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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A search is on for a missing Yellowknife man who was last seen five weeks ago. According to the RCMP, Philip McNeil, 25, was on his way to work at the Jackfish Lake power plant on Oct. 3 when he disappeared.

Phil McNeil has been a resident of Yellowknife for about two years. He was last seen around Friday, Oct. 3. - photo courtesy of Matthew Grogono

A website created by his brother-in-law states McNeil disappeared around Oct. 3 but also failed to show up for an appointment on Oct. 1 and did not go back to work or his home. According to the website, on Oct. 3 McNeil's cell phone was disconnected by the operator.

A missing persons report was filed with the RCMP by a friend of McNeil's in late October.

McNeil's uncle, Matthew Grogono, is a resident of Yellowknife and said there has been a desperate search to find him.

"There was an exhaustive effort looking for clues," he said.

"There was a rumour he was seen at the airport," said Grogono, adding that on Tuesday morning he received an email indicating that was not true.

McNeil's parents are currently living in Nova Scotia. He is one of 11 children.

"He came to Yellowknife about two years (ago) now," said Grogono.

The website created by his brother-in-law, Rob Thijssen, who resides with McNeil's sister in England, reports that McNeil's large family is desperate for any information that may help locate the missing man.

McNeil's good friend Simon Machnik, also a Yellowknife resident, has been involved in the search as well. He said he has been putting up posters around town and asking people to keep an eye out for McNeil. Machnik said McNeil had been residing on Rycon Road with three or four roommates.

Yellowknifer's attempts to contact McNeil's parents by press time were not successful but Grogono said his mother asked that he "call home, call a friend, call somebody."

The RCMP report that they have made numerous attempts to locate McNeil and have so far been unsuccessful.

He is described as a Caucasian male, 5-foot-10 and around 240 to 250 lbs. He has reddish blond hair and was last known to have a beard.

Police are asking for anyone with information to contact the Yellowknife RCMP or Crime Stoppers. The website asking for information on McNeil's whereabouts is at http://sites.google.com/site/findphilmcneil/.