Family of Missing 11-Year-Old Boy Thanks Calgarians as Urgent Search Continues
The family of Parker, an 11-year-old Calgary boy who disappeared from his dayhome on July 16, has expressed gratitude to the community for its compassion, determination and “truly heroic efforts.”
In a social media statement, the family described the ongoing ordeal as an incredibly painful experience. They also shared updated search plans and said their hope and determination remain strong.
Parker’s Last Confirmed Location
Calgary police said Parker was last seen between 11:08 a.m. and 11:41 a.m. at a dayhome in the 0 to 100 block of Connaught Drive, close to Northmount Drive Northwest.
Parker is neurodivergent and non-verbal.
Two days after his disappearance, police received special authorization from the province to issue an Amber Alert. Investigators emphasized that no evidence currently indicates Parker was abducted.
A map released by Calgary police on Tuesday suggested that Parker travelled northeast toward the Highwood community. He is believed to have continued along Northmount Drive toward Centre Street and McKnight Boulevard, possibly changing direction several times.
The final known video footage captured him at approximately 12:52 p.m. on July 16 in the 5000 to 6000 block of Travis Crescent Northeast.
Hundreds of Officers Join Extensive Search
More than 400 Calgary police officers have participated in the search, investigating over 300 tips submitted by members of the public.
Search teams have covered more than 7,000 kilometres during approximately 5,500 hours of operations. Police compared the total distance travelled to the distance between Calgary and London, England.
Officers have visited hundreds of homes and businesses. The search has also involved:
- Aerial surveillance
- Mountain bike and mounted patrol officers
- Police dogs
- Calgary Fire Department river searches
- Railway track and property searches by Canadian Pacific Kansas City employees
- Search and rescue specialists
- Community volunteers
Police Warn Against Independent Investigations
Despite the strong public response, police have warned volunteers not to confront residents, enter private properties or investigate suspected criminal leads independently.
Authorities said such actions could place community members at risk, interfere with the official investigation and divert police resources away from the search for Parker.
Members of the public have been asked to follow police instructions and respect private property.
Family Identifies Priority Search Area
Parker’s family shared another map asking volunteers to focus on an area between 1.8 and 3.8 kilometres from his last confirmed location. They said concentrating efforts within this zone would help make better use of available time and resources.
Describing Parker as resourceful, the family urged residents to search their properties again, even if they had already checked them.
People were asked to carefully inspect:
- Garages and sheds
- Vehicles and stairwells
- Gardens and storage spaces
- Indoor and outdoor areas
- Any location where a small child could hide or become trapped
Residents should also report anything that appears unusual or out of place.
Police Request CCTV and Dashcam Footage
Anyone living or travelling through the area is encouraged to review CCTV, doorbell camera or dashcam recordings captured from the time Parker disappeared onward.
Potentially relevant footage should be provided directly to Calgary police.
Parker’s Description
Parker is approximately 150 centimetres, or four feet 11 inches, tall and weighs about 41 kilograms, or 90 pounds.
He has brown eyes, brown hair with a shaved head and was last seen without a shirt. He was wearing dark shorts and black noise-cancelling headphones.
The search for Parker continues with support from police officers, emergency crews, search specialists and hundreds of concerned residents. His family remains hopeful and has thanked Calgarians for standing together during an extremely difficult time.
Authorities continue to urge the public to search responsibly, review available video footage and immediately report any credible information that could help locate Parker.
