The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Missing canoeist’s body found
While the conclusion is a sad one, there is also comfort to be taken in that a man missing in Morris Island, Yarmouth County, has been found.
The RCMP confirmed Saturday morning that 69-yearold Kenneth Peter Surette had been found deceased that morning. His body was found in the water by fishermen who had continued to search for him after official searches, with no results, had been suspended.
“He was located near where his boat was originally found off Morris Island,” the RCMP said in a media release. “The death is not believed to be suspicious in nature, however the investigation into the death is ongoing. Our thoughts are with the family of the victim at this difficult time.”
CAPSIZED CANOE
A search in the Morris Island and Surette's Island communities of Yarmouth County had been launched earlier in the week, amid reports of a possible capsized canoe. A canoe was located by searchers the morning of Jan. 13.
On Tuesday, Jan. 12, a woman's body was found on the Morris Island shoreline. Noreen Rita Surette, 66, was Kenneth Surette's wife.
Her obituary said the couple died together. “Noreen and Kenneth loved spending time at their camp, where they found much peace.”
The RCMP had said it's believed the two had been travelling in a canoe.
Following the discovery of Noreen Surette's body, a search co-ordinated by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) was launched on Jan. 12 to find her husband. The search included a Cormorant helicopter and Hercules aircraft from 14 Wing Greenwood, along with other aircraft. The Yarmouth County Ground Search and Rescue team was brought in on Jan. 13 to help, although at times the shoreline searches were complicated by high tides. Searchers, and also fishermen, also scoured the water in boats.
The Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office, the JRCC, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans,, the Canadian Coast Guard, Yarmouth County Ground Search and Rescue Team and the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team all took part in the search.
After 26 hours the JRCC suspended its part of the search for the missing man at the end of the day on Jan. 13 and the matter was turned over to the RCMP to continue with its own missing persons search and investigation.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
There had been a huge outpouring of community kindness during the search, as a comfort centre for family and searchers had been set up at the Club Social des Iles community hall in Surette's Island, where donations of food and support had poured in.
Guy Surette, the Municipality of Argyle councillor for the district, had said it was very emotional and heartwarming to see how the community was once again rallying in a time of sadness and tragedy.
Yarmouth County has experienced much sorrow in the past number of weeks.
On Dec. 15, the scallop dragger Chief William Saulis went missing in the Bay of Fundy with six fishermen onboard. Most of the crew were from Yarmouth County. One body was recovered Dec. 15 and the search for the boat and the remaining missing fishermen continued. On Jan. 16 the boat was finally located.
People in Yarmouth County have also continued to search for Zack Lefave, a young man missing since Jan. 1. He was last seen walking on Highway 334 in Plymouth at about 12:30 a.m. on New Year's Day. He was 20 at the time he went missing. His 21st birthday was Jan. 3. The community has not given up on locating him.
And then came this new search.
Surette had been posting updates about the search on his Facebook page to keep the community informed as everyone prayed the missing man would be located.
On Saturday, he posted, “The body has been found. What a relief for the family. Their prayers and all of ours have been answered. They are back together and can be put to rest together. Our thoughts are with the family. May they find peace and strength to move forward. Bless you all for all you have done in trying to comfort them — by your kindness and donations during a very difficult time.”