The pair was last seen on Ruth Falls Road in Ruth Falls around 2 a.m. on a Saturday. On Tuesday, around 12:40 p.m., the police announced that Holly had been found dead, and search teams continued to look for Lucas. Approximately an hour later, the police confirmed that the three-year-old boy was found dead near the location where Holly’s remains were discovered. Both were located on the shoreline of a body of water close to where they were last seen.

Although the police stated that their deaths are not considered suspicious, the investigation is ongoing.

Both youths are currently in custody under the RCMP.

Superintendent Kevin Lewis, acting commanding officer with the P.E.I. RCMP, stated, “A tremendous effort has been put into this investigation. We hope that with these developments, we can bring some closure to the loved ones of the deceased.”

This convergence of weather systems is poised to bring conditions typically associated with a fall storm, and residents are preparing for potential disruptions on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Philippe’s Current Status

As of the latest reports, Tropical Storm Philippe is positioned approximately 130 km east of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It boasts maximum sustained winds near the storm’s center estimated to be around 75 km/h, with Philippe steadily moving northwest at a rate of 16 km/h.

Forecast for Philippe

According to the official forecast track provided by the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Philippe is expected to progress northward, making its way toward the vicinity of Bermuda as a tropical storm by Friday. Subsequently, Philippe is anticipated to transition into a post-tropical storm as it approaches the Maritimes on Sunday. This transition will likely coincide with the arrival of a weather front from the west, ushering in typical fall storm conditions for the Maritimes.

Storm Strength and Potential Impact

Philippe’s strength, however, does not rival that of storms like Fiona or Dorian. The storm is currently assessed with an 80 percent chance of maintaining tropical storm strength, with a 20 percent chance of briefly reaching Category 1 hurricane strength as it moves north. Nonetheless, it is highly probable that Philippe will complete its transformation into a post-tropical storm before impacting the Maritimes, similar to the characteristics of a Nor’easter, albeit without snow.

In terms of potential weather impact, there is a risk of Philippe delivering variable yet impactful conditions to the Maritimes on Sunday. This includes the possibility of some areas receiving rainfall accumulations exceeding 50 mm or more and the potential for wind gusts reaching speeds of 90 km/h or higher. At this stage, specific areas at greatest risk for heavy rain or strong winds cannot be definitively determined.

Additionally, the potential for coastal wave action affecting the Maritimes is under consideration, although preliminary assessments suggest that it may be less pronounced compared to past events, such as with Tropical Storm Lee. Notably, this weekend does not coincide with a Full or New Moon, reducing the tidal cycle’s peak and, consequently, the impact of coastal wash and erosion.

As the situation continues to evolve, residents in the Maritimes are advised to stay vigilant, monitor weather updates closely, and make necessary preparations for the potential arrival of post-tropical storm Philippe during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Around 11:30 a.m., Nova Scotia Power reported over 2,078 active outages affecting more than 121,000 customers, with a significant number of these outages concentrated in the western part of the province and the Halifax metro area.

The utility company has been working diligently to restore power, managing to bring electricity back to some customers early in the morning. However, as weather conditions deteriorate, with winds reaching speeds above 80 km/h, it becomes unsafe for crews to operate from elevated buckets. Consequently, their focus has shifted to assessing damage and restoring power from the ground where feasible.

Matt Drover, NS Power’s storm lead, stated in a Saturday morning news release, “Crews have been able to restore power to some customers early this morning, however, conditions are getting worse. In many cases, especially when winds are above 80 km/h, it isn’t safe for our crews to be up in the buckets, so we focus on assessing damage and restoring power from the ground where possible.”

While tropical storm force winds continue to batter Nova Scotia, we want to remind customers that if you come across a downed wire, please stay as far away as possible. Treat the line as energized and report it to our outage line at 1-877-428-6004. Stay safe and visit… pic.twitter.com/yBngIcirtU

— Nova Scotia Power (@nspowerinc) September 16, 2023

As of approximately 11:30 p.m., NB Power has reported around 527 outages impacting more than 15,000 customers in the wake of post-tropical storm Lee. A significant number of these outages are concentrated in the Fredericton area.

In a social media update on Saturday afternoon, NB Power stated, “Our team is in the field to assess damage and begin making necessary repairs where conditions are safe.”

Efforts to restore power are underway as teams work diligently to evaluate the extent of the damage and address the outages caused by the storm.

12:00 PM Update: As of noon today, a little over 38,000 customers are without power as we continue to deal with the impacts of Hurricane Lee. Our team is in the field to assess damage and begin making necessary repairs where conditions are safe.

— NB Power (@NB_Power) September 16, 2023

Once a hurricane, Lee has been reclassified as a post-tropical storm, with its center projected to make landfall between Nova Scotia’s Shelburne and Yarmouth counties during the afternoon hours.

Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood reported, “We’re not getting as hard a hit as we originally anticipated – lots of wind here – there are some trees down, but far better than we thought. It’s not beautiful here, it’s windy.” However, this change in storm designation primarily relates to the storm’s structure and does not diminish the expected impacts.

Coastal areas of Nova Scotia are already witnessing substantial storm surges, causing waves to crash onto roadways. Erica Fleck, Halifax Regional Municipality’s emergency management director, urgently advised all residents to remain indoors and steer clear of the coastline. She emphasized, “It is really unsafe for people to be out there right now, we’re really urging residents to please be smart and stay home and shelter in place. There’s no need to be out right now unless it’s an absolute emergency.”

Fleck further revealed that storm surges had “wiped out” some roadways in the Lawrencetown area and along the Eastern Shore. “Water has already crossed roads… Roads that were fixed during the fires and the floods between May and July are out again in the Peggys Cove area,” she stated. “There are issues in Herring Cove, issues in Bedford, basically anywhere near water we’re already seeing issues, and the peak hasn’t come yet,” Fleck warned around 12:30 p.m.

According to CTV Atlantic meteorologist Kalin Mitchell, the worst of the storm’s impacts are anticipated to hit Nova Scotia throughout Saturday afternoon.

As of approximately 2 p.m., power outages affected 137,000 houses in Nova Scotia, over 36,000 homes in New Brunswick, and about 18 customers on Prince Edward Island were without power. Newfoundland Power had not reported any outages as of noon.

Matt Drover of Nova Scotia Power indicated that crews were actively working on power restoration in areas where winds were below 80 kilometers per hour. Drover stated, “We’ve been preparing all week for this storm, we knew that Lee was going to be a significant storm with really high winds.”

Environment Canada issued warnings of breaking waves between four and six meters along Nova Scotia’s central Atlantic coast, with storm surge warnings spanning from Shelburne County to Guysborough County.

Nova Scotia RCMP appealed to drivers to stay off the roads and expressed concerns about individuals heading to the coast to watch the waves, putting themselves and first responders at risk.

A hurricane watch is in effect for Grand Manan Island and coastal Charlotte County, New Brunswick, and for most of Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast. A tropical storm warning remains in place for most of Nova Scotia and for New Brunswick’s Bay of Fundy coast and areas along the Northumberland Strait.

The storm is predicted to bring more than 100 millimeters of rain to certain areas, raising concerns of flooding in parts of southwestern Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, including Saint John and Moncton. Wind gusts reaching 120 kilometers per hour could result in fallen trees, downed power lines, and structural damage.

In Prince Edward Island, Public Safety Minister Bloyce Thompson urged Islanders to make final preparations as the storm approached. Thompson advised residents to stay indoors during periods of high winds and to avoid coastal areas.

According to Environment Canada, Hurricane Lee is expected to move into western Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick on Saturday, bringing with it heavy rains, high winds, and powerful waves. The storm is forecasted to transition from a Category 1 hurricane to a formidable post-tropical storm upon making landfall on Saturday evening. The landfall location could vary, ranging from Grand Manan Island in New Brunswick to Shelburne County in Nova Scotia.

As of the most recent update, Hurricane Lee was situated approximately 380 kilometers northwest of Bermuda, moving northeastward at a speed of around 30 kilometers per hour. It has been generating wind speeds of up to 140 kilometers per hour.

The hurricane watch remains in effect for Grand Manan Island and coastal Charlotte County in New Brunswick. It also covers Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, and Queens counties in Nova Scotia. Additionally, a tropical storm warning is currently in effect for New Brunswick’s Bay of Fundy coast and a majority of mainland Nova Scotia.

The inclusion of Halifax and Lunenburg in the hurricane watch underscores the need for residents and authorities to remain vigilant and prepared for the potential impacts of this approaching weather event, which could include severe weather conditions, flooding, and power disruptions. Authorities will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary to ensure the safety of the affected communities.

According to Mayor Traverse, the search and rescue efforts, including helicopter support, are ongoing. The small town of approximately 200 residents is already dealing with the recent deaths of three individuals from natural causes, further adding to their grief. Mayor Traverse expressed the community’s determination to support each other and navigate this challenging period together.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received a report from the Canadian Coast Guard on Tuesday at around 3:30 p.m. regarding the sinking of a seven-meter fishing boat situated less than a kilometer from the shoreline. The boat went down approximately 1.6 kilometers from the harbor in Fleur de Lys, which is approximately 375 kilometers northwest of St. John’s. Four men were on board the vessel at the time.

Local fishermen managed to rescue one of the men from the shore, while tragically, the other two did not survive. The rescued individual received an assessment by an emergency medical team and did not require further medical attention. A search for the missing fourth man commenced on Tuesday with assistance from the coast guard, Canadian Armed Forces, and local residents. The search effort continued into the night with helicopters scouring the area.

On Wednesday, search teams from various towns in western and central Newfoundland were mobilized to aid the coast guard and the Armed Forces in their search efforts on land, at sea, and from the air. Additionally, the RCMP’s underwater recovery team was present at the scene.

Mayor Traverse noted that the fishermen on board the vessel are believed to be from Fleur de Lys and the neighboring community of Coachman’s Cove. Local fishermen set out early Wednesday morning to assist in the search for the missing man. Despite the tragedies the community has faced over the years, they remain resilient and united in their efforts to support one another.

The RCMP is conducting an investigation into the incident in collaboration with Transport Canada and provincial workplace health and safety officials.

Hurricane Lee reached Category 5 status before being downgraded to Category 4, with winds reaching 250 kilometers per hour, as it moved through the northeast Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center warned of hurricane-force winds and dangerous surf, although the storm’s exact path remains uncertain.

Another tropical storm named Margot formed to the east of Lee but is expected to remain far from Canada and the United States.

According to Shayne Fields, a Unifor representative, PAL Airlines, based in St. John’s, will take over some of Jazz’s former routes starting on November 1, also operating under the Air Canada Express banner. This shift will result in layoffs for 25 workers in Deer Lake, 16 in Gander, and 13 in Happy Valley-Goose Bay in central Labrador.

Teri Udle, a spokesperson for Jazz Aviation, confirmed that the layoffs are a consequence of Air Canada’s schedule changes. However, Udle did not provide confirmation regarding the expected number of layoffs in Gander or Deer Lake.

Unifor has filed grievances against Jazz Aviation at all three affected locations, and the union’s legal department is considering further action.

Shayne Fields expressed the union’s concern, saying, “We have members right now that have dedicated years of service, loyalty to this employer, and provided good years of their lives, and this is the thanks they get.”

On the other hand, Joseph Galimberti from PAL Airlines noted that the company is expanding and hiring due to its new contract with Air Canada.

The incident occurred earlier this week when an aggressive coyote bit a cyclist on the arm. The cyclist had dismounted her bicycle and used it as a shield against the attacking animal. The incident took place along a stretch of highway, and a passerby who witnessed the attack intervened by using a hiking stick or some form of pole to fend off the coyote.

Following the attack, the injured cyclist was promptly taken to a local hospital for medical treatment. Fortunately, her injuries were minor, and she was subsequently released after receiving medical care.

Erich Muntz, the park’s resource conservation manager, emphasized the importance of taking an aggressive stance when dealing with coyote attacks. He commended both the cyclist and the passerby for their quick and assertive responses, noting that such measures are crucial when confronting aggressive coyotes.

Parks Canada has since initiated patrols in the area where the attack occurred, with some personnel equipped with firearms. The decision to euthanize the coyote was made based on its unacceptable behavior. Muntz assured that the decision was well-considered and follows established protocols.

While coyote attacks in the national park are not uncommon, this recent incident bears similarities to a tragic event in October 2009 when a 19-year-old singer-songwriter from Toronto, Taylor Mitchell, lost her life in a coyote attack while hiking alone on the park’s Skyline Trail. Mitchell’s death marked the second fatal coyote attack recorded in North America.

Muntz does not believe that Wednesday’s attack was predatory in nature. He suggested that there might be something about the noise or movement of cyclists that triggers a chase sequence in coyotes and dogs. This behavior could be seen as a primitive response, as if they feel compelled to chase.

Parks Canada issued a statement advising the public to exercise caution and avoid walking or cycling in the area where the attack occurred. Furthermore, people are strongly discouraged from feeding coyotes or trying to entice these animals to come closer to them.

In the event of a coyote approach, Parks Canada recommends not running away. Instead, individuals should maintain eye contact with the animal, try to appear larger by waving their arms and shouting, and if necessary, throw hard objects like rocks to deter the coyote and scare it off.

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of wildlife safety and responsible behavior when encountering wildlife in natural settings.