YORKTON – A solemn vigil was held in Yorkton April 12, marking the ninth year since the disappearance of Mekayla Bali.
Friends, family and supporters gathered to honour her memory and renew their commitment to finding answers.
The event was steeped in hope—a hope that someday Bali’s loved ones will see her again. Paula Bali, Mekayla’s mother, addressed those in attendance, speaking to both the anguish of her daughter’s absence and the unwavering determination to keep her story alive.
"Friends, family and all who hold Mekayla in your hearts, tonight we stand here marking the ninth year since a vibrant voice, a radiant light, was inexplicably silenced in our lives," said Bali.
Since Mekayla’s disappearance on April 12, 2016, her family has faced the painful silence left in her absence. Her mother described this silence as deafening—an unspoken question hanging in the air, unanswered prayers lingering in their hearts. She recalled Mekayla’s kindness, beauty and the joy she brought to those around her.
"Silence is a word that has taken on a devastating weight in our lives," said Bali.
"Before, silence might have meant peace or a moment of quiet reflection. Now, it echoes with the absence of Mekayla’s laughter. The hush where her footsteps should be. The void where her stories and dreams once filled our days," added Bali.
Despite the grief, the Bali family continues to rely on a different kind of sound: the quiet strength that carries them through the years and the hope that refuses to be extinguished. Paula Bali urged those gathered to ensure her daughter is remembered—not as a statistic, but as a cherished young woman who deserves to be found.
"The silence also speaks to the injustice of her absence. It cries out for answers, for understanding, for a resolution that has remained elusive," said Bali, "it’s a call to remember, to keep her story alive, to ensure that she never just becomes a statistic, but remembered as a cherished young woman who deserves to be found."
"I don’t want the silence to be an end, but a continuation—a quiet determination to keep searching, to keep hoping, to keep her memory alive until the day that silence is fully broken by the sound of her return," said Bali.
Mekayla Bali was 16 years old when she went missing. The last confirmed sighting of her was between 1:00 and 1:45 p.m. at the now-closed STC Bus Depot in Yorkton. At the time, she was wearing glasses, a teal infinity scarf, jeans, and a burgundy or purple coat. Her blonde wavy hair was worn down.
Individuals with information on Bali’s disappearance are urged to contact Crime Stoppers or their local RCMP detachment.
