Shaelene Keeler Bell, 23, was last seen on Jan. 30 in Chilliwack, B.C.

By Sheldon Spackman

hasn't been seen since january

Sylvan Lake woman gathering support in search for missing sister

Mar 10, 2021 | 2:36 PM

A Sylvan Lake woman is hoping central Albertans can help find her missing sister by backing a GoFundMe campaign and cupcake sale in support of the search

Steph Bell-Pollard says her sister Shaelene Keeler Bell, 23, was last seen Jan. 30 in Chilliwack, B.C. where she resides with her two sons and boyfriend.

Bell-Pollard says she last heard from her sister on Jan. 28 when Shaelene left her a message she returned soon afterwards.

“She never replied,” says Bell-Pollard, noting Shaelene’s mother also had not heard from her after a few days.

According to Bell-Pollard, Shaelene was last seen on Jan. 30 between 8:00 – 8:30 p.m. at her apartment.

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“She told me in the message, ‘I love you so, so much. Can we just chat for a bit?’ She just kind of wanted to call and chat and catch up,” says Bell-Pollard. “Then I called 40 minutes later and there was no answer.”

Bell-Pollard says she and her husband soon went to B.C. to help with the search efforts after RCMP found Shaelene’s car on February 1 – a vehicle she only had for a day or two.

“I know that she liked to go for drives down there but it was found in kind of a secluded area,” says Bell-Pollard. “Her keys, her wallet, her cell phone, everything was left inside the vehicle. And where it is, it’s dark. Like, you could not see a thing. How could she see anything if she was down there at night time?”

Bell-Pollard says Shaelene’s sons were home with her boyfriend the night of her disappearance.

“She’s funny, she’s smart, she’s kind,” Bell-Pollard describes. “Everybody online that has reached out to me had a positive story about how she either helped them out with something or if they were having problems, she would lend an ear to just discuss it and talk it out.”

Bell-Pollard feels her sister’s disappearance is definitely suspicious.

“She has two boys. They are three and two and they are her world. She would never go anywhere without them. So I don’t think she would have just disappeared on her own.”

Bell-Pollard says both the GoFundMe campaign and cupcake sale at Main Street Eatery in Sylvan Lake will help cover the costs of posters, billboards, and keeping search volunteers fed and hydrated while looking for her sister.

“They (Main Street Eatery) started a Made with Love campaign and they’re selling cupcakes,” she explains. “And 50 per cent of the profits are going to help with childcare for my sister’s kids and to help with the search efforts. It made me feel amazing just knowing that the community was thinking of me and supporting me, because it’s hard being so far away.”

Bell-Pollard says the cupcakes being sold in support of the search for Shaelene are yellow – the recognized colour for missing people. They also come with pink sprinkles, Shaelene’s favourite colour.

Bell-Pollard says cupcakes can be pre-ordered online or purchased daily at Main Street Eatery while supplies last.