Search continues for missing NZ woman Shilanne Stedmances in Canada, police say

Shilanne Stedmances, 22, went missing on Tuesday (NZ time). Photo / Supplied

Canadian police say the search is continuing for a missing woman with links to New Zealand.

Shilanne Stedmances, 22, who lives on Bowen Island in British Columbia, told her family she loved them before she left her home at 8.30pm on Monday (5.30pm Tuesday NZST).

A family member told the Herald yesterday that searchers looking for Stedmances had found a body.

However, Sergeant Sascha Banks of the Bowen Island Royal Canadian Mounted Police told the Herald today that a body had not been found and the search for Stedmances was still continuing.

Locals have been desperately searching for Stedmances this week and posting impassioned pleas on social media asking her to come home or to let someone know she is safe.

Island RCMP, North Shore Search and Rescue, Marine Search and Rescue, RCMP Marine, Air 1 Services and the Bowen Island Fire Department were involved in the search.

Yesterday, her friend Ralie Nikolova said she and others were preparing for the worst, as divers joined in the search.

"She has done this before many times but she's never missing for more than a day, and she always has her phone ... I just couldn't see her leaving the house without her phone."

On this occasion, Stedmances left her phone and wallet behind, according to local police.

Stedmances has dual citizenship, but lives in Canada with her mother.

"She was just the sweetest person. I'm not sure if you've seen all the posts calling her an angel, she really was, like, the most compassionate person," Nikolova said.

Nikolova had printed out some fliers calling for help searching for Stedmances, and the posters were now sitting on her couch.

"I can't really look at them," she said.

"I hope so much that people remember her, because she was such a beautiful person."

Another friend, who lived with Stedmances when she was in New Zealand several years ago, described her as "honestly one of the most warming, spiritual, loving people I've ever met".

"As I suffered bad with mental health too, she always helped me through bad times," Shaw Durham said.

"We'd go on walks through the forest together in New Zealand and lift each other up when we felt down.

"She is honestly the most amazing soul. I was only speaking to her a few days ago about coming over to Canada for a road trip, she was going to show me Canada."

She said Stedmances lived in New Zealand for a couple of years.

* A previous version of the article reported information from Stedmances' family incorrectly believing a body had been found.

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