NANAIMO — Powered by tireless advocates pushing for answers, another chapter has been written in the search for Lisa Marie Young.
A newly published book co-authored by an unlikely duo is now available: ‘Where is Lisa Marie Young?’
A book launch event on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 4 at the Nanaimo Vancouver Island Regional Library branch on Hammond Bay Rd. was held to shed additional light on the dark story of a vulnerable Indigenous woman presumed dead following her suspicious June 30, 2002 disappearance.
Carolann Bosma of Qualicum Beach, Young’s foster sister, teamed up with a former educator to co-author the book, a process which took a year and a half to come to fruition.
Lisa Young was well-liked with no known enemies. (Image Credit: Submitted photo)
While the book focuses on Young, Bosma said her dear friend would want this endeavour to focus on the plight of all vulnerable people.
“That’s who she was. She didn’t stand on the sidelines when she saw something wrong, especially someone who was going to be hurt, she was a fierce protector.”
Bosma has a background in child and youth care, while co-author Norah Caldwell spent over 30 years as a teacher who dabbled in some self-published fiction work in her retirement years.
Bosma said this was not a path she expected to be on, but she’s grateful to provide personal stories about Lisa.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting to write, I just provided her some writing in regards to Lisa because that’s typically how I journal.”
Bosma (L) became emotional reciting a portion of the newly released book as Caldwell looks on. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)
Caldwell happens to be the sister of well-known podcaster Laura Palmer, whose investigation ‘Island Crime Season 1: Where is Lisa?‘ sparked significant renewed interest in the case.
Palmer asked Caldwell if she’d write a book on Young.
The podcast served as a strong foundation for the book.
“It was invaluable,” Caldwell said. “We learned so much about the ins and outs of the case from the podcast and then we tried to build a more personal story of Lisa.”
Having never met Young, Caldwell felt her outside, more objective view blended well with intimate knowledge supplied by Bosma.
With numerous rumours theorizing on what happened to Lisa, Caldwell said the book doesn’t delve too much down that path.
“We do touch on everything, but we don’t sensationalize or get into too many gritty details about what we think happened to Lisa,” Caldwell told NanaimoNewsNOW.
Where is Lisa Young? contains eight chapters detailing everything from her disappearance to more current developments in the case.
The book includes contributions from several friends and family who knew Young.
Caldwell and Bosma’s book was produced with the aim of bringing Lisa home.
Young’s case is on the minds of many people in the Nanaimo region, Caldwell noted.
“I think over time she’s become someone that people think about, like hunters, people who are fishing, people who are out in the wilderness often think of Lisa when they’re walking around Nanaimo.”
Mike Martin is a retired RCMP officer and Young’s uncle, who was one of several family members in attendance.
He became emotional thinking about all of the dedicated advocates and community at large who strive to help find closure.
“It’s heart-warming knowing that there’s so many people standing with us trying to bring Lisa home,” Martin said.
The new book is available at numerous book retailers and online. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)
‘Where is Lisa Marie Young?’ is available locally at Windowseat Books on Wesley St, as well as online.
Nobody has been arrested or charged in Young’s disappearance, who is a presumed homicide victim, although Nanaimo RCMP still receive periodic tips in the case.
Young was just 21 years old when she went missing.
Her last known communication with anybody was a phone conversation with a friend, with Young stating she was being held against her will in a vehicle on Bowen Rd.
An annual gathering is held at downtown Nanaimo’s Maffeo Sutton Park in honour of Young.
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