Canadian authorities are actively searching for a 62-year-old Australian woman who went missing while hiking in a coastal national park in Nova Scotia. Denise Ann Williams was last in contact with her family on 15 April, when she informed them she was traveling to Chéticamp, a fishing village on the west coast of Cape Breton Island.
Discovery of Rental Car
Her rental vehicle, a Nissan Sentra, was located at the Parks Canada visitor centre near the start of the Acadian Trail, an 8.4-kilometre loop within Cape Breton Highlands National Park. A local resident noted on social media that the car had not moved for approximately two weeks.
Terrain and Wildlife Concerns
The park features rugged, rocky coastline and is home to moose, coyotes, and black bears. The Acadian Trail is rated as moderate difficulty, with elevation changes and short steep sections, typically taking three to four hours to complete. Mobile phone reception is unreliable in the area. The park's website advises hiking with companions and informing others of your plans if hiking alone.
Search Efforts Underway
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Inverness County received a missing person report at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time on 28 April. Authorities released images of Williams and described her as 5-foot-4 with greyish-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.
Air and ground searches continued on Friday, involving RCMP, Department of Natural Resources air services, 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, water bodies, and lingering snow in the highlands.
Wildlife Risks
Nova Scotia police corporal Mandy Edwards highlighted that wildlife poses a danger this time of year, as bears emerge from hibernation. Daytime temperatures in the park range from 0 to 14 degrees Celsius, dropping to -5°C overnight. Edwards expressed hope that Williams may have encountered people who recognize her from the released photo.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Williams' family but declined further comment due to privacy obligations.
