In Kapuskasing, family and friends are still digesting and dealing with the news of the deaths of two people from the town in a helicopter crash.

 

The downed chopper and the bodies of Jody and Nicole Blais were found Tuesday by a military plane  after almost a week of searching.  They were 65 kilometres from home.

 

Flowers now lay outside a shop once run by Nicole Blais, placed there to mark the passing of two important members of the community.

 

The reaction to the loss ran was immediate after the news broke......

"Jody and Nicole were very well known in our community... you know, you're not just losing a community member, you're losing a part of your family, really. And that's how we see each other in Kapuskasing," said Dave Plourde, the town’s mayor.

 

Through business and involvement in Kapuskasing and nearby Fauquier, Jody and Nicole Blais left a profound mark on their community.

Search organizers say it was no surprise to see how many people volunteered to help in the 6-day effort.

"Food, everything, everything they did was amazing. My heart is full from all those volunteers right now, " said Gilbert Mondou, Jody’s business partner.

Mondoux helped coordinate that search.

He says an event like this should serve as an opportunity to learn that formal search and rescue plans should be required in municipalities in northern Ontario.

The OPP and transportation safety board have now begun their investigation into what caused the Blais' helicopter to crash last Monday night. A representative from the TSB said that given the remote location, it could be some time before the people here have the answers they're looking for.