Prince George Teen Presumed Drowned One Week Before Graduation Ceremony

Lucas Tremblay

6/9/20261 min read

A 17-year-old from Prince George is presumed drowned after a boating incident on Stony Lake, southeast of the city, just one week before he was set to attend his high school graduation ceremony.

RCMP say the incident happened on June 6, when a boat capsized and left four people in the water. Three people were able to make it safely to shore, but the boat’s operator could not be located.

Police said efforts to find the teen are continuing, with the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team expected to assist.

“Our thoughts are with the family, friends and loved ones as they cope with this tragic loss,” B.C. RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark said in a statement.

Student Was Set to Graduate Early

The teen attended D.P. Todd Secondary School, according to a letter sent to parents.

The school said he had been scheduled to formally graduate this coming Friday, one year early.

In response to the tragedy, the school has set up spaces where students can access one-on-one support. Families were also told that 24/7 support services are available in the community.

Incident Happened at Popular Fishing Lake

Stony Lake is a popular fishing and recreation area located roughly 80 kilometres southeast of Prince George, as the crow flies, and east of Hixon.

The lake is accessible from the Willow Cale Forest Service Road and has multiple recreational sites along its shores.

The incident has brought renewed attention to boating and water safety as the summer recreation season begins.

Drowning Deaths Higher Than Last Year

The Lifesaving Society of B.C. says the province has already seen a high number of drowning deaths this year.

As of May 30, there had been 17 drownings in B.C. and Yukon, compared with nine at the same point in 2025.

Last week, the B.C. Coroners Service issued a public safety reminder for outdoor recreation, including boating. The service noted that there were 965 accidental drownings in B.C. between 2015 and 2025, with most occurring during the summer months.

The search for the Prince George teen remains ongoing.

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