Community Resources
Access trusted information, safety guidance, and support resources related to missing children, runaway prevention, child abduction, online safety, and family support.
Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) works alongside families, communities, police, and public safety partners to help improve awareness, prevention, and response when children go missing.
What To Do If Your Child Goes Missing
If you believe your child has gone missing, it is important to remain calm. A clear mind is best at this time. Follow these immediate steps of action and contact police via 9-1-1. There is no law in Canada requiring a waiting period before reporting a missing child (anyone 18 years and younger) to police.
Resource: What To Do.pdf
International Child Abductions
International child abduction occurs when a parent, guardian or other person with lawful care or charge of a child removes that child from Canada or retains that child outside Canada, without either the legal authority or permission of a parent who has full or joint custody rights. There are ways to prevent international child abduction from occurring. There are also resources to help you if an international abduction takes place.
Resource: International Child Abductions.pdf
Warning Signs And Reasons Your Child May Run Away
Many missing children cases in Canada involve youth facing challenges such as family conflict, exploitation, mental health struggles, online risks, or unsafe relationships. Recognizing warning signs early can help prevent situations from escalating.
Resource: Warning Signs.pdf
Stranger Abductions
Stranger Abductions also known as Non-Family Abductions are the coerced and unauthorized taking of a child by someone other than a family member. Stranger Abductions are rare in Canada. In 2024, there were 24 reported stranger child abductions in Canada. Read more for tips on how to help protect your child from stranger abductions.
Resource: Stranger Abduction
MCSC rescu FAQs
The MCSC Rescu app helps communities receive police-verified missing persons alerts, view active cases, provide tips, and support search efforts in real time.
Learn more here: MCSC Rescu FAQs
Missing Children Resources - MCSC Indigenous Support Hub
The Missing Children Society of Canada has partnered with the Tosguna Tsuut'ina Nation Police Service to provide you with online support. Please click here for resources on missing children.
Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime
The benefit provides financial assistance to eligible parents or legal guardians who have lost income while taking time away from work to cope with the death or disappearance of their child (or children) under 25 years of age as the result of a probable Criminal Code offence.
Learn more here: English | French
National Statistics
The first Canadian statistics on missing children were released in 1987. There were 57,233 children reported missing that year. In 2024, there were 32,680 reports of missing children in Canada as reported by the RCMP using numbers provided by the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC). Please click here to view the Missing Children and Youth Fast Fact Sheets. The second table in each report displays a breakdown of the reported cases of missing children by province, profile, and sex.
*These statistics may not reflect the actual number of children currently missing in our country.
Exploring the Phenomenon of Reported Runaways in Canada 2015-2021 - National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains
Resource: Reported Runaways Report
Access MCSC rescu, to see updated cases of missing children in Canada, leave a tip and sign up for SMS alerts.