A Prince George woman's childhood best friend tragically died at the hands of another.
It's the 19th anniversary of Kari Anne Gordon's death and Tammy Meise can't seem to get off the roller coaster that rushes her through a tumult of strong emotions about it even to this day.
Gordon's body was discovered by hikers at Little Lillooet Lake in spring of 1998.
She went missing in fall of 1997.
Ever since, there have always been more questions than answers.
Things came to a head for Meise during a time when life was moving full speed ahead.
She went to Vancouver in 2014 for the B.C. Federation of Labour conference as a member of the Hospital Employees' Union.
When Meise stepped inside the convention centre what she saw literally stopped her breath.
She looked up to see a stunning display of beautiful red dresses hanging from the rafters.
Meise had to take a moment to read what the display was all about. It was Jaime Black's The Red Dress Project that brings awareness to the missing and murdered aboriginal women across Canada.
The art display had a great impact on Meise and she never could shake it.
This year Meise saw how far reaching the issue of missing and murdered women is in Canada and quickly realized that because the many local women who have been lost were not all aboriginal she needed to take her idea and make it more inclusive.
"I was mulling it over and mulling it over and I realized I just had to do this," said Meise, who works in Northern Health's mental health and addictions department.
"The Prince George Red Dress Campaign will bring awareness and give a voice to all murdered and missing women."
The event will begin Monday with Mr. P.G. at the corners of Highway 16 and 97 holding a flag in honour of the occasion.
On Sunday, Oct. 2, about 100 people will meet at the Petro Canada west of town at 1:30 p.m., with a police escort, and line up along the highway each holding a red dress on a hanger to symbolize those lost and murdered along the Highway of Tears.
"It's an empty dress - they are no longer here - and this is to give back a voice to those that were taken so these women are not forgotten regardless of race," said Meise.
Once the group takes a stand, they will be attending at Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park where the red dresses participants held along the highway will be hung in the trees around the Kiwanis bandshell in the park.
At 5 p.m. a city official will say a few words, along with a First Nations elder and chief, and performers including singer-songwriter Kym Gouchie, from the Lheidli T'enneh Nation, and traditional drummers and dancers. A candlelight vigil will follow to honour the missing and murdered.
"There was never any closure for me about Kari," said Meise.
"I am hoping this is my healing journey and if I can open this up to someone else to walk one step on their healing journey, well you know what? It was worth it."
