Mother of Perth, Ont. woman who disappeared in B.C. 10 years ago hopes new sketch helps find daughter
An age-progression sketch of what Emma Fillipoff could look like today is reigniting awareness around the former Perth, Ont. resident's disappearance in Victoria, B.C. 10 years ago.
"I remember the day Emma went missing as if it were yesterday," recalled Emma's mom Shelley Fillipoff.
Emma, described as compassionate, intelligent and a talented photographer, was living in Victoria in 2012.
"We had no reason to believe anything was wrong until these phone calls started," Shelley said.
In November 2012, Emma called Shelley asking her to come to Victoria and then called back, saying not to. Shelley went anyway and found out Emma had been living at a shelter.
"Acquaintances who would see Emma around were noticing that she seemed to be acting paranoid, lost, confused, not like herself," said Kimberly Bordage, an advocate and filmmaker producing a docuseries about Emma's disappearance.
Emma, who was 26 at the time of her disappearance, was last seen outside the Empress Hotel.
"Two officers came and spoke to Emma and assessed her for about 45 minutes and deemed her okay to walk away," said Bordage. "They didn't have any reason to hold her under the mental healthcare act."
To mark the 10th anniversary of Emma's disappearance, Victoria Police released a new sketch of what Emma may look like at 36 years old.
Police in Victoria, B.C. have released an age-progressed sketch of Emma Fillipoff, a Perth, Ont. woman who went missing in 2012. (Victoria police/handout)
"The hope with this photo is that it captures the essence of Emma," said Const. Terri Healy. "She had a very youthful appearance to her and we're hoping that can be portrayed through this drawing and that somebody somewhere might have information about her whereabouts."
While Shelley doesn't think the rendering truly looks like Emma, she says it's good to draw attention to Emma's story.
"I think it's going to take somebody in the public to help me find her," she said.
Victoria Police say the investigation into Emma's disappearance remains active.
"Nothing says that she did walk away from her life or that there was foul play but also nothing says that those things didn't happen, so everything is still very much open," said Bordage.
Shelley hopes she will one day get answers about where Emma is.
"Somebody needs to be looking for Emma and that person is me," she said. "My message to Emma is you are so deeply loved and you are so deeply missed."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.