Jeff Ross won’t stop looking for his brother until he is found.
"People don’t want to just stop, so we’re not going to stop. I can’t stop," said Jeff Ross, whose brother Jordan Ross has been missing since Friday.
On Tuesday, there were two boats and four kayakers on the Assiniboine River looking for Jordan Ross as the search shifted to the water. Ground teams of volunteers were still scouring the land, but the focus was on the river.
Jordan Ross, owner of Grand Valley Campground, was last seen leaving his home around 8:15 a.m. Friday to do some work at the campground.
The 41-year-old’s vehicle was eventually located beside the bridge on the Trans-Canada Highway and Assiniboine River, near the campground.
Jeff Ross said it is very unusual for his brother to not return home after a walk by the river. He would always come back and wouldn’t go more than an hour without responding to a text or a phone call.
The team is also looking for any truckers or drivers with dash cam footage from Friday morning on the Trans-Canada Highway.
"Right now it seems to be whoever was on the highway … is our best chance."
The campground’s pavilion building was still abuzz with activity on Tuesday as rain soaked the area. Several drenched volunteers were inside the building, wearing rubber boots and rain jackets.
Cases of water and energy drinks were stacked inside the busy staging area, along with tables full of coffee, fruit and sandwiches to keep volunteers fuelled.
Jeff Ross sat at a computer co-ordinating the search effort on a map as others made phone calls and updated each other.
The plan was also to issue a request to the military for help in the search on Tuesday, he said.
"We’re still pounding the pavement, still hitting the tree lines and in the bush."
The Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team was combing the Assiniboine River with a towed side scanner, which manager Paul Maendel said gives searchers an image of the bottom of the river. On previous days, the search party was using a standard sonar device, but it couldn’t reach the depths of the river.
The search has turned to the Assiniboine as Jordan Ross’ truck was discovered nearby and he had not been found on land, Maendel said.
"It’s important that people keep the family in their prayers … we believe that when the time comes, the Lord will work a miracle and we’ll get Jordan back," he said.
The search party is still welcoming experienced kayakers who want to help look for Jordan Ross. Jeff Ross said they have extra kayaks if needed.
A Facebook group has been created to share information about the search for the missing Brandon-area man called Find Jordan Ross.
Since search organizers issued a call for help on social media, the party has been joined by Search and Rescue Manitoba, the RCMP, family, friends and volunteers, who have all been combing the surrounding land for clues.
Air and water rescue units have also been dispatched to search the area, said RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Paul Manaigre. The search was still being investigated as a missing person case on Monday and there were no updates from the police on Tuesday.
Jordan Ross’ disappearance has been a complete shock to the family, said family-friend and designated spokesperson Jaime Stouffer. There were no signs of distress or any indication that he was in danger leading up to his disappearance.
Ross is described as five-foot-10, 175 pounds and bald.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Blue Hills RCMP detachment at 204-726-7522.
Brandon Bear Clan was scheduled to host a prayer group for Ross and his family at the Riverbank Discovery Centre’s Sharing Circle Tuesday afternoon.
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