Cochrane firefighters joined other first responders in searching the Bow River and surrounding banks for missing people on Oct. 19.
About 75 volunteer searchers from across the region worked together throughout the day to search the Bow River area from Stoney Trail in the north to Carseland in the south.
While no human remains were found during the search, officials of the CPS Missing Persons Team say they are steadfast in their commitment to locating every single missing person.
"The conclusion of today’s search does not signal the end of these investigations, but rather, it provides valuable information to help investigators refocus their efforts," state officials. "Each unsolved missing person investigation remains ongoing and we will continue to pursue answers for every missing person’s family."
"Because of their dedication to our community, investigators are one step closer to finding missing Calgarians."
Although Calgary police and fire departments routinely monitor the river throughout the year, water conditions are currently at their lowest and clearest, making it conducive to a more thorough large-scale search.
So far this year, 3,572 people have been reported missing in Calgary. Most are safely located, but about 0.17 per cent remain unaccounted for, says Sgt. Amy George of the CPS Missing Persons Team.
"Unfortunately, it is a tragic reality that some of our outstanding missing persons may have entered our city’s waterway," says George. "As a police service, we have incredibly skilled investigators and searchers, and we are committed to using our resources to find answers for a missing person’s family.
"Over the years, this search has continued to grow in scale, and we now have eight individual partner agencies who have dedicated dozens of resources to this effort," says Acting Staff Sgt. Paul Teworte, Search Manager for CPS. "Thank you to each of our partners for recognizing the importance of this initiative and dedicating their time, equipment, and resources."
Partner agencies volunteering their free time to aid the effort included the Calgary Police Service, Calgary Fire Department, RCMP, Calgary Search and Rescue Association, Cochrane Fire Services, Alberta Forestry and Parks, and Community Safety Peace Officers., Additional partners included TransAlta and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
