Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jan 2001
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 The Province
Contact:  200 Granville Street, Ste. #1, Vancouver, BC V6C 3N3 Canada
Fax: (604) 605-2323
Website: http://www.vancouverprovince.com/
Author: Wayne Leng
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n006/a04.html

FAR TOO MANY SHARE APRIL'S FATE

As a former resident of Vancouver, I was saddened to hear of April
Reoch's death in the Downtown Eastside.

I remember her in the Vancouver Police Department's Odd Squad
documentary, Through the Blue Lens, and seeing her occasionally on the
east side.

April's life and death will affect many of us personally, myself
included.

I lost a close friend to drugs on the east side. She is missing and
presumed murdered.

That April should be found dead and on Christmas Day will stay in my
memory for a long time.

April is described as being kind-hearted with an engaging personality.
That describes my friend also.

It appears that April had attempted to get off of drugs a number of
times and was not successful. She joins the ever-growing list of women
and men who have died from overdoses or diseases like AIDS, and been
murdered or just simply vanished -- as in the case of the 28 missing
east side women.

Perhaps we should realize that although April made a choice to do a
drug for whatever reason, she didn't choose to become addicted and
ultimately lose her life.

And with the Vancouver police officers honouring April, they also
honor our loved ones.

Wayne Leng,
Los Angeles
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake