Community Braves Frigid Cold in Search for Missing Owen Sound Man James Van-Veen
Volunteer-led search continues for 64-year-old James Van-Veen, who went missing Jan. 26 near Inglis Falls. Sunday's effort saw strong turnout despite extreme cold.
More than 100 community members gathered near Inglis Falls on Sunday morning to take part in a coordinated volunteer search for James Van-Veen, the 64-year-old Owen Sound man missing since January 26.
Despite the temperature plunging to –19°C at 9 a.m., a total of 77 volunteers were assigned to search teams, which collectively covered 12 designated zones in the area surrounding Inglis Falls.
The effort was organized by the volunteer-run non-profit Please Bring Me Home, working alongside Van-Veen’s family and local supporters.
The group emphasized the search was conducted in support of the family and to build on the work already undertaken by Ontario Provincial Police and specialized search units, which suspended their search on February 2 due to dangerous terrain and winter conditions.
James Van-Veen’s Disappearance
James Van-Veen, 64, was reported missing on the morning of Monday, January 26, 2026, after failing to report for work. His vehicle was soon found parked at the Inglis Falls Conservation Area, a location familiar and meaningful to him.
According to Nick Oldrieve, Executive Director of Please Bring Me Home, Inglis Falls was a place Van-Veen often visited — sometimes at unusual hours — both for its beauty and personal significance.
“It’s where he got married, and he would often visit at different times of the day,” Oldrieve told Owen Sound Current.
Van-Veen was last seen around 4 a.m. on January 26, and initial search efforts by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) began that same day. Crews from the Emergency Response Team, Canine Unit, Aviation Services, and the Underwater Search and Recovery Unit conducted an intensive five-day operation across cliffs, trails, riverbanks, and wooded escarpment terrain.
These efforts were eventually suspended due to deep snow, shifting ice, and hazardous ground conditions, though police continue to monitor the area and plan to resume active searching when it is safe to do so.
Van-Veen is described as:
5’10” tall
Approximately 175 pounds
Grey hair and beard
Brown eyes
Wears glasses
At the time of his disappearance, he was likely wearing dark overalls and high-cut work boots.
Community Support and Search Logistics
Please Bring Me Home thanked a number of local businesses and residents for their support during Sunday’s operation. In a post shared to social media, the organization acknowledged:
Tim Hortons for donating coffee and tea
Owen Sound Foodland for providing sandwiches
Tara Corner Store for donating hand warmers
OSHaRE for additional contributions
A local family for the use of a heated trailer at the staging area
Eight volunteers acted as transport drivers, helping move search teams in and out of zones, while another five helped coordinate refreshments and logistics at the Grey Roots Museum staging site.
Please Bring Me Home also recognized Nicole Gill, a family friend of the Van-Veens, for her efforts in organizing supplies and support for the event.
What’s Next
All search areas planned for the day were completed, according to PBMH. The group will now compile a detailed report of covered zones to share with the OPP and continue monitoring weather conditions. A second search will be planned when snow levels and safety conditions allow for expanded efforts.
Please Bring Me Home reiterated its commitment to supporting the Van-Veen family and resuming search efforts when appropriate:
“We will continue searching until there is closure.”
Related:
