International Missing Children's Day
Observed every May 25, International Missing Children's Day raises global awareness about missing children, offers support to affected families, and promotes child safety measures.
On this day, we think of children who remain missing and celebrate those who have returned home, while encouraging the public to learn more and take action to help bring missing children to safety.
In 2025, statistics from the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR) showed reports of 34,189 children who had gone missing across Canada. Police recognize that the number represents only a fraction of the cases, as many are not reported to authorities or added to the national database.
40 Years of Helping Children Return to Safety
In 2026, the Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) marks 40 years as an organization dedicated to helping find missing children and supporting their families.
Over those 40 years, the methods used in the search for a missing child have changed dramatically, but the critical need for the service has not.
CEO Amanda Pick sums it up: “If you are not in a safe place, life changes.”
The simple statement seems obvious, but it's terribly real for tens of thousands of Canadian children and youth every year who are forced to confront dangerous situations because they are no longer in a safe environment.
There are myriad reasons children and youth go missing. Some are abducted by parents lashing out in bitter custody battles, at times being taken outside Canada. Others are lured by strangers on the street, or increasingly in online forums. Youngsters have also been known to wander into danger, near rivers or dense forests. And in too many cases, vulnerable youth who run away struggle to find a secure environment.
In every case, family members, loved ones and support networks are left helpless, knowing someone they care about is missing and unsafe.
You can help change the outcome for these children and their families.
Why It Matters
Most children who go missing do not qualify for AMBER Alerts, despite facing serious risks including exploitation, human trafficking, and violence. By using the MCSC Rescu app, police are still able to alert the public to a missing child.
MCSC Rescu is an easy-to-use application that is continuously updated with information from police on missing children in Canada. Members of the public are encouraged to activate the app on their devices, where they can learn about cases, share that information through their social networks and send anonymous tips to police.
Rescu gives communities the ability to act when a child is in an unsafe situation.
In multiple cases, missing children have been located because a member of the public recognized them through Rescu and alerted police. In one case, a pharmacist spotted a missing girl because of Rescu, and she was located. In another case, a community member recognized two missing kids from a case posted on the app, and police were alerted.
Because of timely community action, they were found.
Get Involved
All children deserve to feel safe—and all missing children deserve to be found. At the Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC), we rely on the support of everyday heroes like you to help us bring children home.
Here’s how you can take action today:
📲 Activate the MCSC rescu App
Turn your phone into a tool for child recovery. Our free web-app sends targeted alerts and allows you to share critical information quickly with your network.
💬 Spread Awareness
Follow us on social media and share our posts. A single share can reach the right person who may hold the key to bringing a child home.
🎁 Donate or Fundraise
Your generosity fuels our mission. Make a donation or start a fundraiser to support our innovative programs.
🤝 Partner With Us
Are you part of a business, school, or community organization? Partner with MCSC to raise awareness and provide resources to help protect children.
Together, we can make a life-changing difference.
➡️ Activate MCSC rescu, and register for alerts - https://rescu.mcsc.ca
➡️ Spread Awareness: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
➡️ Make a Donation- Donate Now - Missing Children Society of Canada