Facial reconstruction of Canadian unidentified human remains
Update
Due to their delicate nature and as a result of COVID restrictions, each reconstructed skull was digitally scanned to preserve them in case of damage. Photos and links to interactive 3D viewers of each scan are available below.
In January 2020, students at the New York Academy of Art reconstructed 15 faces of Canadian unidentified human remains. As part of the forensic sculpture workshop, they applied clay directly to 3D-printed replicas of the real skulls. This is the first time we've partnered with the academy.
Do you know who they are?
These are the faces that were reconstructed by the New York Academy of Art. Have a look and help us bring them home.
You can see more details on each case or submit tips on the Canada's Missing website.
Male, aged 30 -60, discovered at Sandy Cove Beach, Nova Scotia, 2019
- "Terra" brand boots
- Urban Heritage denim jeans
- Update: RCMP identify human remains
Male, aged 45-70, discovered in Vancouver, British Columbia, 1990
- Several healed fractures, including one on the right side of the skull
- Case reference: 2014001040
- Interactive 3D view of: 2014001040
Male, aged 30-49, discovered in Delta, British Columbia, 1998
- Dark T-shirt with "Bugle Boy
- Wooden cross necklace on cord
- Case reference: 2014001023
- Interactive 3D view of: 2014001023
Male, aged 40-60, discovered in Burnaby, British Columbia, 2019
- Green hoody with "Athletic" on front
- May have gone missing in 2013
- Case reference: 2019045788
- Interactive 3D view of: 2019045788
Male, aged 30-49, discovered on Whistler Mountain, British Columbia, 1987
- May have been from South Africa or the United States
- Case reference: 2014001084
- Interactive 3D view of: 2014001084
Male, aged 25-40, discovered in North Vancouver, British Columbia, 1994
- Suspicious death
- Healed fracture to his right wrist
- May have had an old injury to the lower back
- Case reference: 2014001219
- Interactive 3D view of: 2014001219
Male, aged 40-55, discovered in Parksville, British Columbia, 1992
- US currency in pocket
- Recently had surgery for ingrown toenails
- Healed collarbone fracture
- Case reference: 2014001116
- Interactive 3D view of: 2014001116
Male, aged 50-65, discovered in West Vancouver, British Columbia, 1996
- Healed injuries possibly from major accident including:
- severe injuries to his right arm and leg
- a fractured skull, nose and ribs
- Case reference: 2012020147
- Interactive 3D view of: 2012020147
Male, aged 25-40, discovered in Lytton, British Columbia, 2016
- Good dental work
- May have died several years earlier
Male, aged 45-55, discovered in Richmond, British Columbia, 2008
- Suffered from heart disease
- Full set of dentures
- Pair of boat shoes
- Case reference: 2012020145
- Interactive 3D view of: 2012020145
Male, aged 30-49, discovered in Coquitlam, British Columbia, 1998
- Visibly decayed teeth
- Left knee deformity
- Osgoode-Schlater's disease
- Case reference: 2012020165
- Interactive 3D view of: 2012020165
Male, aged 20-40, discovered on Hollyburn Mountain, British Columbia, 1984
- Tan suede cowboy boots, Double H brand
- Black leather braided belt
- Case reference: 2012020173
- Interactive 3D view of: 2012020173
Male, aged 18-35, discovered in Chilliwack, British Columbia, 1972
- Brown hair, brown eyes
- Well looked-after teeth
Male, aged 40-60, discovered in Port Moody, British Columbia, 1995
- Osteoarthritis in neck and back
- Wearing Edmonton Psychiatric Centre underwear
- Case reference: 2012020169
- Interactive 3D view of: 2012020169
Male, aged 30-50, discovered in Richmond, British Columbia, 2004
- Good dental work
- Gold tooth in left lower jaw
- Case reference: 2012020159
- Interactive 3D view of: 2012020159
Choosing the skulls for the project
We reached out to coroners and medical examiners across the country to find suitable skulls for this project. The 15 skulls selected:
- were in the best condition
- are all male
- came from British Columbia and Nova Scotia
- were located between 1972 and 2019
Although they were found in two provinces, they could be from anywhere.
What we want to achieve
Without knowing the missing peoples' identities, it's impossible to return them home. We want to unlock the mystery of who they are and bring closure to their families and loved ones. We hope that the facial reconstructions will encourage tips from the public.
We also want to learn from this experience to try to bring this type of workshop to Canada.
Image gallery
Partners in the project
Besides the New York Academy of Art, other partners in this project included:
- National Research Council Canada
- British Columbia Coroners Service
- Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service
- Police investigators for each set of remains
- Date modified: