A photo of Shane Fair, taken May 16, the night he went missing at a year-end formal party at Ontario Place. (Photo courtesy of Facebook)
The body of a Toronto student who went missing two weeks ago was recovered from Lake Ontario this weekend. Nineteen-year-old Shane Fair was reported missing May 16 after he failed to return home from a party on the waterfront.
Mr. Fair's body was spotted in the water near Ontario Place on Saturday, just metres away from the spot where he was last seen on May 16, after a formal dance and dinner organized by Calumet, his York University residence.
Mr. Fair was just weeks away from graduation, and was hoping for a career with the Canadian military. His disappearance sparked a massive search. Some believed he had missed the last bus home and been targeted by a mugger while trying to walk to his mother's home in Toronto's Beaches district.
"The family of Shane Fair would like to thank the public interest and support during this difficult time, and has kindly asked for their privacy," Toronto Police investigators said in a statement yesterday.
Mr. Fair was the second young man to drown in Lake Ontario this month. Last Thursday, the body of missing Peterborough-area teen Mason MacPhail was found in the Toronto harbour, close to the Docks night club. Mr. MacPhail, who was mildly autistic, was ejected from the club two days before while attending an all-ages concert with friends.
The discovery of Mr. Fair's body Saturday crushed the hopes of his family and well-wishers who had spurred the search for him with a series of Facebook groups.