THE FREE PRESS NEWS AUGUST 29, 1999 A5 Free Press staff writer Ten years ago Doreen and Ronald Jack left their Prince George home in the middle of the night with their two children and a man who had offered the couple jobs. They were never seen or heard from again. If the then 26-year old couple and their two boys Russell, 9, and Ryan, 4. are dead, their bodies have never been found. In fact, a full decade after the Jack family's disappearance, this unique and unfortunate case continues to baffle RCMP investigators. Now, on the 10th anniversary of their August 1989 disappearance, the Prince George RCMP has launched a media and poster campaign to gather any information on what is considered the only case of an entire family going missing in Canada. "I feel it is such a unique case,” says Constable Judy Thomas who has been working on the Jack file for seven years. “It shouldn't just be left. It’s a whole family that has disappeared.” From what Constable Thomas has been able to determine Ronnie Jack met an unknown man in the First Litre Pub on August 1, 1989. The man offered Ronnie and his wife jobs at a farm or logging camp for 10 days in the Bednesti - Cluculz Lake area. Ronnie would work bucking logs and Doreen would be a camp cook. Ronnie called his brother in Bums Lake that night to make arrangements for their kids to stay with his family there but discovered that wasn’t possible. The man may have suggested the kids would be taken care of at the logging The Jack family, from left: Russel, Ronald, Doreen and Ryan - all missing since 1989. photos contributed camp day care. The couple and the man went to their residence at 2116 Strathcona Avenue where a cousin of the Jacks heard the family talking of the job offer and getting ready to leave. Ronnie, Doreen, their two children and the man left in a car at about 1:30 a.m. on August 2, 1989. Because the Jacks did not own their own vehicle, it is thought they drove away in the man’s car -although no description of it is available. “Basically, they were never heard from again,” says Constable Thomas. On January 28, 1996, around 8:33 in the morning, an unidentified man called the Vanderhoof RCMP detachment and was patched through to the Prince George police dispatch. The voice said, “The Jack family are buried at the south end of lindistinguishablej’s ranch.” The call, it was discovered, was placed from the Stoney Creek area. A tape of the call was sent to the University of British Columbia for analysis. There is yet to be anything come of the call, however. While no bodies have been found, the RCMP continue to investigate because of the unusual nature of the disappearance. Constable Thomas does not believe the Jacks intended to simply leave Prince George never to speak with their family again. * InwuHl 1331 Central Street i 563-8111 She notes that Ronnie Jack was very close to his mother. Telephone records show he called his mother regularly and Constable Thomas considers it very unusual for him to suddenly stop calling. In addition, there is every indication the family intended to return home to Prince Geoige after their work was completed. Their belongings - much of their clothing and all of their furniture - were left in their house. The children were registered to attended classes in Prince George that fall. A major obstacle in the police investigation has been the amount of time that passed before the family was family reported missing. They weren't reported missing until August 26, 24 days after they left their home. After the Jacks were reported missing, the RCMP started doing routine checks and initiated an investigation into the matter. At a later date the Prince George RCMP launched a larger investigation with a number of members working on the file. Now after all these years the RCMP is hoping a public plea for more information will bring forward the clues necessary to solving the puzzle of the Jacks' disappearance. “With a whole family disappearing you’d think there would be more information out there. The family members are still grieving over the loss of the whole family. They don’t have closure on it yet,” says Constable Thomas. Anyone with information on the matter is asked to contact the Prince George RCMP at 561-3300, Crime Stoppers at 564-TIPS or call toll free 1-800-222-TIPS. AN RESEARCH, RESEARCH and yes more RESEARCH" Article #2 in a series of 4 from the book "Women Make Great Entrepreneurs" by: David Bryn-Jones If you saw Article 1 in this series you will know that we have emphasized the need for honest self-analysis possible - why you want to be an entrepreneur, why you want to be an entrepreneur, why you’d be good at it, what support systems have you, etc. Next, lets get you going. You either have an idea that is simply burning a hole in your head and you just Know you can make it work; or maybe you want to work for yourself so badly you just Know that with research and study, you will find the opportunity you seek, out there waiting for you. Let’s assume you Have you idea. If you don’t, start looking for it by going to the nearest library, making friends with the librarian and start reading - business books, opportunity magazines, trade publications, niche magazines, consumer publications of all types, government publications, etc. Look around you with new eyes - what goods or services do you obtain, and are often less than happy with them. Could you provide any of them, faster, better, cheaper, friendlier, more conveniently with better service? Make lists, look at competition, talk to suppliers, etc. This is research, a never-finished cornerstone of the Process. Much of the above applies if you already have your idea. You still need extensive knowledge and information - about the industry, its place in the economy, competitive products, prices/packaging/distribution/raw materials, labour content, regulations, etc., etc. Against the basic background you then have to assess you idea. How can you differentiate it, make it different and/or better? What is the specific niche within the market that you will try to address? What can you determine about customers for your product or service - the demographics - age, income, occupation, gender, location, numbers of them, etc? In both the above cases, whether you have your idea or are seeking it, you are beginning the essential work that will be needed for you to start preparing a specific plan for your new business. You’ve all heard of Business Plans, what hard work they are, how Much information is required. Let’s reflect., .why do one? It all boils down to Your Own Self-interest. At some stage fairly soon, which we'll come to, you will need to obtain outside help - encouragement from the family, friends; other business folk in your community, financial sources, investors, the trade etc. What ingredient in you, besides wild enthusiasm and passion for your project, are these people going to want to see? It is Knowledge and a PLAN. Next time we'll look closer at developing a Plan, and going on from there. In the meanwhile, remember to register for the Workshops, at the upcoming "Today's Woman" Show, September 17&18, to be conducted by David Bryn-Jones, Author of "Women Make Great Entrepreneurs. Here's Why. Here s How." These workshops are being sponsored by your local Community Futures Development Corporation. Call CFDC for more information. See you there! THE PRINCE GEORGE FREE PRESS CFDC Community Futures Development Corporation ot Fraser Fort George SIGN-UP TODAY! FRIDAY, SEPT. 17 2 i 30PM SATURDAY, SEPT. 1STH 11:30 1PM AT THE CIVK CENTRE fee S25 (BOOK INCLUDED) REGISTER » COMMUNITY FUTURES 562 9622 In search of the Jack By MICHELLE LANG It CTTouie. Spruceland Shopping Centre OPEN LATE r/i n/*„ Thurs. & Fri. 564-8970 Sun. 12-5pm SRCTRODHZe p IDEWALK SALE 3 DAYS ONLY! UGUST 27, 28, 29 imsAu PRICES STARTING AT *15” JOICO SYSTtMC mBIOLAGE. 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