It Happened on
July 09, 1971
The front page of The Province newspaper featured the story of a 2-year-old child found wandering on Powell St holding a paper bag with a clean towel, t-shirt, and a pair of socks. Abandoned and “absolutely unidentified children” were not uncommon then; the story notes that there were 2-3 showing up in Vancouver every year.
Crying and lonely, this abandoned child sits without a home
WHO IS THIS CHILD?
A girl of about two, with brown hair and green eyes, found wandering on Powell Street Wednesday afternoon, has still not been identified.
The Children’s Aid Society appealed Thursday to anyone with information that would identify the child to telephone the intake department of the Kingsway Branch, 879-7131.
She was wearing blue overalls when found wandering at the rear of the Convent of the Sisters of the Atonement at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
She carried a brown paper bag containing a clean towel, worn tee shirt and a pair of socks.
A foster mother has christened her “Pauline” until her real name is known.
“She’s a fairly happy and good natured child,” said Mrs. Paul Bosch, who has four children of her own and four foster children.
“She’s been looked after, but not well looked after.”
Alan Fahrig, intake worker at the CAS Kingsway Branch, said the society gets “absolutely unidentified children” perhaps two or three times a year.
Police left Pauline at the Sisters of the Atonement day care centre for the afternoon in hopes the parents might show up by supper.
“The sisters bathed her and contacted the Children’s Aid, who took the youngster as a deserted child,” said Mrs. Bosch.
