With the weather warming up in Thompson, coordinators organizing the search for a man who fell into the Burntwood River earlier this year have resumed their efforts in earnest.

 

Phillip Kanabee, a councillor for God’s Lake First Nation, told Arctic Radio that 26-year-old Leonard “Andrew” Bland has been missing since the first week of March and is believed to have fallen near the Miles Hart Bridge.

 

Kanabee says a search party scoured the ice on the river for two weeks when Bland initially disappeared, and they’ve renewed the search in mid-May once the river had thawed.

 

He explains that Manitoba Hydro, the local fire department and RCMP detachment, as well as members of the surrounding communities have been assisting in the search. There are currently six boats being utilized for the search.

 

Kanabee says they’re looking for more volunteers to help locate Bland, specifically people who have boats they can use for the search. In addition, they’re also looking for people who can prepare meals for the search party. He adds people can donate money to help pay for fuel and transportation.

 

So far, the councillor explains volunteers have searched the area surrounding the bridge where the strong current is. The search party has also covered about 20 kilometres down the river towards Mystery Lake.

 

Kanabee hopes to find Bland as soon as possible so that his family can have closure and he can be laid to rest in his home community. He explains it’s been a difficult few months for the family as they had recently lost another family member.

 

People interested in helping out with the search can call Kanabee at 431-354-0134.