Jack and Laila Cummer approached Haven Society in October 2005 with the idea that Haven become the distributor of a song called ‘Missing.’ They had recorded the song to honour their granddaughter Andrea Joesbury who, at the age of 21, went missing from Vancouver’s Eastside and was later found at Robert Pickton’s farm.  Haven Society produced the CD and we have been promoting it ever since; it has been a very rewarding process.  Through it we have been able to talk about the issue of violence against women and how it is related to childhood abuse and breakdown in families.
   
The Cummers have a goal: for us all to remember that these women were not defined by media’s label; they were daughters, sisters, mothers and granddaughters. At one time they were young girls growing up and dreaming of the future – they were all loved and they are all missed terribly by the people who cherished them. Jack did not like to talk about Andrea specifically, as in his view; this project is not about her. It is bigger than that.  He said that we must keep the issues (not the tragic event) in the forefront and be a constant reminder that we must pay attention to our children.

NOTE:  Jack Cummer passed away just before Christmas 2007, but through ‘Missing’ his legacy lives on.  Haven Society is grateful to Jack for his determination and courage in bringing this issue to light – and for choosing to support our work to end violence in families.  Our thoughts and sympathies are with his wife Laila on the loss of her husband.

 

By Jack Cummer

You picked a yellow flower and gave it to me
And I said, I will love you forever
Every time I look out the window
I remember you.

You banged your knee and I kissed it better
You smiled through the tears.
I will remember you
You left for school
Fear in your eyes
You were getting ready
To leave me I will remember

Your love of him in grade one
A mate in life forever
Your secrets with your pals
Shutting me out
I remember.

As you grew, we drifted apart
You opened your heart
And I was too busy to listen
Our wall grew a little at a time
I remember

You could not share .
Because I was not there
A hug a smile a little chat
Just might have stopped all that.
I remember the slam of the door
When your heart closed
I had lost the key

I wished I had listened to you,
Shared your plea,
A door closed in hopelessness
Resulted in our break

Every time I see the flower
I remember you
And wonder what we could have done?
I put the flower in the window
It will not last long
But every time I look at it
I will remember my love for you.