By Nigel Maxwell

Year in Review: Young boy falls into the river

Dec 27, 2018 | 7:00 AM

The tragic death of four-year-old Sweetgrass Kennedy brought a community together in May, and prompted calls by some residents for improved safety measures near the riverbank.

Kennedy was reported missing to police on May 10. He was seen playing in the area of the 900 Block of Second St. East prior to his disapperance. Within hours, hundreds of volunteers were seen scouring the riverbank, searching for any sign of the young boy. Police also asked business owners and the public to review any footage from surveillance cameras.

Sadly they did not find what they were looking for and police called off the ground search later that day, citing evidence provided to them from “several witness” interviews. Insp. Jason Stonechild later confirmed at a media conference in July that several children were seen playing near the riverbank.

“Through witness testimony, we were able to discern with confidence that Sweetgrass was one of those children and that he fell into the water from which he didn’t recover,” Stonechild said.

Recovery operation begins

Missing pet

'She means the world to our family': Woman seeks help in finding missing pet parrot

5h ago

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS

Semi flips outside P.A.; one of dozens of incidents on Sask. roads due to winter weather

5h ago

NO GO FOR BUSES

School bus routes outside P.A. canceled due to spring snowstorm

10h ago

Soon after police called off the ground search, they began what they described as a recovery operation.

The search effort, which covered an area radius of 162 km, involved trained search and rescue personnel, the Saskatoon Police Service Air Support Unit, the Prince Albert Fire Department, Saskatchewan Emergency Management Fire and Safety crews, and representation from the Prince Albert Grand Council.

The conditions were described by police as challenging with limited visibility, and depths ranging from three to 11 feet, in addition to a current that moves as fast as 800 cubic meters per second.

“It was a big decision for the Saskatoon Fire Department Search and Dive Team to come out. They know all the information like the water temperature and flow of the river, and despite that when they heard it was a four-year-old missing child, they came out,” Stonechild said.

Despite the challenging conditions, Emergency and Protective Services Officer Randy Bear told media the search crews would not abandon their efforts.

“We’ve exhausted the search downriver, but we are not giving up,” he said.

The search ends

Kennedy’s body was found July 14. Officials with the James Smith Cree Nation confirmed the boy’s body was found along the North Saskatchewan River near their reserve. RCMP collected evidence at the scene which was sent to Saskatoon for examination, and the Office of the Chief Coroner confirmed the remains were Kennedy’s.

Prince Albert Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte offered his condolences to Kennedy’s family. He agreed it was good to bring the family closure, however the circumstances are not what anyone would have wanted. He also commended the agencies involved in the search effort.

“It’s so sad, but you know, somewhat, I’m relieved it’s come to a closure,” Hardlotte said. “Now the family can have a proper ceremony and a proper burial.”

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell