Vancouver realtor fired after ripping down Chelsea Poorman posters

A Vancouver realtor has been fired after he was filmed tearing down posters pleading for information about Chelsea Poorman — a missing Indigenous woman who was found dead outside a vacant home.

A staff member of the Battered Women’s Support Services recorded Randy Vogel tearing down signs in Shaughnessy, the neighbourhood where Chelsea’s body was found in April.

Related Article: Chelsea Poorman posters pulled down in Vancouver neighbourhood where her remains were found

The president of Macdonald Realty Ltd., Dan Scarrow, says in a statement: “As an organization we are in full support of Chelsea Poorman’s family and friends, as they search for answers and justice. We do not condone any inappropriate actions taken by any member of our community, and, in this instance, we took immediate action and they are no longer with our organization.”

Angela Marie MacDougall with BWSS has told CityNews she is disappointed but not surprised to see this kind of incident.

MacDougall said she believes this “aggression” is “directed at making Chelsea’s experience invisible, rendering her death, her disappearance, and her subsequent death, invisible in that neighborhood.”

The BWSS executive director said she would hope Vancouver’s citizens would care about the death and disappearance of the 24-year-old and rally around her family and the community. They’re pushing for answers about what happened to her, and are not happy with the Vancouver police, who said the death was not suspicious.

“This is about basic community values,” MacDougall said. “It’s unthoughtful.”

CityNews searched through Shaughnessy on Monday and could not find any of the posters. They list contact information for anyone who might have tips on the case.

Poorman was last seen downtown on Sept. 6, 2020 and was reported missing two days later. In early May this year, Vancouver police confirmed Chelsea’s body was found outside a vacant home near 36th Avenue and Granville Street.

On Monday, the VPD reiterated, “Evidence that we have collected so far does not lead us to believe her death was the result of a crime. We are, however, continuing to investigate.”

But family and some community members believe Chelsea was murdered and they don’t think the police are taking the case seriously.

A separate video was filmed during a rally and march Saturday that shows a woman and man pulling down more signs.

In it, the woman can be heard saying the posters “ruins the [metal light] poles.” She says that the signs are okay to hang on the wooden utility poles instead.

Related stories:

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

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

• ‘Vancouver Police must issue an apology to Chelsea’s family for their lack of action,’ FSIN says

Butterflies in Spirit helped organize Saturday’s march with the Poorman family. Lorelei Williams said it’s crucial to see Chelsea’s face in Shaughnessy, but the group continues to see signs pulled down.

“Even though we glued them really well, somebody went out of the way to tear her face and the information off,” Williams said.

Chelsea’s mother, Sheila Poorman, told CityNews she’s struggling to find closure.

“We’re only asking for help,” Sheila said. “So why should it really bother people for us to put up a poster? There’s no harm in it. I don’t see why people are bothered by it. It’s upsetting.”