A fallen Ottawa-area Mountie who drowned in a Yukon river will be honoured by family and friends at a memorial service at an Ottawa church on Wednesday.
Const. Michael Potvin, 26, went missing when the police boat he was riding in capsized on the Stewart River, just north of Whitehorse, on July 13. His body was recovered on July 30.
Potvin's family flew to the Yukon last month to join the search for their son and support his pregnant wife. Potvin was reportedly not wearing a lifejacket when his boat went under.
Potvin joined the force one year ago and was posted to the RCMP detachment in Mayo, Yukon. He and his wife were expecting their first child.
A memorial service will be held at Saint Patrick's Basilica on Kent Street at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. A private funeral will take place at a later date.
Potvin's family has requested donations be made in lieu of flowers to the RCMP Foundation's Michael Potvin Remembrance Fund in support of the J.V. Clark School in Mayo, Yukon.
Anyone wishing to send their condolences can e-mail them to Condolences_Condoleances@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
