Photo: Contributed

The family of two missing people last seen taking off in a single-engine plane from Penticton are refusing to give up hope.

Dominic Neron, 28, Ashley Bourgeault, 31, were expected to land in Edmonton on Nov. 25, but vanished.

Victoria Joint Search Co-ordination Centre spent over nine days scouring for the white and Burgundy Mooney aircraft in the Revelstoke area but found nothing.

The pilot’s cellphone last pinged in the Revelstoke area and search and rescue crews were searching the area 18 kilometres north of Revelstoke. 

JRCC decided to suspend their exhaustive search as of 3:30 p.m. on Monday and transferred the case to the RCMP.

Bourgeault’s three children, aged nine, five and four years old, are being taken care of by family members as the search continues.

A Go Fund Me page has been created by the families to help fund the search.

Bourgeault’s cousin said a fund has been set up at TD Canada Trust under the name of Ashley Bourgeault for her three children.

“No matter where in the country people are all they have to do is mention her name and they can deposit anything for the little kids,” said Carol Barnes.

The family said they are putting all they can towards the search effort, but they are trying to set-up funds for the children.

“None of us are working right now, so providing Christmas for the family is going to be difficult,” she said. “More to provide for the little kids.”

Barnes said they are continuing to search the Revelstoke area for the couple.

The family acquired permits through Parks Canada to operate drones in the search area during clear air space.

“Do they have a chance of survival? Absolutely,” she said.

“He said he was buying a survival kit, we are reaching out to see if anyone sold one to anyone in the last month or two,” said Barnes.

Both Neron’s family and Bourgeault’s family have set up a Go Fund Me page.

“We have helicopters searching in the area, back-country hikers and we are having some drone technology as of tomorrow,” she said.

"We are hopeful he can get lower and search in the trees."