A young Indigenous woman vanished a year ago. There's a $10K reward in her case, but there's been no sign of her since that day.
Late on Sept. 6, 2020, Chelsea Poorman left a friend's house, hinting to her sister she may be with a new love interest.
The young woman from the Kawacatoose First Nation was never seen again, and a full year later, her family still has no idea what happened to her.
"This past year has been crazy for us, not knowing where she is, not knowing if she's alive," her mother, Sheila Poorman, told CTV News. "She has medical needs and we don't know if they're being looked after."
On the anniversary of Chelsea's disappearance, supporters of her loved ones donned red and pink and marched in downtown Vancouver to raise awareness of her case.
They started near her last known location at Granville and Davie streets, and walked to Victory Square Park, a distance of about two kilometres.
Referencing other Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, organizers wrote on a poster advertising the walk for Chelsea, "No more stolen sisters."
A similar event was held at the same time in Saskatoon, where some of Chelsea's family is located.
The night Chelsea disappeared, she'd gone out for dinner and drinks with her sister. They spent some time at a friend's apartment on Granville near Davie, and Chelsea left alone before midnight.
She talked to her sister over the phone shortly before 1 a.m., at which time she said she was "with her 'new bae,'" suggesting a possible love interest.
The 25-year-old hasn't been seen since, and there's been no activity on her cellphone, social media accounts or bank account, according to a site set up to help generate tips.
Her mother told CTV News the last update she received from police is that their leads have all dried up.
"No tips have been coming in, it's like a dead end," Poorman said.
The family feels frustrated by the initial police response, which they believe squandered precious days that could have been spent on the search. They reported Chelsea missing on Sept. 8, but the Vancouver Police Department didn't share a news release about her disappearance until Sept. 18.
Poorman said the department's homicide unit eventually contacted her, but only months after her daughter went missing.
"I see the other people who go missing and they put them on the news right away. Chelsea wasn't on the news right away – it was maybe two weeks later," she said. "It felt like Chelsea didn't matter, and it still feels that way."
But she matters to many people, Poorman said, including friends and family across the country.
"Chelsea touched a lot of lives, from Saskatchewan, from Manitoba. She made many friends because she had a big heart and always wanted to help others," she said.
"I just want Chelsea to know that we love her, we miss her dearly, and we just want her home."
Police described Chelsea as 5'3" and said she was about 120 pounds at the time of her disappearance. She has black hair, and was last seen carrying a beige purse. At that time, she was wearing a grey sweater, black crop top, black jeans and brown boots.
The family urged anyone who might know what happened to Chelsea to come forward, and there is a $10,000 reward for helping solve the case.
"Somebody does know something," Poorman said. "I just want them to speak out. I want them to give me and Chelsea's family some peace of mind."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Suspect in shooting of Toronto cop was out on bail
A 21-year-old man who was charged with attempted murder in the shooting of a Toronto police officer this week was out on bail at the time of the alleged offence, court documents obtained by CTV News Toronto show.
Scientists looked at images from space to see how fast Antarctica is turning green. Here's what they found
Parts of icy Antarctica are turning green with plant life at an alarming rate as the region is gripped by extreme heat events, according to new research, sparking concerns about the changing landscape on this vast continent.
DEVELOPING 2 dead after fire rips through historic building in Old Montreal
At least two people are dead and others are injured after a fire ripped through a century-old building near Montreal's City Hall, sources told Noovo Info.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
Dolphins 'smile' at each other when they play and to avoid misunderstanding, study finds
For humans, flashing a smile is an easy way to avoid misunderstanding. And, according to a new study, bottlenose dolphins may use a similar tactic while playing with each other.
Pit bulls in B.C. pet mauling tested positive for meth, cocaine, says city
Three pit bulls involved in a deadly attack on another dog last month in Kamloops, B.C., tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine, and the city is going to court to have them put down.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment on Friday
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.