First Nations families who lost loved ones in Thunder Bay seek answers amid renewed heat on police service

At an emotional news conference in Toronto on Monday, First Nations leaders didn't hold back when it came to the unresolved deaths of Indigenous people in Thunder Bay.

They want the northwestern Ontario city's police service disbanded and an outside police service to investigate unresolved deaths.

But it was the heart-wrenching stories of the families of loved ones who lost their lives — Mackenzie Moonias, 14, Jenna Ostberg, 21, and Corey Belesky, 31 — that drove home the need to get answers and accountability.

Mackenzie's mom says she wants the loss of her daughter resolved. Ostberg's parents say their daughter was a recent college graduate, artist and women's advocate. Belesky's mom described him as a loving, caring man.

The news conference at Queen's Park was held days after Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) laid multiple criminal charges against the former police chief, former police service lawyer and a staff sergeant. But there's a long history of controversy involving the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS), including their handling of death investigations.

WATCH | Why First Nations leaders are calling for Thunder Bay police force to be disbanded:

First Nations families, leaders call for disbandment of Thunder Bay Police Service

17 hours ago

Duration 0:55

First Nations leaders from northwestern Ontario are calling for the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) to be disbanded and pressing the province's inspector general of policing to bring in an outside service to investigate recent deaths of Indigenous people. CBC's Michelle Allan breaks it down.

"These families have been left without credible investigations into the deaths that happened recently of their loved ones by the Thunder Bay Police Service," Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa told the news conference.

"We cannot continue to let these cases go unresolved."

The Thunder Bay Police Service Board and the city's police chief have both stressed they're working to regain the public's confidence.

Later Monday, TBPS Chief Darcy Fleury issued a statement renewing those vows.

"I know TBPS is under scrutiny. I take very seriously my responsibility to build confidence and welcome the involvement and wisdom of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) and other Indigenous community leaders at any time as we continue in our commitment to advance truth and reconciliation."

Fleury is expected to also make comments to the media after the Thunder Bay police board's regular meeting Tuesday morning.

Here's more about the three investigations highlighted during Monday's news conference and what the families have to say.

Corey Belesky

The TBPS has determined Belesky's death to be a homicide, but his family says they still don't know what happened to him. Corey was a member of Marten Falls First Nation.

The TBPS says officers were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Brent Street just before 1:10 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2022, when they found Belesky's body. No arrests have been made.

The investigation is "active and ongoing," Fleury said Monday. "Of the 15 homicide investigations initiated in 2022, 14 are completed and now before the court."

Donna Belesky said her brother enjoyed going on walks with his family, playing video games and attending family barbecues. She said the TBPS has not kept in touch with the family since his death.

"It's been one year, five months and 21 days since my brother was taken from us. In my family, we still know nothing. We don't even know his exact cause of death," she told the news conference.

"Most communication that has been made has been us reaching out to [the police]. We have so many questions and no answers. We feel like the Thunder Bay police forgot about my brother and our family."

Through tears, Corey's mother, Colleen Belesky, described her son as a lovely, caring man.

"Police need to do their jobs. They need to forget about the skin colour of people because regardless … Corey meant the world to me and my family."

Mackenzie Moonias

Mackenzie's body was found in Lake Superior at the Thunder Bay marina on Dec. 18, 2023.

The teenager moved from Neskantaga First Nation to the city to complete her high school education at the Matawa Education and Care Centre.

Days before Christmas, more than 100 people held a candlelight vigil for Mackenzie at the waterfront, where they sang, drummed and released floating lanterns into the skies above Lake Superior.

"The loss of my daughter, Mackenzie Moonias, needs to be resolved and fully investigated," said Vanessa Sakanee.

"We never got answers from the police, and they promised us. They promised us everything."

Mackenzie was last seen on Dec. 13, 2023. The TBPS issued a missing-persons notice three days later.

"When Mackenzie was reported as missing to TBPS on Dec. 15, 2023, an investigation was initiated. Family members and community Chiefs were informed throughout the search," Fleury said.

However, Neskantaga First Nation's chief, Chris Moonias, said that when Mackenzie's grandmother first reported her missing, "she was not taken seriously."

"She went to the station on three occasions before they finally acknowledged Mackenzie as a missing person," the chief said.

"I often lay awake in the night wondering if the three days would have made a difference."

Jenna Ostberg

Ostberg's death remains under investigation by Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU).

From Bearskin Lake First Nation, she was found dead in a home on Ray Boulevard on Dec. 30, 2023. Three calls were made to police before officers responded.

The first call was made because Jenna was not supposed to be at the home due to court conditions. The second call was made to cancel the first call for service because Jenna had left the home, the SIU said.

The circumstances surrounding the third call to police that night remain unclear.

"As the Special Investigations Unit has noted, TBPS received multiple 911 calls in the hours before Jenna Ostberg's death. The initial call was not related to violence involving her and the second call indicated she was no longer present," Fleury said.

Jenna's parents, Melanie Beardy and Vincent Ostberg, described her as an artist, a beauty influencer and a women's advocate who had recently graduated from Confederation College.

Vincent Ostberg, a former police officer, said his daughter experienced domestic violence and police dismissed the family's concerns.

"It cuts you to the heart. It rips apart your dignity as a human being," he said.

He said he has experienced psychological trauma since his daughter's death and thinks about the other families who have lost loved ones in Thunder Bay.

"We need a competent police service in northern Ontario. Our people need to be safe."

Support is available for anyone affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Immediate emotional assistance and crisis support are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a national hotline at 1-844-413-6649. You can also access, through the government of Canada, health support services such as mental health counselling, community-based support and cultural services, and some travel costs to see elders and traditional healers. Family members seeking information about a missing or murdered loved one can access Family Information Liaison Units.