The family of missing 36-year-old Kelsey Anderson of the Webequie First Nation was in Thunder Bay on Thursday to put out a public plea for assistance.

Anderson was last seen on May 9 around Thunder Bay’s Thunder Centre at about 6:30 p.m.

He is described as approximately 5’9″, with a medium build, brown eyes, and black hair.

Anderson’s disappearance has been difficult for his family and community.

“In a close-knit First Nation community like ours, when somebody goes missing, the impact is felt by all,” said Webequie First Nation Chief Lorraine Whitehead at Thursday’s press conference.

Anderson’s family has been assisted in their search by members of their community, volunteers, and the Thunder Bay Police Service.

Now, the search is widening, as the searchers are encouraging residents of Thunder Bay and the surrounding area to check their properties.

“Any details, no matter how minor, will help the search,” said Whitehead.

Difficult times

Anderson, who resides in the Webequie First Nation, was in Thunder Bay for a training program with KKETS, or Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment & Training Services.

His uncle, Johnny Yellowhead, explained that Anderson was going through a tough time.

Two individuals have been killed in train-related incidents in Thunder Bay over the past month, one of whom was Anderson’s cousin.

According to Yellowhead, Anderson also went missing for three days last year, but had turned up at a family residence to let everyone know he was safe.

“It’s kind of unusual for him not to come forward or contact us,” said Yellowhead.

Destiny Rae, Anderson’s partner, wanted her boyfriend to see all the people working hard to find him.

“He thought no one cared for him. He was hurting,” she said.

Rae maintained that she would stay in Thunder Bay for the duration of the search.

“Just know I’m not leaving until I find you. You’re loved, and you didn’t need to think that you weren’t,” she added.

Missing persons

Numerous missing person cases in Thunder Bay over the years, including recent cases, have involved individuals from communities within the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN).

“There’s always been, I think, nervousness or concern, especially when it comes to children and youth and their safety while they are here in Thunder Bay,” says NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler.

Fiddler hopes to meet with city leadership to push for changes to the way Thunder Bay handles missing persons.

“There’s several outstanding recommendations that have yet to be implemented from the seven youth inquiry, and that was ten years ago,” he says.

Fiddler recently called for greater video surveillance of Thunder Bay’s riverbanks.

He also wants to see new city protocols for searching for missing persons that better coordinate the efforts of police, volunteers, and families.

“It’s supposed to be all coordinated, and a collaborative effort to ensure that families, for example, are kept up to date on every single significant development that happens,” Fiddler explains. “And right now we’re still seeing gaps.”

The Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) handles about 800 missing persons cases per year, according to Missing Person Coordinator Jeff Saunders.

Saunders says the police have looked at Kelsey Anderson’s financial and phone records, but are no closer to finding the missing man.

“We’ve been searching for many days now and we have followed up on countless leads,” Saunders said at the press conference. “I just want to encourage the local public here in the city to take a moment, search your properties, search your outbuildings, your sheds, and so forth. We’re open to anything at this point.”