Canadian authorities are searching for a 62-year-old Australian woman who has been missing for two weeks while hiking in a coastal national park in Nova Scotia. Denise Ann Williams was last heard from on April 15, when she informed her family she was traveling to Chéticamp, a fishing village on the west coast of Cape Breton Island.
Search Efforts Underway
Williams' rental car, a Nissan Sentra, was discovered at the Parks Canada visitor center near the Acadian trailhead, an 8.4-kilometer loop within Cape Breton Highlands National Park. A local resident reported on social media that the vehicle had not moved in approximately two weeks.
The park, characterized by a rugged coastline, is home to moose, coyotes, and black bears. The Acadian trail is rated as moderate difficulty, with elevation gain and steep sections, taking three to four hours to complete. Phone reception in the area is unreliable.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Inverness County received a missing person report at around 9:30 a.m. local time on April 28. They have released images of Williams and described her as 5-foot-4 with grayish-blonde shoulder-length hair. She was believed to be wearing a dark winter jacket, a powder-blue beanie with the word "Antarctica," an orange and blue scarf, and glasses.
Challenging Terrain
Air and ground searches are ongoing, involving RCMP air services, Department of Natural Resources aircraft, police dog services, and multiple search and rescue teams. Chris Bellmore, president of Chéticamp Search and Rescue, described the terrain as very difficult, with mountainous areas, abundant water, and lingering snow in the highlands.
RCMP Corporal Mandy Edwards noted that wildlife, including bears emerging from hibernation, could pose a danger. Daytime temperatures in the park range from 0 to 14 degrees Celsius, with overnight lows dipping to -5 degrees Celsius. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to Williams' family.
