THUNDER BAY – On Wednesday, April 22, 2015, the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service Eabametoong Detachment began an investigation into a missing person.
Albert Boyce, a forty-eight-year old man from the Eabametoong First Nation has been missing since April 22, 2015.
The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service has contacted the Ontario Provincial Police to assist with the search efforts.
As this search is ongoing, more information will be made available once it has been received.
Mr. Boyce was reportedly assisting the Canadian Rangers in a search effort. “This is the first time we’ve lost anyone in a Canadian Ranger search,” said Captain Mark Rittwage, the officer commanding the Canadian Rangers in Ontario. “This civilian volunteer lost his life serving his community.”
The search in which he lost his life began late on Tuesday when David Waboose, 75, who was travelling by snowmobile to join his family at a goose hunting camp on their trap line, went through river ice. He managed to get to shore and build a fire and used a satellite phone to call for help.
The Nishnawbe Aski Police in Fort Hope, who have no snowmobiles, tried to get volunteers to go to the man’s aid but were unsuccessful. They asked the Canadian Army for help.
“Our help was authorized,” Captain Rittwage said. “This was supposed to be a routine rescue. Three Rangers and Mr. Boyce, as a civilian volunteer, went out to get Mr. Waboose. They located him and he was cold, he was hungry, and he wanted to get home. While they were transporting him back to Fort Hope Mr. Boyce either became separated from the Rangers in the blowing snow or his machine broke down.”
Eabametoong First Nation is located approximately 385 km northeast of Thunder Bay.