The RCMP is continuing in the search for 69-year-old Kenneth Peter Surette who was seen travelling in a canoe on Sunday, January 10 at approximately 11 a.m.
Shortly after 12 p.m. yesterday, Yarmouth RCMP received a report of a deceased person on the shoreline of Morris Island. Upon initial investigation, the deceased was identified and believed to be associated to Kenneth Surette. It is believed the two had been travelling together in a canoe.
Shortly before 9 a.m. today, police were informed by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) that they had located a canoe in the water between Surette's Island and Morris Island.
The RCMP has set up a Command Centre at the Island Social Club on Surette's Island as a base of operations. The ground search started this morning with a search zone that spans approximately 15 kilometres, including the shoreline of the mainland and areas of Surette's Island and Morris Island. The RCMP is asking the public to avoid the shoreline area while the search continues. Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office (EMO), Joint Rescue Co-Ordination Centre, Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Canadian Coast Guard, the Yarmouth County Ground Search and Rescue Team and the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team (URT) are assisting.
Further information will follow as the investigation progresses. Criminality is not suspected at this time.
Our thoughts are with the family of the victim at this difficult time.
File # 202151153