Family Information Liaison Units

Family Information Liaison Units (FILUs) provide specialized services to families of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

In 2016, FILUs were established to support families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. In 2023, the Government of Canada increased support to allow FILUs to serve families of all missing and murdered Indigenous people, including men and boys.

FILUs help families access all the available information they are seeking about their missing and murdered loved ones from multiple government sources. FILUs are delivered through victim services and Indigenous community organizations and are available in every province and territory.

Justice Canada provides funding to support FILUs through the Federal Victims Strategy’s Victims Fund.

FILUs support the Government of Canada’s commitment to address violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ persons, as outlined in the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. FILUs also support Canada’s shared commitment to protect and uphold victims’ rights.

To learn more about Canada’s work to end racism, discrimination and violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people, please visit Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People webpage.

On this page:

Purpose and objective of the Family Information Liaison Units

Receiving information about a missing and murdered loved one is an important part of a family’s healing journey. Some families have questions about the investigations into individual cases, and the decisions made by government agencies. At times, families may not know where to turn to get answers, may have trouble accessing information, or may not be satisfied with the answers they have received. FILUs help families in these situations.

How Family Information Liaison Units work

Family Information Liaison Units are a “one-stop information service” for all families of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

FILUs work directly with families in a culturally grounded and trauma-informed manner to gather the information family members are seeking from government agencies about the loss of their loved ones, including assistance in addressing outstanding questions. FILUs work directly with family members to coordinate information gathering from a wide range of federal, provincial, and territorial government agencies and services, including:

If families need additional support, FILUs make connections between family members and cultural advisors, Elders, or counselling services and programs, depending on the family’s wishes.

Families should be aware that some information may not be available. In these situations, the FILU will provide an explanation, where possible, of why this is the case (for example, privacy law considerations or an open investigation).

What Family Information Liaison Units cannot do

It is important to note that Family Information Liaison Units cannot resolve complaints against government agencies or employees, or re-open investigations. If a family member wants to make a complaint about a government authority, the FILU will direct them to the appropriate office, but may not be involved in that process with the family.

Additionally, FILUs cannot:

Where possible, FILUs will find agencies for families that can help with legal action. In cases where a family member wishes to disclose additional information about their missing and murdered loved one, FILUs will direct the family to the relevant police service.

How to contact a Family Information Liaison Unit

All family members seeking information about their missing and murdered loved one can access the Family Information Liaison Unit in their province or territory using the information below.

British Columbia

BC Family Information Liaison Unit
Toll-free phone: 1-888-355-0064
Email: BCFILU@gov.bc.ca

Vancouver
Ana Mateescu
Phone: 236-668-7447
Email: ana.matescu@gov.bc.ca

Alberta

Alberta Family Information Liaison Unit
Phone: 780-644-5187
Toll-free phone: 310-0000

North/Mackenzie Region
Phone: 780-926-5462

North/East Region
Phone: 780-644-9890

Central/Southern Region
Phone: 780-644-9825

Northwest/Central Region
Phone: 780-644-9823

Saskatchewan

Family Information Liaison Unit
Phone: 306-519-7804
Toll-free phone: 1-833-529-6486

Danielle Carrier
Phone: 306-519-7804
Email: danielle.carrier2@gov.sk.ca

Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations
Family Information Liaison Officer
Email: blaire.buffalo@fsin.com

Métis Nation – Saskatchewan
Family Information Liaison Officer
Email: mlaplante@mns.work

Manitoba

Manitoba Family Information Liaison Unit
Toll-free phone: 1-866-484-2846

Erica Ribeiro
Family Liaison Contact
Phone: 204-670-4656
Email: erica.ribeiro@gov.mb.ca

Winnipeg Family Liaison Contact
Phone: 204-945-5456
Email: lindsay.taylor@gov.mb.ca

FILU Community Liaison Contacts (Southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg)
Ka Ni Kanichihk, Medicine Bear Counselling, Support and Elder Services Program
Phone: 204-953-5820
Toll-free phone: 1-888-953-5264
Email: aotoole@kanikanichihk.ca

FILU Community Liaison Contact (Northern Manitoba)
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Communities (MKO)
Heidi Spence
Phone: 204-667-1648
Email: heidi.spence@mkonorth.com

Ontario

Ontario Family Information Liaison Unit
Toll-free: 1-844-888-8610
Email: OntarioFILU@ontario.ca

Québec

Québec Family Information Liaison Unit
Phone: 1-888-338-3023
To contact, please visit: https://uqlif.com/nous-joindre

New Brunswick

Family Information Liaison Unit
Phone: 506-259-2453
Email: tracy.ozark@gnb.ca

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Family Information Liaison Unit
Toll-free phone: 1-888-470-0773

Amy MacNeil
Phone: 902-424-3309
Email: vicservices-headoffice@novascotia.ca

Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association

FILU Community Outreach Specialist
Phone: 902-329-7064
Email: filu@nsnwa.net

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador Family Information Liaison Unit

Catherine Mitsuk
Family Support Worker, Family Information Liaison Unit (FILU)
Victim Services
Department of Justice and Public Safety
222 Kelland Drive
Po Box 3014 Station B
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL
A0P-1E0
Phone: 709-327-7939
Email: CatherineMitsuk@gov.nl.ca

Kari Traynor (she/her)
Family Support Worker,
Family Information Liaison Unit (FILU),
Victim Services
Department of Justice and Public Safety
2nd Floor, Fraser Mall
230 Airport Boulevard
P.O. Box 2222
Gander, NL A1V 2N9
Phone: 709-486-9623
Fax: 709-256-1024
Email: karitraynor@gov.nl.ca

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island Family Information Liaison Unit

Jayelee Grady
Phone: 902-368-4584
Email: jcgrady@gov.pe.ca

Yukon

Yukon Family Information Liaison Unit
Phone: 867-393-7178
Toll-free: 1-800-661-0408, ext. 7178
Email: filu@yukon.ca

Tasha McCormack
Phone: 867-332-0993
Email: tasha.mccormack@yukon.ca

Lareina Twardochleb
Phone: 867-667-5962
Email: lareina.twardochleb@yukon.ca

Yukon Aboriginal Women’s Council
Joy O’Brien
Phone: 867-667-6162
Email: mmiwgcoordinator@yawc.ca

Northwest Territories

Family Information Liaison Units
Yellowknife Office
Phone: 867-767-9025, ext. 18006
Email: filu@gov.nt.ca

Nunavut

Family Information Liaison Unit
FILU HQ, Iqaluit
Victim Services Program Development Coordinator
Phone: 867-975-6373
Toll-free phone: 1-866-456-5216
Email: dmutema@gov.nu.ca

FILU Rankin Inlet Office
Information Referral Coordinator
Phone: 867-645-2150
Toll-free phone: 1-866-456-5216
Email: smorey@gov.nu.ca