Prominent Inuit artist Annie Pootoogook has been identified as the woman whose body was found in the Rideau River earlier this week.
Inuit artist Annie Pootoogook created contemporary images of the North. She won the Sobey Award in 2006 for her work. ((CNW Group))
West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative in Cape Dorset confirmed the death of Pootoogook, 46, a chalk and ink artist who rose to prominence when she won the Sobey Award in 2006.
Pootoogook, originally from Cape Dorset, Nunavut, had been living in Ottawa.
Her work is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Canada and had recently been part of an exhibition at the local SAW Gallery in Ottawa.
Fine Liner Eyebrow, by Annie Pootoogook, is one of the artist’s drawings at the National Gallery of Canada. (Annie Pootoogook/National Gallery of Canada/Dorset Fine Arts)
Police say they are not treating it as a homicide, but major crime investigators are hoping to get the public’s help in retracing her steps leading up to the discovery of her body on Sept. 19.
A city worker called 911 just before 9 a.m. ET Monday after seeing a body in the river near Bordeleau Park, which sits off King Edward Avenue, Cathcart and Bruyère streets in the Lowertown neighbourhood.
Any person who saw Annie Pootoogook in the days leading up to Sept. 19 is asked to contact the major crime unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5493.
Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by downloading the Ottawa Police app.
The body was found submerged in the Rideau River near Bordeleau Park in the city’s Lowertown neighbourhood, Ottawa police confirmed. (Roger Dubois/CBC)