On the summer evening of July 21, 1995, in Saugeen Shores, Ontario, 25-year-old Simon Kirk Weidemann and his 24-year-old friend, Erwyn Cecil Lippett, were camping with family at the Brucedale Conservation Area. The two young fathers decided to take a canoe out onto the waters of Lake Huron at approximately 8 p.m. and were never seen again. At the time of their disappearance, Simon, known as Kirk, was a resident of Owen Sound, while Erwyn lived in Wiarton. The trip was meant to be a simple recreational outing on a warm July evening, but it tragically turned into an enduring mystery that has left their families searching for answers for decades.
The day after the two men failed to return, authorities launched a search of the shoreline. This initial search led to the discovery of their partially submerged canoe off the coast of Saugeen Shores. Along with the canoe, two paddles and two life jackets were also recovered from the water, but there was no sign of either Simon or Erwyn.
The recovery of these items without locating the men only deepened the mystery surrounding their disappearance. Despite the immediate search efforts, no trace of the two friends was ever found, leaving their families in a state of prolonged uncertainty and grief.
The lives of two families were forever altered by the events of that day. Simon left behind a two-year-old daughter, and Erwyn had a six-month-old son. These children grew into adults with only fragmented stories of their fathers, their lives shaped by the ambiguity of their loss. Over the years, the official investigation stalled, and the case grew cold. However, the desire for closure has never faded for their children. In July 2024, a renewed effort to find answers was undertaken by the families, with the assistance of an organization dedicated to helping find missing persons. This has brought new attention to the case, highlighting a few unconfirmed sightings of one or both men in the days and even months following their disappearance, though these leads have not been substantiated. The overarching question of whether the two men drowned in a tragic accident or if another fate befell them remains the central, unanswered mystery of the case.Last Seen: Jul 21, 1995
