KENORA – The mom of a missing Kenora teen made an emotional appeal for her daughter’s safe return Tuesday.
“I know she is terrified,” her mom Anida Ross said. “Each day I wake up, I hope, I pray that today is the day we bring my baby home.”
Delaine Copenace, 16, was last seen in downtown Kenora on Feb. 27 around 6 p.m.
Her mom, dad, twin sister and other family members held a news conference to appeal to anyone who may have information or who may have seen something suspicious to report it.
Her mom says Delaine would have never disappear on her own.
“Delaine has never left,” Ross said.
Since she went missing searches have been taking place in both Kenora and Winnipeg, as she was known to visit there often.
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection has been asking people to check their yards and surrounding areas for any sign of the missing girl.
“This case should be at the top of everyone’s mind. Delaine’s family needs our help,” said Christy Dzikowicz, Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s Director of Missing Children Services.
“This child didn’t just vanish. There is someone out there who knows something, and any information, no matter how small, could be the missing piece police need to bring her home.”
On Tuesday at noon, Copenace’s mom, family members and people from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection spoke at a Kenora church.
Over the past weekend, Winnipeg’s Bear Clan Patrol took charge of the search for Copenace within Manitoba’s capital. The group spent hours plastering the North End with missing posters Sunday evening.
Copenace is described as being about five feet, eight inches tall, and 190 pounds. She has black, waist-length hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information can contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or their local police department.