The disappearance of an Ottawa-area businessman in Mexico has prompted his family to fly south to organize a search for him.
Family of Daniel Dion say he was last heard from while at a restaurant in Acapulco on Friday. He didn't make it to a business appointment the next day and his credit cards haven't been used since.
"Usually he contacts his family too many times a day, like 50 times a day, but since that time we had no news from him," said his 23-year-old niece, Franceska Dion.
The family grew even more concerned when Dion didn't board his flight back to Canada on Tuesday. The Sherbrooke, Que.-native recently turned 51 and was flying home to celebrate his birthday.
Dion is a frequent traveller to Mexico and very familiar with Acapulco.
"It's completely strange, it's not like (he was) a simple tourist who isn't careful," his niece said Thursday.
Now, fraught with worry but determined to find answers, four members of Dion's close family are in Acapulco meeting with Mexican authorities.
They arrived Wednesday. They have filed a report with Mexican police and now are organizing search efforts of their own.
They plan to retrace Dion's steps, search hospitals and do everything they can to find out what happened.
"We are looking for every alternative," said Franceska Dion, adding that Acapulco authorities were slow to start looking for Dion because they wanted to see if he would show up for his flight home.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of reports of a Canadian missing in Acapulco, but wouldn't provide further information due to privacy reasons.
"Consular officials in Ottawa and at the Canadian mission in Acapulco are working closely with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to the family of the individual," said department spokeswoman Claude Rochon.
Dion had been in Mexico since September 28. He is the CEO of Mexican-based company Ecopurse, which uses recycled materials to make purses. His family says he is also an influential businessman who knew many high-level government officials, including the country's president.
But the frequent flyer is also very much a family man.
"He's a very funny, very loving person," said Franceska Dion.
"All of our family is looking for him."
She added that family in Canada had been scouring the Internet and social media sites for anyone with information on him. She said he has two daughters and a grandchild.
The family is also asking the public for help. His niece said she had created a website (finddanieldion.com) where latest updates on the search will be shared and through which people can contact her family.
As the search for Daniel Dion gathers steam, the family is hoping for the best but bracing for the worst. They have contemplated the possibility of Dion being kidnapped, or worse, but say living in doubt is worse than not knowing what happened.
"We are focused on how we can find him," said Franceska Dion. "We are not realizing what's happening because it's too overwhelming. It's very hard. We don't sleep and we are exhausted."
