The Heartbreaking Disappearance of Nicole Hoar
Nicole Hoar was a vibrant, artistic 25-year-old woman from Red Deer, Alberta, whose sudden disappearance in the summer of 2002 sent shockwaves across Canada. Her case became one of the most widely recognized on British Columbia’s notorious Highway of Tears, a stretch of road where dozens of women, many of them Indigenous, have vanished or been murdered over the decades. Nicole’s story brought national attention to the dangers faced by women traveling this isolated highway — and the painful reality that justice has remained elusive for far too many families.
A Summer Full of Plans
In June 2002, Nicole was working as a tree planter in British Columbia, a tough but rewarding seasonal job she took on to save money. She was an art student with a creative spirit and a close bond with her family. She had planned to take a short break from work to surprise her sister in Smithers and attend a music festival together. On June 21, 2002, Nicole was last seen hitchhiking from a gas station on the western edge of Prince George, heading west along Highway 16.
She was never seen again.
The Search and the Silence
When Nicole failed to show up for work or contact her family, alarm bells rang immediately. A large-scale search was launched involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), search-and-rescue teams, volunteers, canine units, and aircraft. They scoured the dense wilderness along the highway, but no trace of Nicole was ever found.
Her disappearance highlighted the vulnerabilities of hitchhiking on one of Canada’s most remote and dangerous highways. The Highway of Tears has become a symbol of systemic failures — inadequate transportation, poverty, and violence that disproportionately affect Indigenous women, though Nicole herself was not Indigenous. Her case received significant media coverage, helping to shine a brighter light on the many other women who had vanished in the same area with far less attention.
Years of Heartache and Unanswered Questions
More than two decades later, Nicole Hoar’s case remains unsolved. No charges have ever been laid. Investigators have looked into several persons of interest over the years, including searching properties connected to convicted killers, but no definitive evidence has led to an arrest.
Nicole’s family has endured unimaginable pain — the endless waiting, the what-ifs, and the silence that follows every new lead that ultimately goes cold. They continue to advocate not only for Nicole but for all the missing and murdered women along the Highway of Tears, pushing for better safety measures, transportation alternatives, and accountability.
Nicole was remembered as a kind, talented, and adventurous young woman who loved art and the outdoors. She had dreams, laughter, and a future that was cruelly taken from her.
Nicole Hoar
Born: 1977
Missing since: June 21, 2002
Prince George / Highway 16, British Columbia
She is still missing. Her family is still waiting. And the question remains:
What happened to Nicole?
If you have any information about Nicole Hoar’s disappearance, please contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
Her story is a painful reminder that behind every missing person statistic is a daughter, a sister, a friend — a life that mattered.
