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Body of missing man found in Tuktoyaktuk after search

The body of a missing man was located in Tuktoyaktuk Thursday following a far-reaching search led by police and community volunteers.

John Holliday's body was found submerged in the Tuktoyaktuk Harbour, or the Point as it’s referred to in the hamlet, around noon by RCMP officers and members of the Tuktoyaktuk Search and Rescue Society, stated a news release from the Mounties.

John Holliday, whose body was found in the Tuktoyaktuk Harbour on Thursday, is being remembered by former co-workers as a "passionate" man who, "made everyone smile." Facebook photo

Holliday's body was recovered near the shore of the harbour, not far from where he was last seen. He was reported missing on Wednesday, Aug. 1.

Police have yet to deem the death suspicious or not suspicious and the cause of Holliday’s death is undetermined at this time, RCMP Const. Robert Frizzell told News/North.

According to an online post published by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, Holliday had recently retired after a, "long career at the BC Rail and then CN (Canadian National Railway)."

"It is with great sadness that we learn of the recent passing of John Holliday, our friend and Union brother.

"He retired as TCRC General Chair, and was renowned for his passion and commitment to his co-workers and the Union movement in general," stated the post.

"John made everyone smile/laugh at one time or another," wrote a former co-worker on Facebook.

CBC has reported Holliday was visiting Tuktoyaktuk as a tourist at the time of his death.

The NWT Coroner Services, working alongside RCMP, have transported Holliday's body from the scene for a postmortem examination.

"The RCMP would like to thank the volunteers, Tuktoyaktuk Search and Rescue, Community Government of Tuktoyaktuk, and all agencies that assisted with the search. Our condolences to the family," stated the Mounties' news release.