Police have still found no sign of Ariel Kouakou, the 10-year-old Montreal boy missing since March 12, despite bringing in the help of a specially trained dog on loan from the Nova Scotia RCMP.
The search resumed at about 8 a.m. Friday near the shores of the Rivieres des Prairies with the dog that specializes in ice and water searches.
Meanwhile, a boat belonging to Hydro-Quebec is once again cruising along the shores of the river and breaking up the ice.
Montreal police divers have also been searching the river, but it was unclear whether they would be in the water again Friday.
Ariel left his family's home in the city's north end on March 12 to visit a friend's house, and a witness spotted someone matching his description in the park near the river shortly after.
Police believe he most likely fell in the water and drowned, a theory that Kouakou's family and some volunteers have rejected.
"Today, we were circling with police," said volunteer Mamadou Cisse. "We think (Kouakou) has been kidnapped and that's the way we want the police to look for him."
On Saturday, a large-scale volunteer search is planned of Bataliers Park, where Kouakou was last seen. Cisse said the hope is that now that the snow is mostly melted, signs of the boy that had previously been hidden might be found.