In the quiet morning of January 16, 2013, 66-year-old Guifeng Tong was seen on video surveillance leaving her Burnaby, British Columbia, apartment at approximately 9:58 a.m. This was the last confirmed sighting of the mother and grandmother, who vanished without a trace, leaving her family desperate for answers. A woman of routine, Tong was known for her active lifestyle, which included walking, using public transit, and frequenting local shopping centers such as Crystal Mall, Lougheed Mall,
and Metrotown Mall. She also had a passion for the outdoors and was known to spend time in various parks in the lower mainland, where she enjoyed picking mushrooms and collecting cans. Her disappearance was uncharacteristic, as she maintained regular contact with her family. When she did not return home, her son reported her missing on January 18, 2013, sparking a decade-long mystery.
The investigation into Guifeng Tong's disappearance was extensive, with the Burnaby RCMP leading the efforts. Search and rescue teams, along with Burnaby Fire Department members, RCMP auxiliary officers, and civilian volunteers, conducted thorough searches of areas she was known to frequent. Their efforts were particularly focused on Burnaby Mountain and the surrounding trails and forested areas, as she was known to pick mushrooms there. Despite these exhaustive searches, no sign of Tong was ever found. The case was complicated by the fact that she did not speak English or Cantonese, only a specific dialect of Mandarin, which may have made it difficult for her to seek help or for others to communicate with her. She was in good physical health with no known medical issues at the time of her disappearance.
Over the years, the case of Guifeng Tong has grown cold, but she has not been forgotten. Her case is one of seven unsolved missing persons cases in Burnaby as of August 2014. The details of her disappearance highlight the vulnerability of seniors, especially those with language barriers. Her last known clothing was a pink jacket, grey or black pants, and black shoes, and she was carrying a black purse. She stood at 5 feet tall and weighed around 99 pounds. The absence of any new leads or information has left her family in a painful state of limbo, holding onto hope for any news that might bring them closure. The overview of this case is one of a beloved family member who vanished from her everyday life, leading to a comprehensive but so far unsuccessful search, leaving a lingering sense of loss and unanswered questions within the community.Last Seen: Jan 16, 2013
