Police are asking for public assistance in trying to locate a missing Okanagan teacher who went kayaking on Mabel Lake.
According to Lumby RCMP, John Keeley, 58, was last seen on Thursday, July 19, at approximately 1:30 p.m., when he left home to go kayaking. When he failed to return, he was reported missing. Police say they later recovered his kayak on Mabel Lake Road and his vehicle on Mabel Lake Forest Service Road.
“We are very concerned about Mr. Keeley’s well-being and are asking anyone who may have any information about his disappearance to contact police,” said RCMP Staff Sergeant Annie Linteau.
Police, along with local search and rescue teams, have made ground searches of the area, along with several searches of Mabel Lake. On Sunday, a dive team was brought in, but police said the search wasn’t successful in locating anything which would help the investigation.
An aerial search is planned for Thursday, July 26. Local search and rescue teams plan to conduct additional searches.
“School District 22 was saddened to hear one of our own, Mr. John Keeley, a math teacher at VSS, has been reported missing,” said School District 22 superintendent Joe Rogers. “Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time.”
Keeley is described as a Caucasian man with a bald head and hazel eyes. He is listed as being 6-foot-2 (188 cm) and 181 pounds (82 kg).
Anyone who has any information about John Keeley’s whereabouts are asked to contact the Lumby RCMP Detachment at 250-547-2151.