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Have You Seen Candace?
With vivid clarity, Wilma Derksen recounts the hope and agony surrounding the search for her missing thirteen-year-old daughter. Readers are left with a wonderful discovery of forgiveness that surpasses all justice, and a love that overcomes evil as they witness Wilma's faith in God amidst suffering and loss.
5 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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August 15, 2021
In December 1981, the atmosphere of a good Winnipeg neighbourhood darkened at the death of 16 year-old Barbara Stoppel. In November 1984, we reeled from the abduction of 13 year-old Candace Derksen, whose sweet face I remember. Her death went without explanation or suspects. Like in 1981, if police had acted immediately, Candace would be in her 50s. She bore no injury, although her fear was certainly unimaginable. She was tied at her hands and feet and left in an abandoned shed. If it was a prank or psychotic power trip, it was the cruellest ever committed. On what happened to be the first cold night of that year, she froze to death.
No victim is ever the cause of violence against them. This child took a bus from a Mennonite school and walked home down Talbot Street, a busy place. Wilma Derksen, authoress of a book I pray no parent ever need write again, naturally wishes she had picked Candace up. However, she answered this question for her younger Daughter, Odia: “Everyone should be able to walk home safely”.
“Have You Seen Candace?” is a well written odyssey, with Wilma surprisingly open-minded about her faith. Manitoba has many Mennonite communities. I find it healthy and essential to question what religions preach. Wilma demonstrated brilliance, taking us through her self-analysis of faith, fear, and anger. She was willing to reshape or reinforce them based on experience. She could forgive biased police officers and cherish the officers who cared.
Shockingly, when the police were summoned an hour into Candace’s abduction, they dubbed her a runaway! Friends, school, and church members did the searching but were not allowed to check private property. Police had that authority. They found Candace dead: 1 ½ month later, on railway company grounds.... 500 meters from home.
No victim is ever the cause of violence against them. This child took a bus from a Mennonite school and walked home down Talbot Street, a busy place. Wilma Derksen, authoress of a book I pray no parent ever need write again, naturally wishes she had picked Candace up. However, she answered this question for her younger Daughter, Odia: “Everyone should be able to walk home safely”.
“Have You Seen Candace?” is a well written odyssey, with Wilma surprisingly open-minded about her faith. Manitoba has many Mennonite communities. I find it healthy and essential to question what religions preach. Wilma demonstrated brilliance, taking us through her self-analysis of faith, fear, and anger. She was willing to reshape or reinforce them based on experience. She could forgive biased police officers and cherish the officers who cared.
Shockingly, when the police were summoned an hour into Candace’s abduction, they dubbed her a runaway! Friends, school, and church members did the searching but were not allowed to check private property. Police had that authority. They found Candace dead: 1 ½ month later, on railway company grounds.... 500 meters from home.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review