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Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. In the foreground, the Freshwater Lake. Behind it on the left, the South Bay Ingonish opens up to the Atlantic Ocean beyond the visible Cape Smokey. On the right is partially visible the town of Ingonish Beach. Photographer: Tango7174.
Extensive search for missing hiker suspended
5 May 2026, Canada: The search for a missing hiker – Denise Ann Williams, 62, from Australia – in Cape Breton Highlands National Park has today been suspended following an extensive six-day air and ground search of the area, with no further search activity planned at this time.
On 28 April, at approximately 9.30am, Inverness County District RCMP received a report of a missing person. Denise was last heard from on 15 April when she indicated she was travelling to Cheticamp. Her rental vehicle, a Nissan Sentra, was located at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre near the Acadian Trail head.
Search efforts involving the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Department of Natural Resources Air Services, RCMP Police Dog Services, multiple Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) teams, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, Parks Canada, Nova Scotia Public Safety Field Communications, and EHS Emergency Preparedness and Special Operations (EPSO) began on April 28.
Denise is described as 5-foot-4 with greyish blonde, shoulder-length hair. She’s believed to have been wearing a dark winter jacket, a powder blue toque with “Antarctica” written on it, an orange and blue scarf and glasses.
Anyone who may have encountered Denise in or around the Cape Breton Highlands National Park is asked to contact Inverness County District RCMP at 902-258-2213. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at https://crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
Denise Ann Williams, 62, from Australia was last heard from on 15 April when she indicated she was travelling to Cheticamp. Image supplied by the Nova Scotia Royal Canadian Mounted Police.