Every child deserves a safe place
What to do in the first hour, how AMBER Alerts are issued, and where the official case information lives. We link to police and to the Missing Children Society of Canada — we never publish or alter a case file ourselves.
There is no waiting period in Canada.
If a child is missing right now, call 9-1-1 immediately. You do not have to wait 24 hours — police want to hear from you in the first minutes.
The first hour
What to do when a child goes missing
The first hour matters most. Work through these in order — and do not wait to see whether the child comes home on their own.
Call 9-1-1 immediately. Tell the dispatcher the child’s name, age, height, weight, clothing, where they were last seen and when. No waiting period is required in Canada — report right away.
Active cases
Children police are asking the public to help find
We do not republish case files — and we will not invent one
Every active missing-child case in Canada is published and kept current by the investigating police service, by the Missing Children Society of Canada, and by the RCMP’s National Centre for Missing Persons. Those are the only sources worth acting on, so we send you straight to them rather than keeping a second, staler copy here.
If you have information about a missing child, call 9-1-1 — or submit a tip and we will forward it to the investigating service.
Our partner · 40 years in 2026
Missing Children Society of Canada
In 2026, the Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) marks 40 years of working alongside police, families and communities to help return missing children to safe places. While technology and investigations have evolved significantly over four decades, the need for rapid, coordinated response has never changed.
What MCSC does
01
Search Support
MCSC distributes targeted alerts through its national network to support police in missing child cases that fall outside AMBER Alert criteria — helping to close the critical gap in public response.
03
Family Support
MCSC helps families cope with the stress of a missing child — during an investigation and through reunification — by helping them gain access to local agencies and resources.
02
MCSC works with federal, municipal and international police, government and non-government agencies in the search for missing children in various cases.
Missing Child Case Support
04
Travel Support
MCSC is proud to partner with WestJet, who provides the gift of flights to help missing children. Some restrictions apply.
EXPLAINER
How AMBER Alerts work
An AMBER Alert is issued by police — never by the public or the media — when they believe a child has been abducted and is in danger, and there is enough descriptive information about the child, the abductor or a vehicle for the public to be able to help.
Alerts are pushed through Canada’s Alert Ready system to television, radio and compatible mobile phones in the affected area. If you receive one, read it fully, keep your phone on, and call 9-1-1 if you see the child, suspect or vehicle described. Do not approach or follow anyone.
Most missing-child cases do not meet AMBER Alert criteria. That is the gap MCSC’s Search Support program fills, distributing targeted alerts through its national network so the public can still help.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Canada’s Missing ->
The national public website for missing persons and unidentified remains, run by the RCMP’s National Centre for Missing Persons and unidentified Remains
MCSC active cases ->
Search alerts and case pages published by the Missing Children Society of Canada
Kids Help Phone -> 1-800-668-6868 ->
24/7 confidential support for young people who need someone to talk to.
About Us
In 2026, the Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) marks 40 years of working alongside
police, families and communities to help return missing children to safe places. While
technology and investigations have evolved significantly over four decades, the need for rapid,
coordinated response has never changed.
CEO, Amanda Pick sums it up: “If you are not in a safe place, life changes.”
OUR PROGRAMS
Search Support
MCSC distributes targeted alerts through our
national network to support police in missing
child cases that fall outside AMBER Alert
criteria—helping to close the critical gap in
public response.
Missing Child Case Support
MCSC works with federal, municipal and
international police, government and nongovernment agencies in the search for missing
children in various cases.
Family Support
MCSC helps families cope with the stress of a
missing child – during an investigation and
through reunification – by helping them gain
access to local agencies and resources.
Travel Support
MCSC is proud to partner with WestJet, who
provides the gift of flights to help missing
children. Some restrictions apply.
Know something about a missing child?
Call 9-1-1 if you can see the child now. Otherwise, submit an anonymous tip and we will forward it the investigating police service