Family retraces steps of missing Indigenous woman on 7th anniversary of last sighting in Surrey

The Ward family has made a point of walking along a stretch of 104 Avenue in Surrey on Sept. 27 for the last seven years, retracing the steps of their missing family member Kristina Ward.

“And it’s the hardest walk for me to do — because it’s her last steps leading up to here — her last sighting. Where’s Kristina? Give us answers, people,” said LeeAnne Ward, Kristina’s mother, during a press conference Friday.

Kristina’s parents say it’s another year without answers or closure. It’s been a year that leaves them only with the solemn but familiar retracing of steps along four city blocks where the Indigenous woman — who would now be 27 — disappeared.

“That’s why we do this walk down where she came up from. That’s why we do this walk. [We could] maybe jog somebody’s memory as we go along.”

According to the RCMP, Kristina Ward was reported missing on Sept. 25, 2017. She was last seen in surveillance footage on Sept. 27, 2017 at 144 Street and 104 Avenue in Surrey between 7:50 and 8:45 p.m.

On that date, she used her cell phone and accessed her bank accounts for the last time.

Many have come forward to police investigators with tips, but Langley RCMP Corp. Craig Van Herk says they need more information to keep the investigation moving.

Kristina was last seen alongside a man on a bike.

“The connection with the man on the bike is he’s the last known person that we have on video that has seen her. So, to classify him as anything other than the last known to see him — that’s how we would classify him. We need to confirm who that man is,” said Van Herk.

“In light of the fact that Monday is National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, it’s a stark reminder that every child matters,” said Katie Pearson, a family friend.

“Kristina matters. And with our persistence and coming out every year in the hopes we can stir some memories for people … and give this family some of the closure that they deserve.”