Latest news with #HalifaxSearchandRescue
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Search group warns against fake fundraiser exploiting two children missing in N.S.
Jack and Lilly Sullivan, who were reported missing from their home in Nova Scotia's Pictou County on May 2, 2025, are pictured. HALIFAX — Halifax Search and Rescue is warning against fraudsters impersonating their group who claim they'll use donated cash to search for two missing children. Paul Service, director of the volunteer organization, says a GoFundMe campaign attempted to raise $100,000 to fund a drone to search for four-year-old Jack Sullivan and six-year-old Lilly Sullivan. A large-scale search was launched for the two children after they disappeared on May 2 in Lansdowne Station, N.S., and there have been two, smaller efforts since then involving volunteer searchers. The non-profit group says it doesn't normally request donations through GoFundMe and doesn't base its campaigns on particular searches. Service says a representative from GoFundMe contacted him to say it was taking down the site and investigating after the campaign was reported on CBC. He says that it is disheartening for his group to have to cope with scams, as it may discourage the public from donating to his group's legitimate fundraising efforts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Search group warns against fake fundraisers exploiting two children missing in N.S.
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia search and rescue organizations are warning the public about fundraisers claiming they'll use donated cash to search for two missing children. Paul Service, director of Halifax Search and Rescue, said in an interview Thursday that one GoFundMe campaign attempted to raise $100,000 to fund a drone to search for four-year-old Jack Sullivan and six-year-old Lilly Sullivan. The campaign stated 'any unused funds will go to Halifax Search and Rescue or other active missing children searches.' Service said the non-profit, volunteer group didn't authorize that statement, doesn't normally request donations through GoFundMe and doesn't base its fundraising campaigns on particular searches. 'We would never tie in a fundraising effort to a specific search,' he said. A large-scale search was launched for the two children after they disappeared on May 2 in Lansdowne Station, N.S., and there have been two, smaller efforts since then involving volunteer searchers. To date, there have been no signs of the children despite hundreds of ground search and rescue teams combing through the densely wooded area. The teams also used helicopters, drones and thermal imaging technologies. On Tuesday, the volunteer group put out a warning on Facebook and other social media about 'fraudulent individuals and organizations impersonating us and soliciting money for searches.' Service said a representative from GoFundMe contacted him to say it was taking down the site and investigating after the campaign was reported on CBC. He said that it is disheartening for his group to have to cope with scams, since it may discourage the public from donating to his group's legitimate fundraising efforts. 'It's discouraging from our point of view because there are ... search and rescue teams in Nova Scotia that could all use donations to help keep their teams going or help buy additional equipment,' he said. 'These (false fundraising campaigns) challenge the legitimacy of all of the other fundraisers that the teams are doing and the good work those teams do.' Service said his group is hearing reports of some people receiving telephone calls soliciting funds to help in the search for the children. On May 31, the Pictou County Volunteer Ground Search and Rescue posted warnings telling its supporters it doesn't use telemarketing to seek donations. 'We had someone reach out saying they had been approached to give their credit card over the phone to donate to 'help save children,'' the organization warned in an online posting. Service said for people who want to donate to his organization, 'the safest way is to ... contact us directly,' on the group's website. He said his group receives close to $110,000 from the municipality and fundraises or seeks donations for about $40,000 to help meet an annual budget. 'Between April 1 and June 4, we've contributed over 4,000 hours of volunteer time responding to incidents,' said Service, adding this season has been among the busiest on record for ground search and rescue efforts in Halifax County. GoFundMe did not respond to a request for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Vancouver Sun
Stepfather of missing N.S. kids reportedly says mother's grief worsening due to online speculation
Daniel Martell, the stepfather of missing Nova Scotia children, four-year-old Jack and six-year-old Lilly Sullivan, says their mother's grief is worsening due to online speculation about the case, according to CTV News. Despite a methodical search over the last weekend, 'searchers haven't uncovered anything of significance to the investigation,' Corp. Guillaume Tremblay told National Post on Thursday. 'Any future searches will be determined based on the course of the investigation. RCMP officers from various teams are fully engaged in finding out what happened to Lilly and Jack and we're using all tools and resources to determine the circumstances of their disappearance,' he said. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The children were reported missing more than a month ago from their rural home in Pictou County, where they lived with Martell, their mother Malehya Brooks-Murray, and the couple's baby, Meadow. Even with ongoing searches and following up on 355 tips as of late May , authorities still have not found any concrete leads. The lack of evidence has led many people on social media to come up with conspiracy theories about how the children disappeared, which the stepfather says is making the situation worse. 'It doesn't get any easier. One month has passed,' Martell told CTV News . 'Don't attack Maleyha because her mental health is going to be reflected on our daughter, so I don't want anyone attacking Maleyha anymore.' Martell, who attended a vigil for the children held on June 2, said Brooks-Murray's grief was overwhelming and was made worse by speculation. The vigil was held in Stellarton, a town in Pictou County. A video of the solemn event posted on Facebook showed Martell lighting two paper lanterns and letting them float off into the sky. Candlelight vigil for Lilly and Jack Sullivan ❤️💙 'Let truth be revealed, let justice prevail, and let every child be returned safely to the earth and never stop loving them,' said Brenda MacPhee, who helped organize the vigil, Global News reported . Meanwhile, volunteer organization Halifax Search and Rescue said that scammers may be impersonating the group on fundraising site, GoFundMe. The fake campaign said it has a goal of reaching $100,000 to buy a drone to help with the search for the Sullivan siblings. However, Halifax Search and Rescue director Paul Service said his group doesn't normally request donations through GoFundMe and doesn't base its campaigns on particular searches. Service says a representative from GoFundMe contacted him to say it was taking down the site and investigating after the campaign was reported on CBC. He says that it is disheartening for his group to have to cope with scams, as it may discourage the public from donating to his group's legitimate fundraising efforts. The children were last seen in public with family on the afternoon of May 1, the day before they went missing. After ongoing searches, authorities decided to scale back in early May to focus on specific locations. They said teams of searchers had been struggling to get through thick wooded areas, some with damage leftover from Hurricane Fiona. However, they said the investigation would continue. On May 31, a search and rescue team on the ground combed through an area around Gairloch Rd., Lansdowne Station, where the children's home is located. They also searched through the nearby pipeline trail, where a boot print was previously discovered, the Nova Scotia RCMP said in a news release . The search continued on June 1 in a similar location near the home, the RCMP said in another news release . Searchers once again looked at the area where a boot print had been found and conducted a grid search of 8.5 square kilometres. Search and rescue volunteers have dedicated 'more than 10,000 hours of their time, searching in very challenging conditions' to try to find the Sullivan children, the RCMP said. With additional reporting by The Canadian Press Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Search group warns against fake fundraiser exploiting two children missing in N.S.
HALIFAX - Halifax Search and Rescue is warning against fraudsters impersonating their group who claim they'll use donated cash to search for two missing children. Paul Service, director of the volunteer organization, says a GoFundMe campaign attempted to raise $100,000 to fund a drone to search for four-year-old Jack Sullivan and six-year-old Lilly Sullivan. A large-scale search was launched for the two children after they disappeared on May 2 in Lansdowne Station, N.S., and there have been two, smaller efforts since then involving volunteer searchers. The non-profit group says it doesn't normally request donations through GoFundMe and doesn't base its campaigns on particular searches. Service says a representative from GoFundMe contacted him to say it was taking down the site and investigating after the campaign was reported on CBC. He says that it is disheartening for his group to have to cope with scams, as it may discourage the public from donating to his group's legitimate fundraising efforts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Global News
a day ago
- Global News
Search group warns against fake fundraiser exploiting two children missing in N.S.
Halifax Search and Rescue is warning against fraudsters impersonating their group who claim they'll use donated cash to search for two missing children. Paul Service, director of the volunteer organization, says a GoFundMe campaign attempted to raise $100,000 to fund a drone to search for four-year-old Jack Sullivan and six-year-old Lilly Sullivan. A large-scale search was launched for the two children after they disappeared on May 2 in Lansdowne Station, N.S., and there have been two, smaller efforts since then involving volunteer searchers. 1:56 Missing N.S. children: RCMP narrow down timeline of disappearance The non-profit group says it doesn't normally request donations through GoFundMe and doesn't base its campaigns on particular searches. Story continues below advertisement Service says a representative from GoFundMe contacted him to say it was taking down the site and investigating after the campaign was reported on CBC. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy He says that it is disheartening for his group to have to cope with scams, as it may discourage the public from donating to his group's legitimate fundraising efforts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025.
