Members of the public began searching the trails at Trent University Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday morning (November 22) for 24-year-old Trent University student Brett Michael LeBlanc.
LeBlanc, who was reported missing on Friday, was last seen on campus late on Tuesday night (November 17).
On Saturday, Peterborough police and university security personnel conducted a ground search of Trent University property but did not find LeBlanc. Police subsequently issued a missing person media release late Saturday afternoon.
LeBlanc, who is legally blind, is described as white, 5′ 10″ and 169 lbs, with brown medium-length hair and a thin moustache, and wearing white high-top sneakers.
Lucas Charron, a friend of LeBlanc, organized Sunday’s search of Trent University Wildlife Sanctuary through a Facebook event at facebook.com/events/2699433883654773/, with 60 people responding to the request for help.
“Brett is legally blind and if he did decide to walk through the sanctuary or any of the surrounding trails he could have easily gotten disoriented and lost,” Charron wrote on Facebook.
LeBlanc’s mother, Cheryl LeBlanc, posted a video to Facebook on Sunday morning from the wildlife sanctuary, welcoming anyone to help with the search.
LeBlanc typically wears black sunglasses — although, according to LeBlanc’s mother, did not have them with him when he went missing. While the police’s missing persons report states LeBlanc can walk without assistance, LeBlanc’s mother says he uses a cane.
In her Facebook video, LeBlanc’s mother also had a message for her son.
“Brett, if you are seeing this or hearing this, please come home to us,” she says, her voice breaking. “We need you.”
Today is the day we’re bringing you home Brett 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Cheryl Chappell Leblanc
Posted by Dutchess Millz on Sunday, November 22, 2020
This story has been updated with information about the public search for LeBlanc, as well as the video posted by his mother.
