Every day that Jennifer Provençal remains missing is a day her family can't heal.
Jennifer has been missing from her home in Forest Grove since February of this year, with both RCMP and her family having no idea of where she may be. For Johanne Provençal, Jennifer's sister, each day without answers is agonizing as she does her best to help search for her from her home in Montreal.
"In my life, I have lost people I love, but this -- to have someone you love go missing, it’s a cruelty, again and again, every day, when that day doesn’t bring an answer," Provençal said. "Not knowing if she is alive or not, not being able to process what has happened when you don’t know what has happened, it’s awful."
While Jennifer, whose married name is Boulding, was last seen in February, she wasn't reported missing until April 21 when Provençal realized no one had seen or heard from her sister. The 100 Mile House RCMP officially listed Jennifer as missing on April 25. The investigation and search for her remains ongoing, with the RCMP providing no updates on where they think she may be or what may have happened to her as of the publication of the article.
Provençal has taken an active role in spreading the word about her sister, publishing a story on her personal blog, creating a missing person poster for dissemination online and in person and starting a Facebook group dedicated to finding her.
"The last time I spoke to Jennifer was some time before she went missing. Rather than having quick calls with chit-chat every week or every month, we would space out the calls, sit down with a big pot of tea, for one or two hours, to have a real visit on the phone," Provençal said. "The last time we spoke, as always, Jennifer seemed to be appreciating life and what each day brings."
One thing Provençal also seeks to do is humanize her sister, noting that she is more than just a "local woman still missing." In addition to being her sister, Jennifer is the mother of three sons aged 20, 17 and 13, respectively as of the time of her disappearance. Provençal remains concerned about the emotional toll her sister's disappearance has taken on her nephews.
"Every day that Jennifer is missing, every day without answers, is a day that we can’t heal as a family. Every day is another day of harm to those who have loved her," Provençal said.
Provençal said that she and Jennifer have always been there for one another, especially after both their parents passed away in their adolescence. She noted that one thing they both learned growing up is the importance of telling someone how much you love them, as you never know when the moments you share together will be your last.
Jennifer first moved to Forest Grove in 2004, with Provençal recalling how the two of them scraped together whatever money they could to buy the property and later build an outhouse, cabin and eventually transform it into a homestead that she loved.
"We both also wanted a place to pass on to our children, since our parents had not passed on a place to us," Provençal recalled.
When not homesteading, Provençal said her sister is a creative, entrepreneurial soul, running an online Etsy shop and later opening the Bead Barn in Forest Grove. Provencal said Jennifer always enjoyed arts and crafts as a child and working on the family farm with their father in Quebec. She noted Jennifer has always been adept at taking whatever she has and making the best of it.
Provençal said ultimately her sister has lived a quiet life in Forest Grove and that some may know her as the 'Beard Barn Lady' or know her from the Forest Grove Legion, where her husband works. She reiterated that she finds it extremely concerning that her sister could go missing and no one seemingly knows anything five months on.
"I can only speak for myself, but I’m very worried. I’m worried that I may never see her again," Provençal said. "To anyone who may know something, no matter how small, about what has happened to Jennifer, I am asking you, please, share what you know with the RCMP. The missing person poster that I made also includes information about leaving an anonymous tip, because I understand that people may want to remain anonymous."
Provençal said if her sister reads this article, she should know that she can and will help her, no matter what.
"Whatever you need, we will find a way through, as we always have," Provençal said. "I love you."
The 100 Mile House RCMP can be reached via 250-395-2456, while Provençal's Facebook page dedicated to finding her sister is titled Missing Person - Jennifer Provençal / Jennifer Boulding.
