Family begs public to come forward with information about missing teen

KENORA, Ont. – The family of Delaine Copenace is pleading for any members of the public with information about the 16-year-old’s disappearance to come forward.

The teen was last seen on Feb. 27 around 6 p.m. in downtown Kenora and was reported missing the following day.

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection issued a media release on Tuesday saying there are few leads along with a statement from the mother of Delaine Copenace calling for anyone with information to contact police.

“This is not like my girl – she wouldn’t have disappeared on her own,” Anida Ross said in the statement issued Tuesday afternoon.

“Every moment she’s gone, that we don’t know anything, we are more afraid. If you know anything, please come forward. I need my baby home.”

The search is now entering its 11th day. She was last seen wearing black boots, a black jacket, a Bullet for my Valentine t-shirt and black jeans with zippered pockets.

The OPP detachment in Kenora has enlisted the support of the provincial police force’s emergency response team and K9 unit, along with other resources. The OPP have also partnered with members of the public for a community search which also included the use of a helicopter, provided by a private business.

An OPP spokeswoman on Monday said the search was refocusing on the downtown core of Kenora.

People who live in or own property in the Kenora or Lake of the Woods area is asked to search their yards and outbuidlings.

Anyone who wants to assist can go to the search headquarters at Knox United Church in Kenora.