Missing Ontario paramedic from Shambhala festival tried to call sister before disappearing

RCMP are searching for a 28-year-old Ontario paramedic who went missing from the Shambhala Music Festival in British Columbia's West Kootenay region. Kayla Boisvert of Trenton was last seen around 2:15 a.m. PT on July 27.

Boisvert's twin sister, Dianna, said she received two calls from Kayla shortly after she was last seen at the festival. "I was sleeping and called her back instantly when I realized that she called," Dianna said. When she tried to call her sister back, the call went straight to voicemail.

Dianna spent the following day reaching out on social media, messaging people at the festival and those she knew who attended, aware that Kayla was camping in an area with poor connectivity.

Friends and family describe Boisvert as someone who frequently attended festivals and worked as a paramedic—it is highly unusual for her to not stay in contact throughout an event. Dianna emphasized her sister's character: "She's an incredibly strong person, an accomplished deadlifter, as well as a paramedic and academic who studied at McMaster University."

"We want our sister, daughter, friend home safe," Dianna said.

Shambhala, held on farmland along the Salmo River about 400 kilometres east of Vancouver, bills itself as Canada's largest outdoor electronic music festival. More than 21,000 people were involved in this year's sold-out event, including artists, staff, and ticketholders.

The festival said in a statement it is working closely with RCMP and public safety agencies to support the search.