Inquest into drowning death of 14-year-old Haven Dubois begins Monday in Regina

The inquiry into the drowning death of a 14-year-old boy begins Monday morning in Regina.

Haven Dubois was found unresponsive in the Pilot Butte Creek in east Regina in May of 2015. Despite the efforts of a bystander and paramedics who attempted to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the Regina General Hospital.

Dubois’ death was ruled an accidental drowning by a coroner, who also found marijuana was a “significant contributing factor.” But his mother, Richelle Dubois, said she suspects foul play was involved.

Haven Dubois was found unresponsive in a Regina creek in 2015 and was pronounced dead in hospital. (Dignity Memorial)

“They feel they have done a proper investigation,” she previously told 980 CJME. “I feel differently.”

Richelle has called for an inquiry into her son’s death, and further called for an investigation into school negligence – which she believes contributed to his death – along with a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous boys.

According to the coroner’s report, Dubois had left school to smoke marijuana with friends, and later walked away from their vehicle and was last seen walking in the area of the creek.

The inquiry into Dubois’ death is set to run from Monday through Friday at the Royal Hotel on Albert Street in Regina, with coroner Brent Gough presiding.

The inquest’s jury will seek to establish the cause, time and manner of Dubois’ death, and can make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future.