William Julian Bereziuk, known as Billy, was 27 when he left Edmonton in October 1974 intending to canoe down the Athabasca River and spend the winter in the remote Birch Mountain area of Alberta. He told family he planned to return to Edmonton in August 1975 but never made contact after departing.

On May 18, 1975 members of the Canadian Armed Forces recovered some of his personal belongings washed up on an island in the Athabasca River about 50 kilometres north of Fort McMurray. Those items confirm he at least began the river journey, but they provide no information about what happened to him after.

At the time he disappeared he was described as a white male, 6 feet 2 inches, about 175 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Distinguishing marks included scars on his right elbow, large right toe, chest and chin. He was reported to be wearing a green cotton jacket, cotton coverall pants, brown horsehide moccasins, plaid bush shirts, a white coverall coat with fur hood, gold-rimmed metal glasses and a silver or metal crucifix or scapular.

Did anyone travel the Athabasca River that autumn or camp on islands near Birch Mountain who might remember seeing him or his gear?