Olimpia Mikszan, 18, had just moved out on her own and was living in a basement suite in central Abbotsford.
She had just graduated from Abbotsford Senior Secondary, where she was an honour roll student, enjoyed participating on the debate team, and earned awards for her artwork.
On the morning of June 21, 1996, she was seen with a male acquaintance outside her residence.
She hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Today, on the 20th anniversary of her daughter’s disappearance, Olimpia’s mom, Elzbieta Mikszan, made a plea for information.
She said Olimpia’s family – including an older brother, now 41, and two younger sisters, ages 25 and 26 – “terribly miss her.”
“It’s very hard every year, especially on the anniversary of her disappearance … It’s just heartbreaking because we miss her very much, and she was a very special person in our lives — a wonderful daughter and a sister, especially to her younger siblings.”
Elzbieta said her daughter was fiercely independent and looked forward to living on her own.
She described Olimpia as “a good person” who was artistic and compassionate.
She asked that anyone with information come forward.
“We want her back. We love her very much, and we miss her.”
Abbotsford Police Const. Ian MacDonald said Olimpia was reported missing on June 22, 1996, after some friends went to her suite and couldn’t track her down.
Police issued a press release at the time, asking for the public’s help in finding the teen.
“Initially, as happens with missing-person investigations, you get a lot of information in those first few weeks, and we did receive some tips. Unfortunately and clearly, none of those tips led to the location of Olimpia,” he said.
Olimpia, whose family emigrated from Poland in 1990, is described as 5’ 2” tall with brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225, text abbypd (222973) or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.