The remarkable discovery of a missing three-year-old Quebec girl near Ottawa yesterday brings a wave of relief across the region, ending what had become an increasingly desperate search operation.
Little Laurie-Ann Lemieux was found safe but disoriented in a wooded area approximately 4 kilometers from where she was last seen playing near her family’s cottage in Val-des-Monts, Quebec. The toddler had been missing for nearly 24 hours, sparking one of the most extensive search efforts in the region this year.
“It’s the outcome we all prayed for,” said Sergeant Marie Desrosiers of the Sûreté du Québec, visibly emotional at the press conference held this morning. “When a child this young goes missing in a rural area with dense forest and water bodies, every minute counts.”
The search involved over 200 volunteers, police officers from multiple jurisdictions, and specialized search units with canine teams. Ottawa Police Service also dispatched resources to assist their Quebec counterparts in what became a truly cross-provincial effort.
I’ve covered many missing persons cases over my years reporting in the Ottawa region, but the community response to this particular incident was extraordinary. Local businesses closed early to allow employees to join search parties. Social media channels across both provinces were flooded with the child’s description and pleas for information.
Robert Milligan, a volunteer searcher who helped locate the child, described the moment they found her. “She was huddled under a fallen tree, scared but otherwise unharmed. When we approached, she asked for her mother and her teddy bear, in that order,” he said, choking back tears. “It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”
Medical personnel at CHEO (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario) in Ottawa conducted a thorough examination and reported that besides mild dehydration and some scratches, Laurie-Ann appeared to be in good health. A hospital spokesperson confirmed she is expected to make a full recovery with no lasting physical effects from her ordeal.
The question of how the toddler managed to wander so far from her family’s property remains under investigation. The family had been enjoying a weekend at their summer cottage when Laurie-Ann reportedly disappeared during a brief period when her mother went inside to prepare lunch.
“Children this age can move surprisingly quickly and cover significant distances, especially in unfamiliar environments,” explained Dr. Caroline Bennett, a child development specialist from the University of Ottawa. “Their sense of direction isn’t fully developed, and natural curiosity can lead them far from safety without any awareness of danger.”
This case highlights the particular challenges of rural and cottage country safety. The Quebec-Ontario border region, with its mix of forests, lakes, and scattered properties, presents unique risks for families with young children.
The Sûreté du Québec issued a statement thanking all participants in the search effort while reminding cottagers and rural residents about essential precautions when supervising young children in outdoor settings.
“This story could have ended very differently,” notes Ottawa-based safety consultant James Wilson. “Water bodies, changing weather, wildlife – there are numerous hazards in our beautiful countryside that require constant vigilance, especially with toddlers.”
Local support for the family has been overwhelming. A GoFundMe campaign organized by neighbors has already raised over $7,000 to help cover the family’s expenses during their extended stay away from home.
The family has requested privacy during this time but released a brief statement through police: “Words cannot express our gratitude to everyone who helped bring our daughter home safely. The kindness of both strangers and neighbors has reminded us of the incredible community we live in.”
As the family begins to recover from this harrowing experience, child psychologists emphasize the importance of supportive, trauma-informed care in the coming weeks.
“Even very young children can experience lasting effects from separation and fear,” said Dr. Amina Khalid of the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. “How caregivers respond in the aftermath can significantly influence how well children process these experiences.”
This story, with its fortunate ending, stands in stark contrast to several tragic outcomes in similar cases across Canada this year. According to Statistics Canada, approximately 45,000 children are reported missing annually in Canada, though the vast majority are quickly located.
For the community members who dropped everything to join the search, yesterday’s discovery represents the best possible outcome to what could have been a tragedy. As volunteer coordinator Thomas Bélanger put it, “This is why we never give up hope, why we keep searching no matter how dire it seems. Today, a family is whole again.”
That sentiment perfectly captures what I’ve observed throughout my years covering our interconnected Ottawa-Gatineau region – when it matters most, provincial boundaries dissolve, and we become simply neighbors helping neighbors.
