This article has been amended since first posting to correct an error.
Missing persons advocates are keeping a flame burning for Fatemeh Abdolali, the 35-year-old woman reported missing from North Vancouver almost two weeks ago.
Abdolali was last seen on Feb. 26 around 12:20 p.m. near Marine Drive and Capilano Road, according to North Vancouver RCMP. She was wearing light pink sweater, the grey/white walking shoes and carrying black bag. Her purse containing identification was subsequently located behind Heywood Park near Marine Drive and MacKay Avenue, shortly after she was reported missing.
Sheila McFarland and Anne Gavin were at the park on Wednesday afternoon, to hold a vigil and hand out flyers, hoping to raise the profile of the case. Abdolali is known for going on long urban walks. The two are holding out hope she will be found.
“We want the word out that she could be anywhere at this point,” Gavin said.
“We would like to cover from Hope all the way up to Squamish,” McFarland added.
Abdolali was supposed to start work as a lecturer at the University of British Columbia this week. She had recently arrived from Edmonton and had no personal connections in the Lower Mainland. Her family is all in Iran and is not able to come help, McFarland added.
“It's not possible for them to just get a visa and come here. That's not the way it works with Iran,” she said.
At the park, they set up a table with Abdolali’s photo and a Persian jewelry box meant to symbolize safekeeping.
North Vancouver RCMP renewed their request for help finding Abdolali on Saturday. There is no reason to suspect foul play, they said, and they have transferred the case to their missing persons unit.
“We are concerned for her well-being and would really like to find her,” stated Sgt. Peter DeVries, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman, in a news release.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Const. Roth in the Missing Person Unit, at 604-985-1311.
Correction: March 18, 2021
An earlier version of this article misstated that articles of clothing belonging to the missing person were located at Heywood Park. A North Vancouver RCMP press release states only that Abdolali's purse containing identification was located behind the park.
