A local group is organizing a search for a man reported missing recently from Georgian Bluffs.
64 year old James Van Veen went missing from Inglis Falls in the early morning hours of January 26th.
Please Bring Me Home Executive Director Nick Oldrieve says, “The family is kind of in a position right now where they really want to be involved. They really want to search.”
While police have conducted a large scale search involving the OPP Emergency Response Team, OPP Canine Unit, OPP Aviation Services, and the Underwater Search & Recovery Unit, they announced January 30th, they were temporarily suspending their search for safety reasons.
OPP say ground searches covered multiple trail systems, cliff edges, escarpment terrain, and both sides of the Sydenham River. Aerial searches focused on areas inaccessible on foot, including ice pockets, waterflows, and steep or unstable terrain. Grey County staff and conservation personnel provided ongoing support throughout the operation.
Oldrieve’s Please Bring Me Home group says in a Facebook post, “It is not common for Please Bring Me Home to become involved in searches this recent. However, due to the necessity of monitoring moving water in the area at least twice daily, and the fact that family members continue to search, we feel it is important to assist.”
They add, “Please be assured that Please Bring Me Home is not involved to suggest that the OPP or ERT have failed to do their due diligence. Quite the opposite. We are confident in the extensive work that has already been completed and in the obvious and priority locations that have been thoroughly searched. Our role is simply to expand the search footprint where appropriate and to support James’ family as they continue their own efforts.”
Oldrieve says their plan is to conduct a search this Sunday, February 8th, unless an intense blizzard makes conditions unsafe. Cold weather alone will not cancel the search, and we are prepared to operate in winter conditions.
Anyone wishing to participate must email search@pleasebringmehome.com with the following information:
Full name
Phone number
Emergency contact’s full name and phone number
Note: your emergency contact cannot also participate in the search.
Search details will be emailed on Friday prior to the search to those who have registered.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Oldrieve had around 35 volunteers for the search, but would like about 50. He notes people will not be going near the river or waterfall. They’ll be able to see the water, but will be staying a safe distance away.
“A lot of people knew James. A lot of people want to help that know him and speak to his character and they just want to be involved,” says Oldrieve.