Search crews in New Brunswick are continuing to look for a missing Mount Allison University student.
Christopher Metallic, 20, was last seen leaving a house party on Allison Street in the early hours of Nov. 25.
Police, search crews and an RCMP helicopter spent several days searching for the missing man last week.
Investigators called off the search Thursday, saying they had looked at all areas of interest.
However, crews started to search again Saturday in Upper Sackville near the Tantramar River after police confirmed footwear located in the area was worn by Metallic before he disappeared.
Yesterday, they broke through the ice on the Tantramar River as part of their search. Their efforts were also expanded to include a recovery element.
The Moncton Fire Department deployed its hovercraft for the first time and Deputy Fire Chief Don McCabe said many tools are being used in the mission.
“We also have chainsaws, a rehab unit, some rope, some suits for the firefighters to wear, and in conjunction with Sackville and Moncton we are cutting…grids through the ice and the hovercraft is coming by and breaking it,” McCabe told CTV News Sunday.
Divers are expected to search a section of the Tantramar River today for clues.
Meanwhile, a benefit was held in Sackville on the weekend to raise funds to increase a $2,000 missing persons reward.
Funds raised will also help Metallic’s family deal with the costs associated with travelling from Quebec to Sackville to be near the rescue effort.
“It is the community coming together and expressing their concern and trying in some small way to say that we are all part of this and we are all with you,” said Marshall Button, who emceed the event.
Metallic is described as aboriginal with short, dark hair and glasses. He is six-feet-tall and 180 pounds.
He was last seen wearing a shiny, bright blue sweater and jeans.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police at 1-888-506-RCMP (7267).
