At a Glance
- A pickup truck carrying two people broke through Cedar Lake ice on December 16, 2024.
- Corbin Constant, 31, was recovered on January 8, 2025; Tasha Ferland, 23, remains missing.
- The incident happened 250 feet from shore near the Manitoba Hydro boat launch.
- Why it matters: The recovery brings partial closure to families and highlights winter-ice dangers in rural Canada.
A month-long search has ended in heartbreak for one Manitoba family and uncertainty for another after authorities confirmed the recovery of Corbin Constant‘s body from Cedar Lake, where a pickup truck crashed through thin ice in mid-December. His traveling companion, Tasha Ferland, is still missing.
The Breakthrough
Royal Canadian Mounted Police first responded shortly after midnight on December 16, 2024, when reports came in that a truck had driven onto the lake and plunged through the ice. Investigators later established that tire tracks led from the Manitoba Hydro boat launch out onto the frozen surface before disappearing into open water roughly 250 feet from shore.
“Investigators were able to determine that the vehicle, containing a male and female passenger, drove out onto the ice when it broke through,” the RCMP stated the following day. “Tracks were seen leading from the boat ramp out onto the ice. The two occupants were unable to escape the vehicle before it went under.”
Search Operations
Immediate rescue efforts included:
- A police drone scanning the surface
- An underwater recovery team deployed within hours
- Continuous patrols along the shoreline
Despite the quick response, neither occupant was located. Conditions forced search crews to suspend daily operations and re-evaluate tactics.
On December 31, the Hutterian Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART), a nonprofit specializing in water rescues, joined the effort. Using specialized underwater robotics and an airboat to access the hazardous area, the group located and retrieved one of the missing person’s cell phones.
“We could only access the search area safely with our airboat,” HEART said in a social-media update. “We have to now presume that the bodies are downstream from there towards the generating station.”
Recovery of Corbin Constant
On Thursday, January 8, 2025, RCMP confirmed that search teams had recovered Corbin Constant, 31. A spokesperson relayed the development to News Of Losangeles, noting that efforts to locate Tasha Ferland, 23, would resume when weather allows.
Constant, a member of the Misipawistik Cree Nation, was remembered by relatives as a “beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend” who “left a lasting imprint on everyone’s heart.”
“The recovery of one of our loved one … meant a lot,” Chief Heidi Cook of the Misipawistik Cree Nation told the CBC over the weekend. She added that Constant’s family felt both relief and gratitude after weeks of uncertainty.
Continuing Search for Tasha Ferland
While Constant’s loved ones begin planning memorial services, the search for Ferland remains active. RCMP say they will deploy additional resources as ice and weather conditions stabilize.
Family members have not released statements, but community members continue to share missing-person posters online, urging anyone near Cedar Lake to report unusual objects or clothing along the shoreline.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 16, 2024 | Truck drives onto Cedar Lake, breaks through ice at ~12:30 a.m. |
| Dec. 17, 2024 | RCMP confirm two occupants missing; underwater team searches |
| Dec. 31, 2024 | HEART joins with robotics; cell phone recovered |
| Jan. 8, 2025 | Corbin Constant’s body recovered |
| Future | Search for Tasha Ferland to resume, conditions permitting |
Safety Reminders
Manitoba RCMP reiterated seasonal warnings:
- Ice thickness can vary within a few feet
- Snow-covered ice makes depth assessment difficult
- Vehicle travel on frozen lakes is never risk-free
Officers urge drivers to consult local ice reports, carry emergency equipment, and advise others of travel plans before venturing onto frozen waterways.
Community Impact
The extended search has drawn volunteers from across the province, including members of neighboring First Nations who assisted with equipment and logistics. A local church organized a candlelight vigil in late December, and an online fundraiser supports both families’ travel and accommodation costs during search operations.
Next Steps
RCMP will not speculate on when-or if-additional evidence will emerge regarding Ferland‘s whereabouts. Investigators maintain that river currents below the generating station could shift objects for several kilometers, complicating recovery efforts.
For now, officials ask the public to avoid the Cedar Lake search sector so trained teams can work unimpeded. Updates will be issued only when substantiated information becomes available.
Key Takeaways
- Corbin Constant, 31, was recovered on January 8, 2025, after a December 16 truck-through-ice incident
- Tasha Ferland, 23, remains missing; searches depend on safe ice and weather
- The tragedy underscores the unpredictable nature of early-winter ice conditions in rural Manitoba
