MARCH 2016 • PAGE 9
tIME tO
SpEAk up,
pROVIdE
FONESSA'S
FAMILy wItH
ANSwERS
ProudlyStanding
withFirstNations,
Inuit&MétisFamilies
Deanne
Crothers
MLAforSt.James
204-415-0883
DeanneCrothers.ca
Greg
Selinger
MLAforSt.Boniface
204-237-9247
GregSelinger.ca
Nancy
Allan
MLAforSt.Vital
204-237-8771
NancyAllan.ca
Tom
Nevakshonoff
MLAforInterlake
204-664-2000
TomNevakshonoff.ca
Ron
Lemieux
MLAforDawsonTrail
204-878-4644
Ron-Lemieux.ca
Ron
Kostyshyn
MLAforSwanRiver
204-734-4900
RonKostyshyn.ca
Clarence
Pettersen
MLAforFlinFlon
204-687-3367
ClarencePettersen.ca
Kerri
Irvin-Ross
MLAforFortRichmond
204-475-9433
KerriIrvinRoss.ca
Sharon
Blady
MLAforKirkfieldPark
204-832-2318
SharonBlady.ca
Melanie
Wight
MLAforBurrows
204-421-9414
MelanieWight.ca
James
Allum
MLAforFort
Garry-Riverview
204-475-2270
JamesAllum.ca
Amanda
Lathlin
MLAforThePas
204-623-2034
AmandaLathlin.ca
Gord
Mackintosh
MLAforSt.Johns
204-582-1550
GordMackintosh.ca
Dave
Chomiak
MLAforKildonan
204-334-5060
DaveChomiak.ca
Fonessa loved to laugh, make jokes
and tease people, say her grandma Janet
Bruyere and cousin Crystal Bruyere. Just
take a look at a photo of the beaming
teenager and you'll see that playful humour
in her radiant smile and sparkling eyes.
Fonessa Bruyere was also a beloved
daughter, granddaughter, sister, and cousin
who lived in Winnipeg's North End with her
mother, two sisters and brother.
Her struggle with drug and alcohol
addictions led to the seventeen-year-old
being exploited in the survival sex trade.
On August 8, 2007 Fonessa's worried
family reported her as missing to the
Winnipeg Police Service.
The initial investigation revealed that
Fonessa was last seen by her sister on
August 9, 2007 at approximately 6:00 a.m.
in Winnipeg.
At the time Fonessa was seen entering
a newer model green pickup truck at the
corner of Aikens Street and Selkirk Avenue
where she was known to engage in the
survival sex trade.
On the day of her disappearance
Fonessa was believed to be wearing
black jeans, a black tank top and white
shoes. Fonessa, who also went by
Vanessa at times, was an Indigenous
teenage girl with blond/brown hair and
green eyes, with a petite frame at 5'4" tall
and 121 lbs.
Concerned for her safety, the Bruyere
family contacted many of Fonessa's
friends and acquaintances in an effort
to locate her, while members of the
Winnipeg Police Service pursued their
missing person's investigation.
On August 30, 2007 Fonessa's body
was discovered in a small bluff of trees
at the intersection of Ritchie Street and
Mollard Avenue in northwest Winnipeg.
It was evident that Fonessa's body had
been there for an extended period of
time. Forensic examination of Fonessa's
body subsequently revealed that she was
the victim of murder.
Her grandmother Janet and cousin
Crystal say it's difficult every single day.
"We always have her in our hearts and
think of her every day and night."
Project Devote, the joint task force with
the Winnipeg Police Service and the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police which focuses on
missing and murdered exploited persons'
investigations, is actively investigating the
homicide of Fonessa Bruyere.
Project Devote investigators are asking
for anyone who has information about
Fonessa to contact them at the Project
Devote tipline at 1-888-673-3316. If you
want to remain anonymous, you can call
Manitoba CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-
TIPS (8477).
Project Devote
