Waterloo region family mourns nine-year-old who died on camping trip
A family that recently moved from Waterloo Region is remembering the life of their nine-year-old boy after the search for him came to a tragic end.
Everett Freeman is being remembered as a beautiful soul with a shy and sweet demeanour as well as a certain kind of silliness he only shared with a lucky few.
"Everett was such an amazing kid," said Korey Freeman, Everett's dad. "He was one in a million."
Korey says their family of five are from Waterloo Region and moved to Seguin Township in Parry Sound about a month ago. Part of the reasoning for the move was to give their kids a chance to explore the outdoors.
"Everybody loved him and he loved life," said Korey. "He loved to laugh, he was just so full of fun, he was so fun to hang out with, and we're just going to miss him so much."
Everett was reported missing on Friday afternoon during a family camping trip on Huckleberry Island in Georgian Bay.
"The kids were playing hide and seek," said Korey. "Everett was playing with some of his younger cousins and the game kind of petered out and he wandered off."
When they couldn't find him, Ontario Provincial Police were called in, and a massive search effort began.
"The search was really overwhelming," said Korey. "I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone involved. It was so many people. It was unbelievable. They pulled out all the stops, a helicopter in the sky, people searching through the night."
On Saturday night, Everett's body was found.
"The dive team was brought in to search the water and they found him close to those rocks he would avoid," said Korey. "It seemed like he must have slipped and fell in."
Police do not suspect any foul play.
Korey says Everett loved camping and was a careful kid, but couldn't swim. The family is currently waiting for an autopsy report.
"His sister is really feeling it," said Korey. "They were so close. She's lost her big brother and her best friend, but she's being so brave and doing the best she can."
Everett previously attended Cedarbrae Public School in Waterloo.
The Waterloo Region District School Board says it normally offers mental health support for students and staff in these circumstances, but summer break may impact this.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.