National Post (National Edition)
Search continues for Quebec man, son
Businessman’s helicopter goes missing
MONTREAL • A prominent Quebec businessman known for his exploits in the greenhouse tomato industry and his teenage son remained missing Friday after the helicopter they were travelling in failed to return from a fishing trip.
Stéphane Roy is founder and president of Sagami Inc., which sells greenhouse tomatoes and strawberries under the Sagami and Savoura brands. His company said in a statement its officials are doing everything they can to ensure Roy and his son are found safe and sound.
Quebec provincial police said relatives reported them missing on Thursday morning. The pair was last seen preparing to leave the cabin at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Parent district of La Tuque, Que., more than 400 kilometres north of Montreal.
On Friday, Canadian Forces planes and helicopters continued to search a vast area, examining possible routes the missing helicopter may have taken between Lac De La Bidière and Ste-Sophie, the Laurentians community about 90 minutes away where Roy lives. A Hercules plane and three Griffon helicopters were being used in the search alongside civilian search and rescue organizations, Capt. Trevor Reid said from Trenton, Ont.
Search teams were hampered by heavy thunderstorms on Thursday.
“We’re searching an area that’s approximately 20,000 square kilometres,” Reid said. “The terrain is challenging — it’s heavily forested, rocky, with several lakes in the area as well.”
Roy was described as an experienced pilot with numerous flight hours aboard the Robinson R44 helicopter.
“It was his own helicopter, an aircraft in excellent condition, Mr. Roy is someone who is very structured, who takes care of his equipment,” said André Michaud, a friend of Roy’s and president of Agro Quebec.
Four people — Roy and his son in the helicopter and two others in a seaplane — travelled to the chalet for a few days. The plane returned but the helicopter did not.
A Facebook page was created Friday geared toward gathering information about Roy and his son, as many would be heading to the region this weekend.
Michaud said it has been difficult time for the company, but hailed the mobilization of local teams that were leaving no stone unturned to find the pair.
“All we have is a trajectory,” Michaud said. “But it’s Point A to Point B, so with about 20 aircraft in the air, we think we’ll be able to at least find some clues.”