The family of a Toronto woman who disappeared last summer in northern Ontario is hoping to do its own search for her this spring.

Christina Calayca, 20, was last seen in Rainbow Falls Provincial Park, about 180 kilometres east of Thunder Bay, last August while on a camping trip with friends.

An extensive search by the OPP in the park's dense, steep and rugged terrain was called off after three weeks.

Calayca's aunt, Karen Caguicla, said the family will not have any peace before finding out what happened.

"Christina is a responsible person. She's close to her family, close to her friends. Just having visited Rainbow Fall myself I know she simply did not just get lost," said Caguicla.

The family has launched an ambitious fundraising campaign to finance a private search, including a fundraising gala on April 4.

One of the experts they hope to hire is Doug Teeft, a canine handler from Halifax.
  
Teeft says his German shepherds can pick up a human scent in the wilderness even a year later.
 
"This is just an extra use, or an extra resource, that they can bring in that wasn't necessarily available in that area at the time," said Teeft.
   
The OPP says it will assist a private search by the family. Sgt. Eric Luoto was the search commander last year and says the OPP is planning to look again in areas they couldn't get to last year, especially near cliffs with 300-500 metre drops.

"We did do an aerial search of that entire area. There are certain areas that you physically have to go into in the large crevices," he said.

The force says it will search those areas when the weather clears.

"While absolutely the OPP did a terrific job it's still likely that she could still be there, she could have been missed," said Caguicla.