A spontaneous demonstration drew a crowd outside Cégep Gérald-Godin in Montreal’s Sainte-Geneviève neighbourhood as community members called for intensified efforts to find an 18-year-old student who has been missing since Thursday, March 26, after falling through the ice in the Rivière des Prairies near Île-Bizard.
Organizers say the gathering formed in less than 30 minutes, bringing together more than 100 people, including students who walked out of class to join the teen’s family.
Demonstrators held signs, honked horns and created an emotional scene in front of the school.
The missing teen, identified by community members as Hassoun Choui, is described as a well-known figure in the local sports community, including through his involvement with AJOI. Organizers say those ties helped drive the large turnout.
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Emergency services were first called around 2:35 p.m. Thursday after reports that two people were in distress in the water near Jacques-Bizard Boulevard in the L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève borough.
Both individuals are students at Cégep Gérald-Godin.
A 17-year-old was rescued and taken to hospital in stable condition, but the 18-year-old did not resurface.
Police and rescue crews searched for three days using boats, drones, underwater cameras and divers. Officials said strong currents made conditions dangerous and may have carried the teen away from the initial location.
The search was suspended after those efforts failed to locate him, though authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.
