Amber Lynn McFarland 24, Msg 10/18/08, Portage la Prairie MB

[sarahhod]

Mother pleads for information on 'vibrant, beautiful' missing daughter
Family believes woman is being held against her will

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/10/24/missing-woman.html

Last Updated: Friday, October 24, 2008 | 10:23 AM CT



http://i39.tinypic.com/51stj8.jpg
The mother of a missing Portage la Prairie woman made an emotional plea Thursday for help finding her 24-year-old daughter.

Amber Lynn McFarland, 24, was last seen early on Oct. 18 at a bar in Portage la Prairie, Man.Amber Lynn McFarland, 24, was last seen early on Oct. 18 at a bar in Portage la Prairie, Man.

Lori McFarland said her daughter is normally in frequent contact with friends and family, speaking daily with her mother and in constant communication with her twin sister, Ashley.

"Amber has a loving, supportive family and a huge extended family, and we're all very worried about her," she said.

"She's an outgoing, vibrant, beautiful and full-of-life girl. She's obviously a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister, an auntie, a niece and a good friend to many."

McFarland received a call Saturday morning from her daughter's place of work, saying she hadn't shown up to let in other employees.

"That's when we started to worry," she said. "She would never miss work without speaking to her manager."

McFarland thanked her daughter's many friends, who have been searching for Amber and hanging posters around the city with her daughter's picture on them.

"We're asking anyone with even the slightest bit of information to please contact the RCMP, even if that information seems to be insignificant. We're grasping at straws trying to piece together what could have happened to Amber," she said.

"As we suspect Amber may be being held somewhere against her will, to those people involved, we're pleading with you to do the right thing, to right this wrong and please let her come home safely to us," she added, her voice breaking with emotion.

Portage RCMP have been to the home of McFarland's ex-boyfriend, who was charged in May with assaulting the woman. Friends have said McFarland was talking to the man at the bar the night of her disappearance.

RCMP have declined to comment on that aspect of their investigation, saying only that they are speaking with "anyone and everyone" who might know something about McFarland's whereabouts.

Manitoba Search and Rescue is co-ordinating a search in the area involving as many as 40 trained search-and-rescue members, search dogs, and any volunteers who can help.

Volunteers are asked to report at the Alliance Church in Portage la Prairie Friday morning.

McFarland has blond hair and green eyes and is about five feet seven inches tall and 135 pounds. She was wearing a black sweater and blue jeans when she was last seen.

Anyone who has information on McFarland's whereabouts should call Portage la Prairie RCMP at (204) 857-4445 or Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

[sarahhod]

Search for Manitoba woman turns up 4 other missing people

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=057ea102-2b7c-42ed-bd87-6a1df71b2518

Bradley Bouzane, Canwest News Service
Published: Monday, October 27, 2008

Hundred of searchers looking for clues in the disappearance of Manitoba resident Amber McFarland discovered four other people who were lost on the weekend but found no sign of the missing woman.

McFarland, 24, has not been seen since Oct. 18 when she was spotted leaving a nightclub in Portage la Prairie, Man.

The search, which included about 700 volunteers in addition to official search and rescue resources, worked through the weekend, but found nothing of relevance to McFarland.

Capt. George Leonard, operations manager for the Manitoba Search and Rescue Association, said he thought they would have some leads by now.

"We haven't found anything - not a stitch, nothing," he said. "We threw a lot of resources at it - we had almost anything you could imagine working out there and we found nothing. I'm really surprised because we were able to cover a massive amount of area and we couldn't find anything related."

Friends and family of McFarland on Saturday offered up a $20,000 reward for information leading to her discovery.

Although the search for McFarland has not produced results, Leonard said four unrelated missing people were located on the weekend during the search.

"We found two people whose quad (all-terrain vehicle) had broken down and they were stuck and our guys had to take them out to safety," said Leonard, who added two other intoxicated people were found in the wilderness and brought home. "They were there for a day and they thought we were actually looking for them."

The search, which is focused on the area southwest of the city, was scheduled to continue Tuesday, allowing organizers time to regroup.


© Canwest News Service 2008

[sarahhod]

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=41494049691
Help find Amber McFarland!

[sarahhod]

Search continues for Amber McFarland

http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20081028/wpg_mcfarland_search_goes_on_081028?hub=WinnipegHo me

Updated: Tue Oct. 28 2008 13:20:24



The search continued on Tuesday for 24-year-old Amber McFarland. She's been missing for well over a week, and her family is growing more and more concerned.

Volunteers have combed fields near her home and the club in question, but have found no clues of the whereabouts of the young woman.

Searchers are now employing K-9 units to see if they can track down anything that could lead to her discovery.

Manitoba Search and Rescue is focusing Tuesdays search in the south end of Portage la Prairie near the diversion.

The team is also considering draining a few ponds in the area.

The Family of Amber Lynn McFarland has offered a $20,000 reward for any information that leads to finding her.

The 24-year-old was last seen on Saturday Oct. 18 in the Portage la Prairie area.

She has blonde hair, green eyes, stands about 5'6"-5'7", and weighs 135 lbs. She was wearing a black sweater and blue jeans when she went missing.

Anyone who may be able to help in the investigation is asked to call the Mounties in Portage at 204-857-4445, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

[sarahhod]

Volunteers Called Out Again in Amber McFarland Search

http://www.chrisd.ca/blog/3625/volunteers-called-out-again-in-amber-mcfarland-search/

Oct. 30, 2008 at 8:07 am CDT in News

The search for Amber McFarland is intensifying.

With the draining of two ponds in an area at the south end of Portage la Prairie this week, Manitoba Search and Rescue is stepping up their game. Organizers are calling on volunteers to help with the search again this weekend (Fri-Sun). Volunteers are asked to go to the Alliance Church (2375 Saskatchewan Ave. West) at 10:00 a.m. About 1,500 people are expected to come out.

The 24-year-old was last seen two weeks ago at a nightclub in Portage la Prairie in the early hours of Sat, October 18. So far, an extensive search has been taking place throughout the area with no leads to go on.

The family of McFarland is still offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to their daughter’s whereabouts.

You can keep track of the progress the search rescue has made and get updates on other events relating to search efforts by joining the Amber McFarland Facebook group.

Anyone with information on Amber McFarland’s whereabouts are asked to call Portage RCMP at (204) 857-4445.

[sarahhod]

Missing woman's family, friends overwhelmed

http://www.globaltv.com/globaltv/winnipeg/story.html?id=906560

Shane Minkin , Winnipeg Free Press
Published: Friday, October 24, 2008

More than 150 volunteers are searching in and around Portage la Prairie for Amber McFarland, who has been missing since early Saturday.

"It's pretty overwhelming right now," Amber's friend Krista Hodgins said outside the Portage Alliance Church, where volunteer searchers were given their marching orders from officials with the Manitoba Search and Rescue Association.

"There's about 100 people right now and more people keep coming in," Hodgins said. Amber Lynn McFarland, 24, was last seen leaving a Portage night club with a former boyfriend during the early hours of Saturday.

Capt. George Leonard said the rescue association has launched a large-scale search for McFarland and will continue searching all weekend.

"We already have our guys in the field right now," Leonard said. "We have two 10-man teams with five canine units working right now and then were going to send out the volunteers."

Leonard said searchers were focusing on an area southwest of the city where it's believed Amber was last seen.

"We're looking for clues and hopefully Amber," Leonard said.

He said the fact that his people are very familiar with area would help in the search.

RCMP are investigating the case, but don't have the resources to launch a search when there is no specific target area, Sgt. Line Karpish said Wednesday.

Hodgins said searchers will be looking for any clues that might lead them to Amber.

"We'd like to find Amber, but anything that can lead us to where she is, like a lipstick or bag or smokes or a cigarette lighter, y'know aything like that."

Hodgins said the community has rallied its support behind the search for Amber, with people donating water and ladies making food for the volunteers. "Tim Horton's has donated coffee." Amber's family made an emotional plea Thursday for information from the public regarding the missing Portage la Prarie woman.

"We are pleading with you to do the right thing, to right this wrong and please let her come home safely to us, " her mother Lori McFarland told CTV news Thursday. "We're very worried," a tearful Lori McFarland said. "There's kind of a history there... a kind of on again off again relationship."

RCMP cordoned off the home Wednesday of McFarland's former boyfriend.

She was reported missing hours after being seen leaving the bar Saturday with Kelly Colin Garrioch, 38.

Her car was found later that day in the same parking lot where she had left it on Friday night.

Garrioch faces an assault charge involving McFarland that is to go to trial on Nov. 18. He also faces a separate charge of failing to comply with a no contact order involving the woman.

Friends and family of the popular blonde have been frantically searching for her ever since she failed to show up for work Saturday morning at Mark's Work Wearhouse in Portage.

RCMP were not saying much about Garrioch or McFarland other than they were treating her disappearance as a missing persons case. Officers from the major crimes unit were investigating. Police had no suspects in custody.

"We're not in a position to confirm any arrest," Karpish said. "It is a sure thing we will be following up and will be speaking with those who would know her, and that would include family, friends, co-workers, ex-boyfriends."

Karpish said police have interviewed family and friends and anyone who may have had contact with her from the time she left the bar around 1 a.m. Saturday.

Asked about the former boyfriend angle, Karpish said there are definitely "some concerning circumstances around this. People just don't vanish."

"We're following all and any leads that come our way. And we are counting on the public to let us know if they've seen her."

Amber's twin sister Ashley told CTV News she believes someone is withholding information from police.

"Enough is enough. It's starting to get ridiculous and very scary and we want to know something... anything," Ashley said.

Amber McFarland has blonde hair, green eyes, is 5-6 to 5-7 and weighs about 135 pounds. She was wearing a black sweater and blue jeans.

Anyone who knows of her activities or may have been in contact with her is asked to call Portage RCMP at 1-204-857-4445 or Manitoba Crime Stoppers.

Lori McFarland says Amber is fiesty... a fighter. She had these words for her daughter: "You just survive and hang in there baby girl, because everybody's pulling for you. You come home safe to us."

[sarahhod]

Candlelight vigil for missing women to be held Sunday

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1354641

Posted By The Daily Graphic staff
Updated 2 days ago


A candlelight vigil for two missing Portage la Prairie women will take place at city hall Sunday evening.

The families of both Jennifer Catcheway, missing since June, and Amber McFarland, missing since October, are set to attend the vigil.

All those interested in gathering can come out to city hall at 7 p.m. The vigil is set to last one hour.

"Brandon, at the same time, is holding a vigil at Vincent Massey (High) School," Amber's mother Lori McFarland said, "for people who don't want to travel in the cold."

Amber lived in Brandon for a few years and has friends there, Lori said.

Portage Alliance Church has donated candles for the vigil.

Vigil co-ordinator Tanis Desjardin said people can use the donated candles or bring their own.

"If people want to being their own candles and candle holders, that's fine," she said.

Desjardin said she has between 150-200 candles but no holders.

The purpose of the vigil, she noted, is to lend support to the families and let them know the two women haven't been forgotten and there will always be people who will never give up the search for Amber and Jennifer.

For more information, see the Facebook page; http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=52299119400.

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Families of missing girls hold awareness march

http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20081209/wpg_March_missing_girls_081209/20081209/?hub=WinnipegHome

Updated: Tue Dec. 09 2008 18:10:49



Some Manitoba families are bracing themselves for a very tough Christmas.

Jennifer Catcheway, Claudette Osborne and Amber McFarland, all went missing several months ago.

On Tuesday the families gathered with friends to hold a march in the girl's honour to offer hope to each other.

"We love you Jen, Come home, come home," cried Catcheway's mother.

Bernice Catcheway's daughter Jennifer vanished without a trace nearly six-months ago.

Time isn't healing this wound for Bernice, in part because the wound remains open until Jennifer is found.

It's the same story for the mothers of Claudette Osborne and Amber McFarland.

"It gets harder. It gets harder every day," said Lori McFarland

The families have come together to focus their efforts, by waving signs with the girls pictures on them, and putting photos of their loved ones in the hands of strangers.

They believe someone, somewhere has information that will bring their kids home.

"We maintain hope because we don't have anything that tells us otherwise, and until we do, we will remain hopeful," said Lori McFarland at the Legislative grounds on Tuesday.

The families have been searching for months, and with Christmas approaching the pain they're feeling is starting to intensify.

"I can't be in that spirit right now, as my daughters missing, but I know I have to keep on going for my grandchildren," explains Brenda Osborne.

They keep going on because they believe there is still a chance their daughters could come home, though Bernice Catcheway knows that hope grows slimmer each day.

"It'll take a miracle, I know, but I believe in miracles, and Jennifer if you're out there, we love you Jen."

With a report from CTV's Jon Hendricks

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Hundreds search for missing Manitoba women

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081101/missing_women_081101/20081101

Updated Sat. Nov. 1 2008 4:21 PM ET



Hundreds of volunteers are searching for two young women who have seemingly disappeared without a trace in separate incidents in Manitoba.

The volunteers joined forces with the Manitoba Search and Rescue Association on Saturday to look for Amber McFarland, 24, and Jennifer Catcheway, 18, both of Portage la Prairie, Man.

McFarland was last seen in Portage la Prairie in the early hours of Oct. 18, and was reported missing the next day after she didn't show up for a shift at a local Mark's Work Wearhouse.

Catcheway was last seen June 19, around the time of her 18th birthday. Police received tips from the public and in July made two arrests in connection with her disappearance, but later released both suspects without laying charges against them, RCMP Sgt. Line Karpish told CTV.ca Saturday.

They also searched for Catcheway in an area near Gypsumville, Man., more than 250 kilometres north of Portage la Prairie, but they have found no sign of the missing teenager.

MSRA operations manager George Leonard said his organization had 267 volunteers assisting in search efforts on Saturday morning, and more than 300 taking part in the afternoon.

His organization has been searching for Catcheway since she first disappeared, and in the case of McFarland, they began their search a week and a half ago.

At present, they are looking for both women at the same time.

"They seem to overlap somewhat even though we don't believe they're related," Kapish told CTV.ca on Saturday.

Since Oct. 23, the MSRA-led search efforts have searched the area within 16 km of Portage la Prairie, he said.

Leonard said searchers are looking for any clues that they can link to the missing women.

"As far as we know, we've found evidence and articles that we believe (are pertinent to the investigation), but we have to forward them to the RCMP to find out if any of that is valid," he said.

'We've never quit'

The MSRA intends to continue searching with a large number of volunteers on Sunday, and then they will "reassess" their plans, Leonard said.

"We don't quit, we've never quit," he said. "Tomorrow will be our last major search and then we'll go back to where we'll do our small searches, then once we have information we might hold another large search."

Karpish said police were not taking part in Saturday's search because they have no information to suggest where McFarland might be.

"We have had some information from the public but clearly we still need it because we don't have her back," she said.

"Every piece of information is a piece of the puzzle and we need a good many of them to get the picture."

Karpish said police have been told it is "very uncharacteristic" of McFarland to have been absent from work.

She would not say where McFarland was last seen.

In the case of Catcheway's disappearance, Karpish said they haven't turned up any trace of the missing teenager since she went missing four-and-a-half months ago.

"We've been looking for her ever since," Karpish said.

Anyone with information about either woman is asked to call Portage la Prairie RCMP at 204-857-4445 or to call Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

[packy]

Pictures at the rally here. http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1339190&auth=Kim%20Kaschor,%20Special%20to%20the%20Daily%2 0Graphic

Rally at Manitoba Leg draws 100 people

[Amusedtdth]

Posted By Daily Graphic Staff
Posted 7 days ago


Portage la Prairie and surrounding area residents were in shock when two Portage-area women went missing in 2008.

The community came together to help find Jennifer Catcheway, 18, who disappeared on June 19, and Amber McFarland, 24, who was last seen on Oct. 18.

In October, massive land searches of volunteers led by members of the Manitoba Search and Rescue Association hit the bush by foot, on horseback and on quads. The Assiniboine River diversion spillway, located southwest of Portage, was drained so searchers could check the basin for any clues of the missing women.

The public significantly contributed time, money and other resources to help with the massive weekend searches.

Overhead, aircraft searched the waterways while the floodgates of the Assiniboine River were closed in early November.

For Catcheway, searches were also conducted in the Grand Rapids area over the summer.

On Dec. 9, the families of the missing women took their plea to the steps of Manitoba Legislature hoping to continue in their efforts to spread the word to the community about the need to try and help find their loved ones. A candlelight vigil was also held in front of Portage City Hall on Dec. 21.

The missing women have not been found.


Bizarre bus murder worries community

Portage residents were in disbelief in July when a young man from Winnipeg was beheaded on a Greyhound bus, just west of Portage.

http://www.cpheraldleader.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1370488

[sarahhod]

Amber’s disappearance forces court case to be tossed
Posted By Daily Graphic Staff
Posted 14 hours ago

http://www.portagedailygraphic.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1385908


The Crown attorney has withdrawn charges of assault for a Portage la Prairie man.

Kelly Colin Garrioch, 39, was facing a charge of assault allegedly involving Amber McFarland on May 22, 2008.

In Portage provincial court Monday, Crown attorney Larry Hodgson said because the complainant is missing, the Crown cannot proceed with the charges.

“If more evidence comes to light, we can reinstate charges,” said Hodgson after the proceedings.

Another charge of driving while disqualified on May 21 was also withdrawn.

Both charges relied on evidence from McFarland, and her whereabouts remain unknown, explained Hodgson.

McFarland, 24, has been missing since Oct. 18.

Garrioch is also facing a charge of breaching a court order to have no contact with McFarland on Oct. 17. As well, he is charged with disobeying a court order on Oct. 14, involving another complainant.

His case is due back in court on Feb. 9 on these remaining matters.

news.dailygraphic@shawcable.com

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http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20081021/wpg_mcfarland_missing_102108/20081021/?hub=WinnipegHome%20%C2%A0%3CBR%3E

Family of missing woman speak
Updated: Thu Oct. 23 2008 18:27:30

http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/img2/20081021/160_mcfarland_081021.jpg

http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/img2/20081021/160_mcfarland_rcmp_081021.jpg

http://images.ctv.ca/archives/CTVNews/img2/20081021/160_mcfarland_cat_081021.jpg

ctvwinnipeg.ca

The family of Amber Lynn McFarland have broken their silence and will speak to CTV News.

It's been almost a week since McFarland went missing.

The 24-year-old was last seen on Saturday Oct. 18 in the Portage la Prairie area.

She has blonde hair, green eyes, stands about 5'6"-5'7", and weighs 135 lbs. She was wearing a black sweater and blue jeans when she went missing.

One of amber's friends spent Tuesday putting up posters. Kristi Barnes-Skrabek says she hopes it'll make a difference. "It's very upsetting, not something you ever expect, but we all really miss her" she said.


Amber was last seen at a bar in Portage on Friday night, but friends say the following morning her car was found in exactly the same place she'd left it.


She hasn't been seen or heard from since. Friends say it's unlike her to not show up, which is exactly what happened at her place of work. She was due for a shift at Marks Work Wearhouse on Saturday morning.


Tanis Desjardin says "It's just not like her to disappear. Tanis says she last saw McFarland on Friday night and said her last conversation with her was an argument over Amber reuniting with an old boyfriend.


Friends of Amber McFarland began searching for their missing friend on Wednesday.

They searched some fields around where she lived and was last seen.

Some expressed their frustration about what they considered a lack of effort by police.

RCMP say they have no suspects at this time. Sgt. Rob McCarville is leading the search and says "At this point it is strictly a missing person's investigation and that's where the investigation is focused.


RCMP from Winnipeg and Winnipeg Police Major Crimes Unit are also helping with the investigation.

Anyone who may be able to help in the investigation is asked to call the Mounties in Portage at 204-857-4445, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

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http://www.portageonline.com/index.php?option=com_ezine&task=read&page=9&category=21&article=9960&Itemid=86

Concerns Rise About Missing Woman

Sunday, January 18 2009 | 3:31:24 PM

A coordinated search may be organized soon for Amber Lynn McFarland of Portage.
The 24 year old has been missing since early Saturday morning.

Her mother Lori says they expect to make contact with Manitoba Search and Rescue later today.

She adds Amber's co-workers from Mark's Work Wearhouse are prepared to take part, as are workers from Winnipeg outlets.

McFarland says family members are coming to portage to support her and Amber's two sisters.

She's also receiving phone calls and e-mails from across the country.

McFarland stresses Amber has never been gone this long without calling.

If you have any information, call the RCMP.

Here's a picture of Amber.

http://www.portageonline.com/images/stories/rsz_amber.jpg

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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/11/03/missing-women.html

Massive search effort fails to turn up 2 missing Manitoba women
Last Updated: Monday, November 3, 2008 | 11:50 AM CT

A 1,500-person search effort over the weekend has failed to turn up any clear sign of two women missing from Portage la Prairie, Man.

Amber Lynn McFarland, 24, was last seen early on Oct. 18 at a bar in Portage la Prairie, Man. (RCMP handout)Hundreds of people took part in a three-day search that began Friday for clues in the disappearances of Jennifer Catcheway, 18, and Amber McFarland, 24.

Catcheway was last in touch with her family on June 19, the day before her 18th birthday. She failed to show up at a party in her honour, and hasn't been heard from since.

McFarland was last seen early on the morning of Oct. 18 in Portage la Prairie. Friends said she was last seen leaving a bar with an ex-boyfriend.

"We had a mass amount of people come out — we had over 1,500 volunteers, and then we utilized over 100 of our own people," said George Leonard, spokesman for Manitoba Search and Rescue.

"We must have had 30 horse teams … probably I'd say about 50 quads, and then we had people in the air — we had two ultralight planes in the air."

Items turned over to RCMP
Searchers also scoured the dump in Portage la Prairie, a city of 13,000 located about 70 kilometres west of Winnipeg.

Jennifer Leigh Catcheway last contacted her family on June 19, the day before her 18th birthday. (Police handout)"We had our excavation team come from Sagkeeng and do the dump, and we checked a massive area, and we put forth a lot of resources and a lot of effort, and we're not finished yet," Leonard said.

Searcher found a number of items that could become clues in the cases, including cellphones, clothing and shoes, Leonard said. They were turned over to the RCMP.

Leonard expects the banks of the Assiniboine River will be searched when a floodway gate is closed, dropping the water level on the river.

Although RCMP Sgt. Line Karpish acknowledges the two women's disappearances "seem to overlap somewhat," police don't believe they are related.

Police did not take part in the weekend search because they have no information to suggest where the women might be, Karpish said.

McFarland has blond hair and green eyes, is about five feet seven inches tall and weighs 135 pounds. She was wearing a black sweater and blue jeans when she was last seen.

Catcheway is described as an aboriginal woman with a fair complexion, medium-length brown hair and hazel eyes. She is about five feet seven inches tall and weighs about 165 pounds.

Anyone with information on the women's whereabouts is asked to call:

RCMP in Portage la Prairie at (204) 857-4445.
Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Manitoba Search and Rescue at (204) 777-0553.

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Shouldn't this be in international missing?

[sarahhod]

Families of missing women are on the march

Posted By The Staff, The Portage Daily Graphic

Posted 18 mins ago


The families of the two Portage women, Jennifer Catcheway and Amber McFarland, will be in Winnipeg on Saturday to participate in the Memorial March for the Murdered and Missing Women of Manitoba.
The two women have been missing since October 2008 and similar marches are being held in Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Regina, Thunder Bay, and Sudbury.
These families will be traveling to the Saints Anglican Church on Colony Street and the march starts just after 5:30.
Participants have been asked to wear red or purple and dress warmly for the walk.
Lori McFarland hopes tonight's march will remind people that these two women are still missing and possibly encourage someone to come forward with any information.
The disappearance of Jennifer Catcheway and Amber McFarland is indeed a tragedy, but one that is part of a march larger epidemic. There has been 184 missing or murdered women in Manitoba since 1961 and this March is set to remind the public of the people that have been lost.

http://cpheraldleader.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1436812

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Missing woman feared slain

RCMP treating Portage case as homicide

By: Lindsey Wiebe and Gabrielle Giroday
11/06/2009 1:00 AM


RCMP say the case of missing Portage la Prairie woman Amber Lynn McFarland is now being treated as a homicide.

And officers have returned for a second search, both inside and out, of a home in the community that once belonged to the 24-year-old's former boyfriend. She was last seen at a Portage la Prairie nightclub on Oct. 18, 2008.
"Our investigation is considered a murder investigation," said RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Line Karpish Wednesday. Karpish said investigators resumed searching a property on Yellowquill Trail on Wednesday morning. The Forensic Mobile Response Unit was on scene, she said, and officers were still at the property Wednesday evening.
"We do remain very confident that we're going to get some kind of conclusion," Karpish said.
"Someone will be charged and face the consequences, or we will find her body at least to give some closure to the family."
Karpish did not identify the home, but said it has previously been searched by police.
Amber's mother, Lori McFarland, said the home was formerly owned by Amber's ex-boyfriend, one of the last men seen with her.
Lori McFarland said Wednesday was the first day she'd been told the investigation was being treated as a homicide. The news was difficult but not surprising, she said.
"You always want to maintain some shred of hope," she said. "I guess in your mind you know where it's headed.
"It'll be eight months on June 18. Short of a miracle... I wouldn't say that we're surprised, you know?"
Karpish said a combination of factors led officers back to the Yellowquill Trail property, but didn't offer specifics. She said there are no suspects in custody in connection with the case.
Lori McFarland said she's aware police vehicles were outside the home Wednesday, but said she didn't know what was happening on the property.
It "gets to be a lot of public speculation," she said.
"We have to filter that out, and we rely on the RCMP to give us the latest as to where the investigation is at."
Amber McFarland was last seen in Portage la Prairie at the Cat and Fiddle Nite Club and reportedly left with a former boyfriend. Surveillance footage captured her buying beer there at a vendor in the company of two men.
Her car was found in the parking lot of a Portage hotel, where she had left it before going out that evening.
When McFarland did not come back to her parents' home, her friend and family said the ex-boyfriend told them McFarland called someone on her cellphone and they picked her up at his home on Yellowquill Trail.
They said he told them he did not know who picked her up, and he never saw McFarland again. McFarland was the subject of a frantic search following her disappearance last fall, including draining part of the Assiniboine River diversion. Amber's purse and cellphone were never located. "We just want to have her found, and bring her home," said Lori McFarland. "She's loved and she should be with people that love her."

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/missing-woman-feared-slain-47761037.html

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Woman who went missing a year ago remembered
October 18, 2009

Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of a 24-year-old Portage la Prairie woman.

Amber McFarland was last seen the night of Oct. 18, 2008, at a bar in her hometown.

And while RCMP are now treating the case as a homicide, missing persons agency Child Find Manitoba continues to appeal to the public for any information about what happened to her.

At social networking website Facebook, a group, “Help Find Amber McFarland,” says a $20,000 reward is being offered for any information that could lead to the young woman being found.

A handful of people were posting messages online Sunday to note the anniversary.

“You are greatly missed, Amber,” Cari-ann Nickels of Winnipeg wrote.

“Amber will never be forgotten. She had such a pretty smile and awesome personality, and always a pleasure to be around. Hopefully someday SOON this nightmare could end for her loving family and great friends,” Nickels said.

Media reports said Sunday that members of McFarland's family were marking the anniversary in a personal and private way.

McFarland has blond hair and green eyes and is about five feet seven inches tall and 135 pounds. She was wearing a black sweater and blue jeans when she was last seen.

Anyone with information about McFarland or her disappearance is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at:

In Winnipeg: 204-786-TIPS (8477).
In rural Manitoba: 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Alternatively, people with information can call the RCMP in Portage la Prairie at 204-857-4445.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/10/18/181009-mcfarland-anniversary.html#socialcomments

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RCMP Find Woman’s Body Near Brandon
11/8/09

ChrisD.ca has learned that RCMP located a woman’s body near Brandon at around 1 p.m. Saturday.

Early reports suggest that the body had been there for at least six months.

The identity of the victim is not yet known due to advanced decomposition.

There are currently two women who have yet to be found that went missing from the Portage la Prairie area within the last year.

RCMP have not sent out an official news release providing any details thus far.

http://www.chrisd.ca/blog/16725/brandon-manitoba-rcmp-female-body-found/

http://helpfindthemissing.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9360&highlight=Portage+la+Prairie