A man and a woman from a local First Nation remain missing after their truck plunged through the ice into Cedar Lake near Grand Rapids, Manitoba. The individuals have been identified as Corbin Constant, aged 31, and Tasha Ferland, aged 23, according to information provided by Misipawistik Cree Nation representative Heidi Cook.
The incident occurred in the early hours of December 16 when the pair ventured onto the frozen lake, resulting in their vehicle sinking about 75 meters from the shoreline, close to the Grand Rapids Generating Station. Despite efforts by the RCMP, Grand Rapids Fire Department, and Manitoba Hydro using various resources like a Zodiac and drone, Constant and Ferland could not be located.
While the truck was found submerged in the water on December 18, the missing individuals were not inside. The search continued with the involvement of the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART) based in Morris, Manitoba. The team, led by coordinator Paul Maendel, utilized a remote operated vehicle (ROV) due to hazardous conditions near the hydro dam that posed risks for divers.
Constant was described by his family as a cherished individual who left a memorable impact on those around him, while Ferland’s family highlighted her role as a mother within a large and loving family. The RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Team concluded their search operations in Grand Rapids, with additional support from Dominion Divers, Garden Hill search and rescue team, and the Easterville search and rescue team.
Local volunteers have also contributed to the search efforts alongside the organized teams. HEART members focused their search upstream of the generating station and navigated frozen areas of open water using an airboat. Maendel mentioned that the team would briefly pause their search for the holiday season but may resume operations depending on future developments.