By Tommy Osborne

Jack Family

“Your family is gone, you don’t know what happened”: vigil held for 35th anniversary of missing Jack family case

Aug 3, 2024 | 4:45 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A vigil was held at Strathcona Park on August 2 to recognize and raise awareness for the 35th anniversary of the case of the missing Jack family. 35 years ago in the area of the park, the family of Ronnie, Doreen, and their two sons Russell and Ryan were believed to be seen leaving their home with an unknown male in a dark 4×4 pickup truck, and have not been heard from since.

“It’s a lot of pain. It’s a lot of wondering, like your family is gone. You don’t know what happened,” said Doreen’s younger sister Marlene Jack.

“I love my sister with all my heart. I miss her. She was more like a mother figure for us, she always looked out for us. (…) If this didn’t happen, I would still be in contact with her,” Marlene continued.

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“I’m not giving up. I’m not stopping.”

The vigil was held not only to show support for the Jack family, but also raise awareness for the investigation, which remains ongoing.

“We’re appealing to the community and anyone with any information to come forward. That’s why it’s so important to come to these events and let people know that we are dedicated to the case. We have investigators in place, but we really need the help of the community and the public to help us move this forward and to bring some closure to the families,” said RCMP Staff Sergeant Ron Palta with RCMP Major Crimes.

Marlene and other members of the Jack family have been key figures in the investigation, as Marlene explained she’s been continuing to work on finding whatever information she can. Palta says the work being done by the community alongside the RCMP’s investigation has helped find new information not known before.

“There’s so many stories that I’ve heard through the years that, was painful to listen to, but that is told anyway. So, in June, when I was here, I did a private search on my own, and I found out a lot of other stuff that I didn’t know about the investigation,” Marlene said.

“We have a beautiful family with equally beautiful young boys that have gone missing. And just to bring that community awareness and the importance of this, and just how incredible it is that a whole family in their vehicle can disappear off the face of the earth,” Palta said.

The vigil was the first one held for the Jack family, and it saw a strong turnout as family, friends, community members, and several organizations all came to show their support.

“We all need to work together and as a collective to help bring the family home so that there is closure,” said United Way Indigenous Lead Patricia Prince.

Prince and other people involved with organizing the vigil expressed interest in making the vigil an annual event until answers are found. Until then, Marlene says she is going to continue doing whatever she can to find the truth of the situation.

“I’m not giving up. I’m not stopping. And I’m not going away, I’m going to be here,” Marlene said.

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