Happy Charles

Case Information:

Happy Charles, a 42-year-old mother and member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, vanished after being spotted near a local high school. She was a woman known for her infectious laugh and a smile so constant that “Happy” was her legal name, not just a nickname.

Her disappearance was reported to the Prince Albert Police Service immediately, yet her family felt the initial response was hindered by systemic delays. Since that spring night in 2017, she has not accessed her bank accounts or made any contact with her loved ones.

Case Details:

Security footage from the night she vanished shows Happy pacing outside the Prince Albert Collegiate Institute. In the video, she is seen wearing a grey hoodie, blue jeans, and a red winter coat while carrying a black purse before she eventually disappeared from the camera’s frame.

The circumstances are considered highly suspicious, as Happy was deeply rooted in her community and was not known to leave without notice. Despite several years of investigation, no forensic evidence or credible sightings have explained her sudden departure from the school grounds.

Timeline of Events:

The timeline began on April 3, 2017, when Happy was captured on surveillance video at approximately midnight. When she failed to return home, her mother, Regina Poitras, contacted the Prince Albert Police Service to file a missing persons report.

By 2018, having received no concrete answers, her mother began the first of many annual awareness walks across Saskatchewan. These journeys have spanned thousands of kilometers over the last eight years to keep Happy’s name in the public consciousness.

Investigation:

The Prince Albert Police Service continues to treat this as an active missing persons investigation. They have conducted multiple interviews and reviewed hours of footage, but the trail went cold shortly after she left the PACI grounds.

Investigators are working alongside MMIWG advocacy groups to reach anyone who may have been in the area of 20th Street West that night. They are specifically looking for information regarding anyone she may have met or any vehicles she may have entered.

Community Response:

The response from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and the wider Indigenous community has been a powerful movement of solidarity. The annual “Walk for Happy” has become a cornerstone for families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls across Canada.

Banners and posters featuring Happy’s smiling face remain visible throughout Prince Albert. The community continues to hold vigils and walks in every type of weather, proving that the love for Happy refuses to fade despite the years of silence.

Family Statements:

Regina Poitras, Happy’s mother, has stated that as long as she is alive, she will never stop searching for her daughter. She describes the pain of the “wait and see” approach initially suggested by authorities as a script too many Indigenous families are forced to follow.

The family maintains that Happy’s spirit was one of fire and humor, and they honor her by being a voice for the voiceless. They continue to plead for the one person with the right information to finally come forward and break the silence.

Physical Appearance:

Happy Charles is described as a Cree woman, 5’3” tall, weighing approximately 115 pounds. She has brown eyes and black hair, and at the time of her disappearance, she had a notable scar on her left cheek.

She is further identified by a tattoo of a rose on her right hand. On the night she vanished, she was wearing a grey hoodie under a red 3/4 length jacket, blue jeans, and was carrying a black purse.

Current Status:

As of May 2026, the case of Happy Charles remains unsolved and is listed as a long-term missing person file. No arrests have been made, and the Prince Albert Police Service continues to ask for public assistance.

The Poitras family continues their advocacy work, ensuring that Happy’s story serves as a catalyst for systemic change in how MMIWG cases are handled in Saskatchewan.

Contact Information:

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Happy Charles, please contact the Prince Albert Police Service at 306-953-4222.

You can also provide information anonymously through Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Even a detail that seems small could be the missing piece of the puzzle that brings Happy home. Your help is vital in ending the years of uncertainty for her family.

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