A California diver has volunteered to search the treacherous waters of Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park for the body of a man who drowned two weeks ago. The family of Pavlo Shemchuk, who disappeared on May 1 after jumping into the canyon's pool, hopes this effort will bring them closure.
Diver's Mission
Juan Heredia, a 54-year-old experienced recovery diver from California, plans to fly to Banff on Sunday, pending approval from Parks Canada. He aims to retrieve Shemchuk's body from the waterfall pool where he vanished. Heredia understands the family's pain intimately, having lost his stepson in a car crash and drowning in 2023. Since then, he has recovered 13 bodies across the United States through his non-profit, Angels Recovery Dive.
Family's Grief
Nicolette Babbe, Shemchuk's girlfriend, expressed the difficulty of grieving without a body. 'Until we actually have his body, it's very difficult to grieve,' she said. Parks Canada conducted an extensive search using cameras, drones, and ground teams but suspended efforts after two days due to hazardous conditions from cold water and high spring runoff. Shemchuk is presumed dead.
Heredia emphasized the personal nature of his work, stating, 'Every single authority I talk to, for them it's a body. For me, it's someone's son or daughter.' He hopes to provide the family with the closure they need to mourn properly.
