The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board expresses condolences to the families of Ahmed Ahmed and Riley Cotter, both 17, who tragically lost their lives on Wednesday evening after falling through the ice on the Rideau River. The teens, students at John McCrae Secondary School, are remembered fondly by their school community.
OCDSB spokesperson Diane Pernari stated, “This is very sad news for us all. This tragedy will be felt deeply by students and staff in our community. Our first priority is to ensure that we are supporting the families of the students and our school community in any way that we can.”
A mental health team has been made available to support affected students and staff, and the district’s Employee and Family Assistance Program is accessible to staff seeking assistance. The OCDSB aims to provide ongoing support, with the mental health team on-site on Jan. 8.
The Cotter family shared their grief, describing Riley as universally liked and passionate about skiing, baseball, dirt biking, and skateboarding. The family appreciates the overwhelming support from the community.
In memory of Ahmed, a GoFundMe campaign revealed his aspirations of becoming a police officer upon completing school in 2024. Ottawa city councillor David Hill acknowledged the tragedy and anticipated future discussions on the dangers of ice on lakes and rivers.
The incident occurred when a group of four teenagers, including Ahmed and Cotter, fell through the ice on the Rideau River during a skate at Nicolls Island. Police discovered the bodies after an extensive search, treating two teens for mild hypothermia and one search diver for injuries.
The Coroner’s Office is currently investigating the tragic deaths of Ahmed Ahmed and Riley Cotter.