The family and friends of a German woman who was living her dream of coming to Canada before being hit by a train in Jasper on Dec. 9, 2009 are looking for more information about her time in Canada.

Jutta Dewers, 41, died when she was struck by a train. The RCMP is still investigating the incident.

“Jutta’s dream was a life in Canada, especially in Vancouver,” said Anja Hermesdorf, a friend and former co-worker of Dewers. “We are all very sad, especially because we do not know what happened in this last month in Jasper.”

Dewers first planned to emigrate to Canada in 2004. She secured a job in Vancouver, gave notice to her job as a secretary in Bremen, Germany, sold all of her furniture, car and came on a tourist visa with hopes of achieving citizenship after earning full time employment. Unfortunately, her plan did not work, and she was forced to return to Germany after six months.

Four years later, she decided once again to move to Canada, with hopes of finding a permanent home.

Dewers told her friends she was working for a company in Calgary that imported groceries from Germany, and needed German-speaking staff. Her plan, Hermesdorf said, was to work for six months and then move to Vancouver.

In March 2009, Dewers flew to Calgary and stayed in contact with her friends. She told them she had rented a house and car in Vancouver and sent pictures of her snow-covered home back to Germany.

By May 2009, she told Hermesdorf she was working as a travelling salesperson on the east coast of Canada. The emails became more sporadic, Hermesdorf said, until Oct. 2009 when they stopped completely.

Bank records indicate Dewers stayed in Vancouver on November 4, and travelled to Jasper on Nov. 5, 2009 by rental car. She allegedly stayed at a small hotel in Jasper, and was seen driving the car frequently around town.

Then on Dec. 9 at 9 p.m., Dewers was struck by a CN train east of Jasper. She had no form of identification except a phone card. A backpack was also found near the scene. Dressed for the weather with heavy winter clothing, and her blonde hair now dyed orange, police worked for weeks attempting to identify Dewers, who appeared to have very few connections in town, despite the fact she had likely spent a month in the community. No other possessions were found.

Footage of Dewers caught on camera at the local A&W was found, but not released by police.

Several rumours swirled around town about the nature of the incident and the family is still looking for more information about Dewers time in Jasper.

Hemesdorf said it would hard for Dewers to bear a return to Germany after working so hard to achieve her dream, but she wants to know more about Dewers life in Canada.