Found Deceased Canada - Alloura Wells, 27, transgender, Toronto, July 2017
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HamSandwich
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Latest I could find was this
Toronto police have named Alloura Wells's boyfriend as a "person of interest" after the death of the homeless transgender woman who disappeared from the city's Midtown area this summer.
Det. Sgt. Dan Sabadics says investigators are looking to speak with Augustinus Balesdent, who they believe was the last person who saw Wells alive.
"Although not a suspect, we would like to speak with Mr. Balesdent," Sabadics told reporters Friday.
"As he is transient and still believed to be in the city, we are appealing for him to contact police at 53 Division."
Police have not ruled Wells's death suspicious and say they don't know how she died.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/alloura-wells-boyfriend-person-of-interest-1.4439939
Grey-St
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http://www.canadalandshow.com/how-canadian-media-fails-transgender-people/
Great read here that touches on Alloura's case.
Great read here that touches on Alloura's case.
Just noting..
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?363962-Catherine-Rath-66-Toronto-24-December-2018&p=13896765#post13896765
Catherine Rath, 66, Toronto, 24 December 2017
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?363962-Catherine-Rath-66-Toronto-24-December-2018&p=13896765#post13896765
Catherine Rath, 66, Toronto, 24 December 2017
Related? speculation.rbbm.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/sumaya-dalmar-transgender-colour-1.4582866
March 20 2018
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/sumaya-dalmar-transgender-colour-1.4582866
March 20 2018
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MissingMile
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I'm wondering if there is any more information about this case- the last update seems to indicate even her cause of death to be a mystery. While an apology from the police department was apt in this situation, I was hoping to see more work done and more information revealed afterwards.
Toronto Police Service :: News Release #51985
''Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Unit: Equity, Inclusion & Human Rights
Phone: 416-808-8176
Since 2016, the Toronto Police Service’s Gender Diversity and Trans Inclusion Project has made progress on several initiatives that ensure all areas of the organization, including policies, procedures, orders, forms (PPOF), and training, are updated with a gender diverse and trans inclusion lens.
This has included working with an expert consultant and community members to revise and update Service policies, procedures, orders and forms, as well as relevant training and communication. This is to ensure members are aware of the changes and the appropriate ways to implement the updates in their day-to-day responsibilities.
"This has been an informative and educational process for the Service and, in some cases, we know it has also been frustrating for some of the communities who have expressed concern about our willingness to move forward with this work," acknowledged Chief of Police James Ramer. "Our members persevered and worked diligently to get to where we are today. We see this as the start of a continuous journey to ensure our commitment to this project is reflected in every area of the organization."
The revised policies, procedures, orders, and forms, can be found on the Toronto Police website under Procedures and Related Documents.
One of two training curriculums for members in this area will be finalized by the end of February 2022. The second training module will be ready by the end of March 2022. The training will be mandatory for service members.
All of the material will be available for public input at two upcoming consultation sessions, scheduled for Wednesday, January 19, 2022 and Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
In reference to these upcoming public consultations, Chief Ramer said: "I look forward to bringing these changes to the communities who are impacted the most to get feedback and insight on whether we achieved what we set out to do. If we did not meet the communities’ expectations, we will make the changes necessary."
On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., a community consultation with Chief Ramer will be held virtually. The livestream can be viewed here and community members are encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback through the chat function.
Details regarding the Wednesday March 23, 2022 community consultation will be released in the coming weeks.
The catalyst for the Service’s Gender Diversity and Trans Inclusion Project is the Waterman v. TPSB settlement with Mr. Boyd Kodak and the Ontario Human Rights Commission, reached after allegations of discrimination based on gender and gender identity were made against the Service. An overview of this case can be found here. ''
For more information about the Gender Diversity and Trans Inclusion Project, please visit www.tps.on.ca/trans-inclusion-project .
''Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Unit: Equity, Inclusion & Human Rights
Phone: 416-808-8176
Since 2016, the Toronto Police Service’s Gender Diversity and Trans Inclusion Project has made progress on several initiatives that ensure all areas of the organization, including policies, procedures, orders, forms (PPOF), and training, are updated with a gender diverse and trans inclusion lens.
This has included working with an expert consultant and community members to revise and update Service policies, procedures, orders and forms, as well as relevant training and communication. This is to ensure members are aware of the changes and the appropriate ways to implement the updates in their day-to-day responsibilities.
"This has been an informative and educational process for the Service and, in some cases, we know it has also been frustrating for some of the communities who have expressed concern about our willingness to move forward with this work," acknowledged Chief of Police James Ramer. "Our members persevered and worked diligently to get to where we are today. We see this as the start of a continuous journey to ensure our commitment to this project is reflected in every area of the organization."
The revised policies, procedures, orders, and forms, can be found on the Toronto Police website under Procedures and Related Documents.
One of two training curriculums for members in this area will be finalized by the end of February 2022. The second training module will be ready by the end of March 2022. The training will be mandatory for service members.
All of the material will be available for public input at two upcoming consultation sessions, scheduled for Wednesday, January 19, 2022 and Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
In reference to these upcoming public consultations, Chief Ramer said: "I look forward to bringing these changes to the communities who are impacted the most to get feedback and insight on whether we achieved what we set out to do. If we did not meet the communities’ expectations, we will make the changes necessary."
On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., a community consultation with Chief Ramer will be held virtually. The livestream can be viewed here and community members are encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback through the chat function.
Details regarding the Wednesday March 23, 2022 community consultation will be released in the coming weeks.
The catalyst for the Service’s Gender Diversity and Trans Inclusion Project is the Waterman v. TPSB settlement with Mr. Boyd Kodak and the Ontario Human Rights Commission, reached after allegations of discrimination based on gender and gender identity were made against the Service. An overview of this case can be found here. ''
For more information about the Gender Diversity and Trans Inclusion Project, please visit www.tps.on.ca/trans-inclusion-project .
Death of Alloura Wells - Wikipedia
''Wells was the third of four children in a Toronto family, which struggled financially and relied on the income of her mother, Mary, who was employed as a manager at Tim Hortons and her father, Mike, as a labourer.[4] Wells was enrolled in a specialized drama program at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts and came out to her family when she was 18, who were supportive.[4]
As a teenager, Wells would disappear for periods of time, often going downtown, where she was caught trying to sneak into bars in Church and Wellesley, Toronto's gay village.[4][5] She befriended drag performers and questioned them about dressing up and becoming "glam".[4]
Around 2012, Wells signed up for the Ontario Works income-support program and rented an apartment in Scarborough near her sister.[4] In February 2013, her mother died leading to the family to break apart, as her father and older brother became homeless and Wells was evicted. From the time of her eviction, she mainly lived in a tent in the Rosedale Ravine Lands Park.[4][6] Around 2015, Wells was once found sleeping on her sister's doorstep, disheveled and almost unrecognizable.[4]
Wells had many friends according to Monica Forrester, a transgender and sex-work activist, who described Wells as a "staple of the community".[5] According to Forrester, Wells had fallen on hard times, could not afford housing, and lived under a bridge. Wells had served short jail terms at the Vanier Centre for Women, which her father believed were for theft and breaking and entering.[4] Wells's father said that she had been engaged in sex work and had turned down offers to stay at his apartment.[7][4] Friends of Wells clarified that she would occasionally engage in survival sex work when necessary.[4] Wells and her father had last spoken in March 2017.[8]
Wells was in a romantic relationship with Augustinus Balesdent, the only boyfriend Wells had introduced to her father, however, he described their relationship as "tumultuous" and marked with use of intravenous drugs.[4]
Her Facebook account, under the name Alloura Hennessy, went dormant after 26 July 2017.[3][6] Of the last two posts, one expressed pride in her younger brother's military service and the other read: "Is wondering [what] happened to me life love loss its to much to handle right now."[4]
''Wells was the third of four children in a Toronto family, which struggled financially and relied on the income of her mother, Mary, who was employed as a manager at Tim Hortons and her father, Mike, as a labourer.[4] Wells was enrolled in a specialized drama program at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts and came out to her family when she was 18, who were supportive.[4]
As a teenager, Wells would disappear for periods of time, often going downtown, where she was caught trying to sneak into bars in Church and Wellesley, Toronto's gay village.[4][5] She befriended drag performers and questioned them about dressing up and becoming "glam".[4]
Around 2012, Wells signed up for the Ontario Works income-support program and rented an apartment in Scarborough near her sister.[4] In February 2013, her mother died leading to the family to break apart, as her father and older brother became homeless and Wells was evicted. From the time of her eviction, she mainly lived in a tent in the Rosedale Ravine Lands Park.[4][6] Around 2015, Wells was once found sleeping on her sister's doorstep, disheveled and almost unrecognizable.[4]
Wells had many friends according to Monica Forrester, a transgender and sex-work activist, who described Wells as a "staple of the community".[5] According to Forrester, Wells had fallen on hard times, could not afford housing, and lived under a bridge. Wells had served short jail terms at the Vanier Centre for Women, which her father believed were for theft and breaking and entering.[4] Wells's father said that she had been engaged in sex work and had turned down offers to stay at his apartment.[7][4] Friends of Wells clarified that she would occasionally engage in survival sex work when necessary.[4] Wells and her father had last spoken in March 2017.[8]
Wells was in a romantic relationship with Augustinus Balesdent, the only boyfriend Wells had introduced to her father, however, he described their relationship as "tumultuous" and marked with use of intravenous drugs.[4]
Her Facebook account, under the name Alloura Hennessy, went dormant after 26 July 2017.[3][6] Of the last two posts, one expressed pride in her younger brother's military service and the other read: "Is wondering [what] happened to me life love loss its to much to handle right now."[4]
How can they say it's not suspicious when presumably the boyfriend didn't report her missing / deceased? Have they even tried to find him?
Sounds like the police just can't be bothered
so sad... I feel for her family and friends.
Sounds like the police just can't be bothered
so sad... I feel for her family and friends.
sans_soleil
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Really great article.
Rest in Peace Alloura. Marginalized people are unfortunately at greater risk of violence and even in death reduced to a statistic, reduced to only those qualities that made them marginalized in the first place, not given full humanity beyond their race, gender, class, disability. Not even given media attention. Excuses are made for preventable deaths, victims are even blamed for violence perpetrated against them (i am not saying this happens on WS but it happens). Investigations are abandoned or neglected. LGBT people are also often abandoned by their own families. We need to do better as a society no matter what country we live in. First thing anyone individually can do is show kindness and love in their daily life. Let's all take care of one another.
''The Village
S2 E1: Allourahttps://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/437-the-village/episode/15851050-s2-e1-alloura?share=true
Alloura Wells finds a vibrant and supportive community, growing up and coming out on the streets of Toronto. But she also finds herself entangled in the criminal justice system. Note: If you're in crisis or just looking for someone to talk to, try the Trans Lifeline’s Hotline — a peer support phone service run by trans people for trans and questioning folks: CAN (877) 330-6366 or US (877) 565-8860 For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/the-villiage-season-2-transcripts-listen-1.6076988
Published: June 22, 2021''
imstilla.grandma
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The following is an excerpt from Disarm, , Dismantle: Police Abolition in Canada, edited by Shiri Pasternak, Kevin Walby and Abby Stadnyk, which will be released in April 2022 by Between The Lines.
In July 2017, a valued friend and community member disappeared. Alloura Wells, a young Black and Indigenous trans woman, had been an active member of our community at Maggie’s Toronto Sex Workers Action Project – one of Canada’s oldest sex-worker-led organizations – participating in our weekly drop-in programming. When Alloura stopped attending drop-in sessions and our street outreach teams weren’t able to connect with her, her absence was felt. The importance of community spaces for sex workers became clear as our space at Maggie’s became a place for friends and family to connect over Alloura’s disappearance and co-ordinate next steps. Maggie’s staff and long-time trans rights activist Monica Forrester began connecting with local shelters, hospitals, jails, and police to express concerns over Alloura’s disappearance. Monica had known Alloura since she was 17 years old, and was aware that Alloura was facing increasing challenges in finding affordable housing and employment – barriers that are all too common for Black and Indigenous trans communities due to rampant anti-Black racism and transphobia.
In July 2017, a valued friend and community member disappeared. Alloura Wells, a young Black and Indigenous trans woman, had been an active member of our community at Maggie’s Toronto Sex Workers Action Project – one of Canada’s oldest sex-worker-led organizations – participating in our weekly drop-in programming. When Alloura stopped attending drop-in sessions and our street outreach teams weren’t able to connect with her, her absence was felt. The importance of community spaces for sex workers became clear as our space at Maggie’s became a place for friends and family to connect over Alloura’s disappearance and co-ordinate next steps. Maggie’s staff and long-time trans rights activist Monica Forrester began connecting with local shelters, hospitals, jails, and police to express concerns over Alloura’s disappearance. Monica had known Alloura since she was 17 years old, and was aware that Alloura was facing increasing challenges in finding affordable housing and employment – barriers that are all too common for Black and Indigenous trans communities due to rampant anti-Black racism and transphobia.
When sex workers go missing, who responds?
In 2017, Alloura Wells went missing. When police refused to file a missing persons report, sex workers stepped up to search for their friend. This is the story of the search for Alloura, and sex workers’ calls to abolish the police.
briarpatchmagazine.com
imstilla.grandma
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Dozens braved the cold weather at noon to scour Bloor Street East between the city's St. James Town neighbourhood and the Church and Wellesley corridor where Wells was known to spend most of her time.
"We have different parties going out in different areas to see what we can find, give out some flyers, talk to people hopefully and just get out there and see what we can do to bring Alloura back and find answers," said friend Monica Forrester.
She says Toronto police overlooked Wells' disappearance, but the 27-year-old wasn't reported missing to police until last weekend.
Wells, who also goes by the names Alloura Wheeler and Alloura Hennessy, was always on Facebook. But when her page went dormant in late July, friends say it set off red flags.
Forrester, a program co-ordinator at Maggie's: the Toronto Sex Workers Action Project, told CBC Toronto earlier this week that rumours started to spread throughout the sex worker community that she had died from a drug overdose.
Wells and her family had recently fallen on hard times. After she lost her mother four years ago, Wells' father, Michael, explained she started using drugs, was homeless and had run-ins with the law.
ca.news.yahoo.com
"We have different parties going out in different areas to see what we can find, give out some flyers, talk to people hopefully and just get out there and see what we can do to bring Alloura back and find answers," said friend Monica Forrester.
She says Toronto police overlooked Wells' disappearance, but the 27-year-old wasn't reported missing to police until last weekend.
Wells, who also goes by the names Alloura Wheeler and Alloura Hennessy, was always on Facebook. But when her page went dormant in late July, friends say it set off red flags.
Forrester, a program co-ordinator at Maggie's: the Toronto Sex Workers Action Project, told CBC Toronto earlier this week that rumours started to spread throughout the sex worker community that she had died from a drug overdose.
Wells and her family had recently fallen on hard times. After she lost her mother four years ago, Wells' father, Michael, explained she started using drugs, was homeless and had run-ins with the law.
Family and friends of transgender woman missing since July launch new search, blast police response
"We have different parties going out in different areas to see what we can find, give out some flyers, talk to people hopefully and just get out there and see what we can do to bring Alloura back and find answers," said friend Monica Forrester. Wells, who also goes by the names Alloura Wheeler...