Supt. Doug Coates, acting commissioner of the United Nations stabilization mission in Haiti, is among the missing Canadians. (JenCor Entertainment)

Some of the more than 1,400 Canadians missing after Tuesday's monster earthquake in Haiti are from Ottawa, and their relatives here are enduring a painful wait for news.

The family of RCMP Supt. Doug Coates, who has not yet been found, held a news conference Friday, and his eldest son, Luc, said the family has not given up hope.

"His strength and courage has been an inspiration to myself and my family," Luc said of his father.

"He's a true role model who is my role model.

Jean-Francois Complot, missing in Haiti, is a kung fu instructor at the Shaolin Kung Fu Centre in Ottawa. (Courtesy of Jordan Craig)

"If anyone … has the strength, the courage and the will to survive, I know it's my father," he said.

Luc was accompanied by his brother Mathieu and read a statement on behalf of his mother Lise and his sister Julie.

For Kelly Fontil, working long hours at his tailor shop in the Byward Market helps keep his mind off his missing daughter and newborn granddaughter.

"It's a good thing I come to work, because I wouldn't be able to cope if I didn't have to come to work," Fontil said.

"What's going through your head is, 'what if your daughter is stuck in between those rocks and you're not there to help them?'"

Katherine Hadley, an Ottawa engineer working in Haiti, is still missing. (Courtesy of Chris Ludwig)

Another family is waiting for word from Jean-François Complot, know to them simply as Jeff.

He's a kung fu instructor at the Shaolin Kung Fu Centre which operates out of Ottawa's McNabb Community Centre.

Co-workers are also worried about a local engineer working in Haiti, Katherine Hadley.

An Ottawa psychiatrist is offering free counselling for people affected by the earthquake and already has had dozens of calls.

"It is very terrible for them because they are kind of in a waiting mode, which is very, very difficult for them. Some of them are confused. They don't know what to do," said Dr. Emilio Bazile.