Search underway for missing kayaker at Halifax’s Long Lake Provincial Park

A search for a kayaker who went missing in Halifax on Sunday is underway.

Police say the woman, now identified as 26-year-old Jashansdeep Kaur, was reported missing around 12:40 p.m. in the Long Lake Provincial Park near Dentith Road and Old Sambro Road in Spryfield.

“This lake is very busy, so a kayaker had noticed an empty kayak floating in the north end with some personal effects in there and nobody around in the area,” said Jim Stymiest, Halifax Fire assistant chief.

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Crews with Ground Search and Rescue were called to assist with the search around 3 p.m.

“(We) responded with our rescue boat from Station Six, just up the road,” said Stymiest.

“Then we enlisted the Halifax Ground Search and Rescue and they also launched their rescue boats with side scan sonar and they also had drones in the air.”

Out of concern for Kaur, her coworkers Arshpreet Singh and Sarabjeet Saini went to the park hoping to find updates.

“We usually met her on weekdays because she drives a truck in Loblaws and we also drive a truck in Loblaws. We usually see her there so that’s why we were wondering,” said Singh.

While they don’t know her well, Singh and Saini described Kaur as a kind person who moved to Halifax from New Brunswick about four months ago.

“She was always happy. Always smiling and waving,” said Saini.

Jena Rand and her friend were at the park Sunday when police asked them if they had seen Kaur.

“No one was in the woods looking for her at the time. We couldn’t hear anyone yelling out her name. They had a drone in the sky going up and down the lake and the search and rescue boat did countless laps. We left around 6 p.m. and the boat was still scouring the lake,” Rand said.

Police describe Kaur as a South Asian woman, about five-feet tall, with a slim build and long dark hair. She was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, black pants and white and black sneakers, according to a news release from police.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 902-490-5020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

-With files from Hafsa Arif

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