Another sizable crowd is expected for the annual justice march for missing Nanaimo woman Lisa Marie Young. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

annual march

Annual justice march for Lisa Marie Young to occur in downtown Nanaimo

Jun 24, 2023 | 9:21 AM

NANAIMO — A woman presumed dead who has been missing for more than two decades still has plenty of support in keeping her cold case alive.

Lisa Marie Young vanished in the early morning hours of June 30, 2002 after a friend reported she was being held against her will in a vehicle on a Bowen Rd. driveway. Nanaimo RCMP believe she is a homicide victim.

She was 21-years-old at the time and would have turned 42 this past spring.

An annual justice march drawing attention to her case in hopes of finding her remains and bringing those responsible to account takes place on Sunday, June 25 starting at the Nanaimo RCMP detachment at 11 a.m.

Cyndy Hall, a friend of Young’s, said the need for closure pushes her advocacy efforts every day.

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“The more time that goes by the more driven we are to find Lisa because that’s the longer Lisa isn’t with us,” Hall told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Following a march from the Nanaimo RCMP detachment down Prideaux St. to Comox Rd. and to Maffeo Sutton Park, several speakers and entertainers will be at the Lions Pavillion starting at noon.

Family members, friends and some invited guests will address the assembled crowd.

The annual march for justice for Lisa Young takes place on Sunday, June 25. (Submitted photo)

Nobody has ever been arrested or charged in connection to Young’s disappearance.

Her case generated considerably more attention in 2020 when a highly subscribed investigative podcast was released titled “Island Crime Season 1: Where is Lisa?”.

The series by Laura Palmer connected with people close to Lisa and gained insight into the Nanaimo RCMP’s investigation.

Hall said while it’s likely people with knowledge about what happened to Lisa are now deceased, she’s convinced there are multiple people alive today who can help police crack the case.

“It’s just super important that the people that can end our pain and bring Lisa home to come forward.”

The podcast series appeared to generate new momentum for the case.

At the 2021 Lisa Young justice march, Nanaimo RCMP stated multiple people offered tips who were previously hesitant to do so.

The information led to numerous searches in undisclosed locations.

Hall’s advocacy has become more visible in recent months, with the addition of more than 100 signs regarding Young’s case placed all over Nanaimo, some of which were stolen.

Cyndy Hall organized the distribution of more than 100 of these signs and counting to be placed throughout the Nanaimo area. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

She said a graphic design company and in-kind donations has helped dramatically increase the number of signs in circulation.

Hall said she’ll continue fighting hard to be a voice for Lisa, her family and friends.

“She was robbed of her life. We say she went missing, but she’s not misplaced, somebody took her from us.”

Anybody with information on the Lisa Marie Young case is asked to contact Nanaimo RCMP at 250-758-2345.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes