In a tragic revelation that has left a family shocked and grieving, the Vancouver Police Department is under scrutiny for its next-of-kin notification procedures following the overdose death of Lorraine Campbell. Campbell, who died in a 2020 apartment fire in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, was buried in an unmarked grave after her family was not notified of her passing for more than three years. Lorraine’s daughters are now calling for changes to VPD’s notification policies, demanding that the city’s most vulnerable individuals be treated with the same dignity and respect as anyone else.
The case highlights not only a gap in notification practices but also raises profound questions about the treatment of marginalized individuals after death, especially those with mental health issues, addictions, or precarious living conditions.
A Miscommunication with Heartbreaking Consequences
For Lorraine’s daughters, the discovery of their mother’s passing came too late. Sheri-Lee Campbell, Lorraine’s eldest daughter, filed a complaint with the VPD after learning that her mother had died years prior, her body buried without family involvement or even a name marker. Lorraine was found deceased in her Downtown Eastside apartment, reportedly due to mixed drug toxicity with possible underlying health issues. Shortly after her death, an unidentified man at the scene claimed to be her half-brother, providing false identification that led authorities to end their search for next of kin prematurely.
This mistake effectively erased Lorraine’s familial connections, leaving her three daughters in a devastating situation. Sheri-Lee emphasized that despite her mother’s struggles, Lorraine was deeply loved and maintained close ties with her family in both British Columbia and Ontario. “Just because she lived on the street didn’t mean she didn’t have a family that loved her,” Sheri-Lee told Postmedia.
An Overlooked Responsibility
Sheri-Lee believes that Vancouver’s current policies failed her mother. She points out that Lorraine’s family ties could have been easily confirmed through government records accessible by multiple agencies involved in such cases. From the coroner’s office to the provincial public guardian, several entities failed to locate or notify Lorraine’s family. Dawn Campbell, one of Lorraine’s other daughters, has since filed a lawsuit against the City of Vancouver, arguing that the VPD owes a duty of care to make “all reasonable efforts to notify the next of kin”.
In response, the city claims Dawn’s allegations “failed to set out the material facts essential to properly plead a cause of action,” adding that this situation did not meet the threshold for negligence. However, Dawn and Sheri-Lee argue that the case exposes broader issues with how law enforcement prioritizes notification efforts in situations involving vulnerable or marginalized populations. They’re seeking accountability and reform to ensure this tragedy doesn’t repeat itself.
A Systemic Issue in Canada
Lorraine Campbell’s family is not alone in their experience. Similar cases have surfaced across Canada, with families discovering their loved ones’ deaths through obituaries or months after their burial. For example, Glen Grier learned of his son Scott’s death in Victoria nearly eight months after it happened, when he stumbled across an online obituary. “It’s surprising how many people fall through the cracks,” Grier shared. In Scott’s case, he had a seven-year-old daughter, and Glen had been listed as his emergency contact numerous times in the past. Yet, due to an oversight, his family was not notified.
The systemic failures in these cases reveal a troubling pattern where the deceased’s loved ones are left uninformed, grieving in isolation without closure or the opportunity to honour their relatives’ lives properly. The B.C. Coroners Service has since pledged to review its own practices, but the case underlines a critical gap in protocols across provinces. The failure of authorities to notify families promptly not only inflicts psychological harm but also raises legal and ethical questions about the duty of care owed by law enforcement agencies to families of the deceased.
“Because She Lived in the Downtown Eastside”
The Downtown Eastside is an area well-known for its concentration of poverty, addiction, and homelessness, and it was here that Lorraine spent her final days. Both Sheri-Lee and Dawn Campbell argue that her residence in the DTES and her history of addiction led authorities to treat her case with less urgency. They question why a random individual’s word was accepted so readily, allowing him to falsely claim to be her relative. Dawn, especially, is heartbroken, expressing that their mother deserved dignity, regardless of her struggles. “Because she was a drug addict and lived in the Downtown Eastside, her death was just dismissed,” she said.
Dawn emphasized that families like hers face the added pain of societal prejudice against people struggling with addiction. They hope that by bringing attention to Lorraine’s case, they can inspire a broader cultural shift in how society views—and values—those in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, not only in life but also in death.
A Policy Review and Report
Following the Campbell family’s complaint and a pending lawsuit, the Vancouver Police Board has deferred further discussions on the VPD’s next-of-kin notification policy until its November meeting when a formal report is expected. The report aims to review existing procedures and suggest possible improvements to ensure families are notified promptly and respectfully.
The VPD, in a statement, acknowledged that their next-of-kin protocol in Lorraine’s case fell short and are actively “reviewing the circumstances” to avoid similar situations in the future. However, as the family waits for updates, Sheri-Lee has also called for a specialized officer dedicated to next-of-kin searches, especially for cases involving vulnerable individuals who may have lost contact with their family but are not forgotten.
Advocating for Dignity in Death for Vulnerable Canadians
The tragedies experienced by the Campbell and Grier families reveal deep-seated flaws in Canada’s death notification system. Advocacy groups and community leaders are increasingly vocal about the need for changes to ensure families are informed promptly and treated with respect. Lorraine’s daughters believe that stronger policies would also send a message that the lives of DTES residents, and all marginalized people, are valued by society.
In Lorraine’s memory, her family hopes to bring her ashes back to Ontario to be buried among loved ones—a gesture they feel she was unjustly denied. “For her to just be buried unnamed for three years in a graveyard without anyone knowing is just horrific,” Dawn said. “At least give her a name”.
A Societal Obligation to Honour All Lives
As the Vancouver Police Department prepares its upcoming report, the Campbell family and others who have suffered similar experiences are watching closely. They are hopeful that systemic changes will finally bring justice to those who, like Lorraine, fell through the cracks. The conversation extends beyond procedural flaws, calling for a societal reassessment of how vulnerable populations are viewed, valued, and remembered.
For now, families like the Campbells are fighting to ensure their loved ones receive the recognition and respect they deserve. Their call for change is a powerful reminder that compassion and dignity should be inherent rights—no matter a person’s life circumstances.
Glenn is dedicated to scrutinizing government actions affecting the Downtown Eastside and holding those in power accountable for their commitments. With a focus on transparency and policy analysis, his writing aims to expose gaps between promises and outcomes, pushing for meaningful changes that benefit the community.
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