-year-old case and a photo would serve no purpose now, Michalyshen said.

Both of those cases, however, are still being actively pursued in other ways, he added.

Anyone withinformation is urged tocall thetiplineat1-888-673-3316. Valuable information could include previous contact or past knowledge of the victims, and could prove helpful to investigators, police said.

Project Devote

Project Devote is a provincial integrated task force of the RCMP and the Winnipeg Police Service focusing on missing and murdered exploited persons. Itis comprised of 10WinnipegPolice Service members, eightRCMP officers, twoRCMP civilian analysts, threeRCMP data entry persons andone RCMP administrative staff member.

Manitoba Justice has alsodesignated two prosecutors and a family liaison/victim services worker to work with Project Devote.

• Tip line:1-888-673-3316
• Anonymous tips:Manitoba Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477