Bernard Champagne, born in 1917 and 79 at the time, vanished from his long-time rural home in Mattice-Val Côté Township near Kapuskasing on July 10, 1997. He had lived for about 40 years in a small cabin behind Richard Rodrigue’s residence; the cabin reportedly had no running water or electricity. At some point that day Bernard left or was away from the cabin and failed to return before nightfall, prompting Rodrigue to report him missing.

Bernard is described as about 5 feet 6 inches, 150 pounds, with white hair, brown eyes and a light complexion. He wore black rubber boots, black wind-repellent pants, a dark shirt and a dark wind-repellent jacket, and a distinctive purple, lavender or mauve Polaris baseball cap. Records note he had false teeth. Police searched with a canine unit and a helicopter but were unable to locate him or find evidence explaining his movements after he left the cabin.

The case remains listed in the national missing persons database under RCMP reference 2008003999 with tips directed to the Kapuskasing OPP, and there is no indication Bernard was located. If anyone saw Bernard, his cap, or other belongings in Mattice-Val Côté or Kapuskasing around July 10, 1997, please come forward with information.