Danny Ballantyne was only nine years old when his father, Drew Ballantyne, disappeared. Recalling fond memories of playing basketball and soccer with his dad, Danny described his father as funny and loving. Drew, who was 34 years old at the time of his disappearance in June 2022, hails from Pelican Narrows, part of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in northeast Saskatchewan. The family erected a 10-foot sign displaying two photos of Drew outside their residence on 15th Street West in Prince Albert to aid in the search efforts.
Expressing his plea for his father’s return, Danny urged people not to withhold information and to be truthful. Unfortunately, Drew’s mother, Loretta Ballantyne, who spearheaded the search for her son, passed away in October 2024 without discovering his whereabouts. Carmelita Ballantyne, Drew’s sister, emphasized the significance of finding her brother and lamented the absence of their mother, who tirelessly worked towards uncovering the truth.
Despite extensive search efforts, including distributing posters and engaging with communities for leads, Drew’s whereabouts remain unknown. Roy Ballantyne, Drew’s father, expressed concerns that his son may have fallen victim to gang-related violence. Notably, at the time of his disappearance, Drew was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for breaching the conditions of his release from federal prison.
Carol-Ann Ballantyne, another sister of Drew, criticized the initial lack of seriousness by police in handling the case, recounting the events leading up to Drew’s disappearance on June 28, 2022. She vividly remembers dropping him off at a specific location in Prince Albert but never hearing back from him. The family continues to call for any information that could shed light on Drew’s disappearance, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation.
Authorities have been actively investigating Drew’s case, interviewing numerous witnesses and following leads. Insp. Lisa Simonson from the Prince Albert Police Service urged the public to come forward with any relevant information, emphasizing the need for cooperation in solving this mystery. Descriptions of Drew’s physical appearance, last known attire, and identifying features were shared to aid in potential sightings or information.
In their relentless pursuit of answers, the family has enlisted the help of a private investigator and implored individuals with knowledge of Drew’s fate to come forward. Carol-Ann fondly recalled her mother’s words, urging everyone to remember Drew’s face, smile, and the love that surrounds him. The family remains hopeful that the truth will surface, bringing closure to this perplexing disappearance.