Drowning victim in Temiskaming Shores remembered as a great father
Christian Bergeron and daughter Maya fell through ice at Pete’s Dam Park in late December
A man presumed drowned in Temiskaming Shores, about 90 minutes north of North Bay, Ont., is being remembered as a great father.
"Chris was a father that was extremely devoted to his kids," said Eric Lafond, Christian Bergeron's friend and boss.
"He had his kids every second weekend and he always, always, and I mean always had plans with his kids."
Bergeron was at Pete's Dam Park, a popular hiking area, with his daughter Maya on Dec. 29 when they both fell through the ice.
On Jan. 2, police confirmed they recovered Maya's body from the river, but had not yet found her father.
Lafond said the day the pair went missing was one of the hardest of his life. He helped the family search for them when there was still hope they could be found alive.
"When you lose two members of your family so tragically, I cannot even imagine how difficult that could be," he said.
Maya, he said, was a fun-loving girl with a contagious laugh.
A candlelight vigil was held for the victims and their family members on Dec. 31, in the community of New Liskeard.
Lafond started a GoFundMe campaign to support Bergeron's family.
With files from Rajpreet Sahota