Phone tips and messages that have led nowhere have been Shelley Fillipoff’s life for more than a decade.
Nov. 28 marks the 11th year since Emma Fillipoff vanished from the west coast of Victoria, B.C.
When reached at her home near Perth just days before the anniversary, Shelley said she wasn’t feeling the best.
“Everything about November is crappy,” she said. “I don’t feel any different on the date. November is a bad month for me. I’ve always hated this month.”

Shelley said she’s not marking the anniversary date of her daughter’s disappearance any differently than any other day of the week. Emma is still missing, and she’s still searching.
But she said she’s appreciative of those who have reached out to say they’re lighting a candle or offering a prayer of hope. “That means a lot to me,” she said.
“I believe she’s still alive and I have to hold onto that.” — Shelley Fillipoff
Shelley said she gets messages of encouragement from around the world — people just reaching out to say they’re thinking of her. “I’ve had a few get in touch with me from Europe, which I find pretty odd and wonderful.”
It would be nice to know what happened to her daughter, she said, but in no way would that be a sign of closure.
“I believe she’s still alive, and I have to hold onto that,” she said. “I would rather keep hoping … 11 years later, it is raw.”
Memories of Emma swarm her.
“Emma is like a blanket,” she said. “She’s a blanket that’s wrapped around me all the time.”
DOCUMENTARY
Shelley has gone to every length possible to find her daughter, who will be 37 in January, including teaming up with Kimberly Bordage, a filmmaker and missing persons’ advocate, to create a six-part documentary. She now considers Bordage a good friend and confidant.

Last year, the Victoria Police Department released an age progression photo of Emma, marking the 10-year anniversary of her disappearance. Critics said it didn’t look anything like the striking brown-haired youthful woman. That’s when Hew Morrison came to the table to create his own rendition. This image, Shelley said, was more like her daughter.

Still, no tips came from either age progression photo.
Bordage (Bayberry Films) is set to release the third preview of “Barefoot in the Night: The Search for Emma Fillipoff” on the anniversary date. This piece will be titled “The Man in the Green Shirt.”
This preview will highlight the film series’ initiative to breathe new life into a nine-year-old lead — the man in the green shirt. It will feature Shelley, Det. Bob Iles from the Victoria Police Department, criminologist Michael Arntfield, and the team’s work with Morrison, the forensic artist.

“Our mission with this docuseries is to keep Emma’s story alive and further the search,” Bordage said.
Some interviews have taken years to schedule and finalize, but Bordage promises it will be well worth the wait.
“This project has taken lots of time, focus and patience,” she said. “When I’m not spending time with family or working, my focus is Emma’s case; advocating for Emma and for Shelley, who is a good friend.”
The search for Emma is the focus. Secondary to that is the documentary film informing the public about the details of the case and of the search.
“We’re on that journey with Shelley,” Bordage said. “It’s her story; she’s really the heart of it — her love for Emma.”
Bordage said it’s their hope that this documentary will keep public interest in the case and “maybe even aid in the investigation in some way,” she said.
“Our mission is to keep Emma’s story alive.” — Kimberly Bordage
The third preview highlights the unresolved story of the man in the green shirt, which may offer insight into this old yet compelling lead. This man was seen on video surveillance from a Vancouver clothing store with a crumpled missing person poster of Emma in his right hand. The store owner said the man was irritated, claiming Emma was his girlfriend and she wanted to be left alone.
These previews are snippets of the much larger documentary.
“Emma will not be forgotten,” Bordage said. “Eleven years is no different than 10 days or 10 hours. Shelley’s commitment to finding her daughter is unshakable.”
Preview No. 3 drops on Nov. 28, the 11th anniversary date.
Preview No. 2, April 2023: Age Progression (10 min) https://vimeo.com/821902441
Preview No. 1, November 2022: Shelley’s Hope (9 min) vimeo.com/774882074
For more information about the search, visit HelpFindEmmaFillipoff.com, which includes a timeline of Emma’s disappearance.
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