The search for 82-year-old Gladys Barman has been called off, leaving her family and friends with the grief of perhaps never knowing what happened to her.
When Barman disappeared on July 5, the community rallied to search for her. In addition to police and search-and-rescue crews, volunteers flocked to help. With a true sense of community, even strangers joined.
On July 21, the Oak Bay woman’s car was found on a remote logging road southwest of Lake Cowichan. No trace of her was found.
Barman, who has been a dedicated volunteer at events such as the Times Colonist Book Sale and for the Thrifty Foods Sendial program, had occasionally seemed confused before she vanished. But there was nothing to indicate she would get lost, if that is indeed what happened.
Did she show signs that day that might have alerted people nearby? We will likely never know.
If you see someone who looks confused and in need of help, don’t assume that things are OK and someone else will step in. One day, it could be you or someone you love who needs a stranger’s help to get home safely.
