Body found
Mother of three-year-old swept away in Grand River says search for her son is over
ORANGEVILLE — The mother of three-year-old Kaden Young says the search for her son is over, two months after he was swept from her arms and into the Grand River.
A fisherman spotted a body in the river near Orangeville around 3 p.m. Saturday and called the Ontario Provincial Police. Multiple police units and a forensic squad worked to remove the body from the water.
OPP Const. Paul Nancekivell said he was hesitant about releasing the identity of the child until police knew for sure, but on Sunday morning Michelle Hanson, Kaden’s mother, posted to a Facebook group thanking the community for their support.
“We are wanting to thank everyone that has helped in the efforts to bring our son Kaden home. It has been a long, extremely draining two months of searching and now (it) has finally come to an end,” said the post.
Hanson said funeral arrangements are being finalized.
On Feb. 21, Hanson was driving with Kaden when she missed a road-closure sign and her minivan was swept off the washed-out road and into the fast-moving river during a flood.
She managed to free herself and Kaden from the vehicle, but the force of the water wrenched the boy from her arms.
Family members said Hanson hadn’t seen the road-closure sign due to dark and foggy conditions. It was about 1 a.m. when the vehicle hit the water.
Nancekivell said a fisherman found the body under the County Rd. 26 bridge that goes over the Grand River in Belwood — about 14 kilometres away from where Kaden was pulled into the water.
Nancekivell said the body was found in a cluster of trees and shrubs where a Canada goose was nesting near the shore. He said an autopsy on the body will be conducted in Toronto on Monday.
A steady stream of visitors, both local and from further afield, came to Belwood bridge on Sunday afternoon to remember the little boy whose disappearance touched so many people.
Tributes, including bouquets of flowers, blue ribbons and stuffed animals with messages saying “We love you Kaden,” were tied to poles and the guardrail on the bridge.
“Two long gruelling months, involving hundreds and hundreds of volunteers — the first couple of weeks there were 4-500 volunteers a day, even through the March break we had hundreds of people a day, which was amazing,” said Nancekivell.
“It really rallied the community together. People showed up with excavators, boats. Any equipment we needed, we got it.”
“It is very emotional for them,” Nancekivell added. “It has been a long time here. People have been searching a long tine, and to come out everyday and still have that drive, and to want to carry on.
“It’s been tough on our officers,” he said. “They’ve been out here a long time, a lot of pressure; people saying why haven’t you found him.”
Nancekivell said crisis counsellors have been made available to the many people involved, including the fisherman who found the young boy’s body.
This quiet community was obviously touched by the tragedy.
“The rivers flood every spring, and with every big rain,” said one woman who said she lived in the area. “It’s just so sad.”
Others who were in the area stopped to pay their respects.
Nancekivell said he found a little bit of hope in the fact there was a goose nesting near where the body was found.