Search for missing canoeist suspended, turned over to RCMP

Nova Scotia’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) said Wednesday evening that based on the results of the search over the last 26-plus hours, the search for a missing person has been suspended.

“Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to the family, friends, and community. The case will now be turned over to the RCMP as a missing persons case,” said the JRCC in a tweet.

RCMP say they are searching for 69-year-old Kenneth Peter Surette, who was last seen travelling in a canoe on Sunday at 11 a.m.

Shortly after 12 p.m. on Tuesday, officers received a report of a dead person on the shoreline of Morris Island.

The remains were identified and police believe the person was an individual who was travelling with Surette in the canoe.

The RCMP notified Nova Scotia’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) a few hours later that there was a missing person in the water.

A CH-149 Cormorant Helicopter and a CH-130 Hercules Aircraft from 14 Wing Greenwood assisted in the search.

CCGS Clarks Harbour, a PAL aircraft and RCMP officers also assisted in the search on Tuesday evening and into Wednesday, the JRCC confirmed.

Shortly before 9 a.m. on Wednesday, JRCC reported to RCMP that searchers had located a canoe in the water between Surette’s Island and Morris Island.

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A command centre has been established at the Island Social Club on Surette’s Island, RCMP confirmed on Wednesday.

Ground search and rescue efforts started on Wednesday and were expected to cover a zone of approximately 15 kilometres, including the shoreline of mainland Nova Scotia and areas of Surette’s Island and Morris Island.

Police say they have no reason to suspect criminality at this time.