LANSDOWNE STATION — An exhaustive search continued for a fourth day on Monday for two young children believed to have wandered away from their home in rural northeastern Nova Scotia.
Six-year-old Lily Sullivan and four-year-old Jack Sullivan were last seen around 10 a.m. Friday in the community of Lansdowne Station.
In a short update on Monday, RCMP Cpl. Carlie McCann said that over the last three days ground teams have “meticulously searched” several kilometres in the area where the children were last seen.
“Searchers are diligently keeping track of which specific sections of the ground have been covered and are applying their specialized skills to allow the searchers on scene to stay safe,” McCann said.
Trained civilians from across the province are involved in the search and have been combing a heavily wooded area around Gairloch Road, where the children’s family home is located. A helicopter and several drones were also assisting in the search.
McCann said police are asking the public to stay away from the area to allow the trained searchers to do their work.
Municipality of Pictou Coun. Donald Parker, reached on the phone on his way to the search site, said the community is consumed with worry about the children.
“We’re all very concerned, very worried. We got two little ones missing there. That’s all that’s on everybody’s minds out here,” he said.
“They’ve got all kinds of search and rescue teams … they’re doing everything they possibly can to find those children, but so far no luck. So we’re hoping and praying for the best here. It’s all we can do.”
Parker said many from the community have offered to join the search, but only trained search and rescue crew are involved, “which makes sense — but the community has offered up any support they need.”
Parker said he spoke with the missing children's mother a couple of days ago. “She has a little one, maybe less than a year old, in her arms. It’s tough. Something that could happen to anybody, and it happened to them,” he said of the disappearances.
“Our heart goes out to them. If you’ve got grandchildren or children, I’d say give them an extra hug.”
RCMP describe Lily Sullivan as having shoulder-length, light brown hair with bangs, and say she might be wearing a pink sweater, pink pants and pink boots; Jack Sullivan has short, blond hair and is wearing blue dinosaur boots.
Police have said there is no evidence the children were abducted.
In a message posted to the X platform on Saturday, Premier Tim Houston said all of Nova Scotia is hoping for the best.
"People in Pictou County and across Nova Scotia are praying for a positive outcome for two missing children," Houston wrote. "During this time of worry, please know that our first responders and volunteers are working tirelessly during this 24/7 operation."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2025.
— With files by Lyndsay Armstrong and Keith Doucette in Halifax
Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press
