Search scaled back for man missing in Mackenzie River

Search efforts are being scaled backfor Richard St.Germain, 21, who went missing in the Mackenzie River near Norman Wells, N.W.T., a week ago.

St.Germain, 21, was last seenafter his canoe tippedon the river the evening of July 15. Hehad moved to Norman Wells just three weeks priorto work for North-Wright Airways.

That Tuesdaynight, it was sunny and warm when hewent out on the river with a young woman he was seeing, after her shift at a local restaurant. Awind came up and a wave swamped the canoe.

The woman was pulled out of the water within minutesby a local man, who saw them calling for help, says Richard's father Laval St. Germain.

"[He] went for the canoe initially, saw that he could not see Richard and then picked up the young lady and circled the canoe threetimes and couldn't find him," says St. Germain.

"[He] stayed out until 2:30 in the morning along with most of the community of Norman Wells who, within minutes, showed up looking for our boy."

Searchers say they've dragged the area he was last seen more than a thousand times.More than a hundred people from all over the region took part in the search and searchers have been working up to 18 hours a day, looking for any sign of St. Germain.

They're now dialling down their efforts but people will continue to check the shoreline along the river and a helicopter will pass over the area once a week.

"There's a lot of traffic between here and Fort Good Hope all summer long on the river, so as long as the individual is missing, we will continue to look," said searcherSarah Baker.

LavalSt. Germain, a pilot himself who hasspent much of his life flying in the North,says searchers let him know they're winding down their efforts. Hesays he's OKwith that.

"Some of my best days of my life have been in the Arctic," he said. "I've flown over the Mackenzie many times. It's Canada's largest river. It's untamed still. And he's slowly being carried north. I think there's something that's beautiful about that."

The St. Germain family has established a trust fund in Richard's nameto provide rescue equipment to Norman Wells.