Vancouver rally held for Chelsea Poorman in effort to ‘seek answers’

Family and community members gathered Saturday afternoon in downtown Vancouver for a “What happened to Chelsea Poorman?” rally as they continue to push for answers about Poorman’s death.

Chelsea, a 24-year-old Indigenous woman missing since September 2020, was found dead outside a vacant home in the Shaughnessy neighbourhood last month.

After police confirmed Chelsea’s death, her family and many advocates said they were left unsatisfied with the investigation and unhappy with how the police declared the case non-suspicious.

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• ‘The case is not closed’: Vancouver police defend Chelsea Poorman investigation

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Now, Poorman’s family, Indigenous community members, and allies are working to push for further investigation into the woman’s death.

Chelsea’s mother, Sheila, is heartbroken and says while confirmation of her daughter’s death offers her some closure, she’s left wondering what happened to her daughter.

“We don’t know how she died … She was just there and she just died without trying to call for help? That’s not Chelsea. She’s been put some dangerous situations, but she always found a way to reach out to her family. No matter what was going on, she always found a way to get out of situations and call us. For her to be just there, for who knows how long … a lot of unanswered questions,” she told CityNews.

The rally Saturday is set to start at noon until 3 p.m., and marchers will meet at Granville and Davie Street, ending on 36th and Granville Street, where Chelsea’s body was discovered.

“We are seeking answers and justice for Chelsea Poorman,” a poster publicizing the event reads.