Response

Every moment is crucial when someone goes missing. If you have a loved one who has gone missing, don’t hesitate, take the following steps.

  1. File a Missing Person’s Report

Call 911 or go to the Wood Buffalo RCMP Detachment. When you file a missing person’s report, the police will ask you several questions. It would be helpful if you had the following information.

  • Basic information about the Missing Person

    • Name

    • Date of Birth

    • Birthplace

    • Nicknames, if any

    • Current and previous addresses. Who else lived there?

    • Current and former employers

    • The time and location of where the missing person was last seen

    • The name of the person who last saw the missing person

    • List all of the people who the missing person may try to contact. Try to include addresses and telephone numbers.

  • Physical description of the Missing Person

    • Height

    • Weight 

    • Age

    • Build 

    • Hair Color/Length of Hair

    • Eye color

    • Any Markings – such as tattoos, birthmarks, scars, etc.

    • Beard/Mustache/Sideburns

    • Most recent photo of the missing person

  • Call your Nation office if you are a local member.

The MMEIP Taskforce supports the family with an advocate to help families navigate the different systems and supports during a crisis. The MMEIP Taskforce works closely with partners like the RCMP, Search and Rescue, and communities to ensure families are involved and informed in a culturally safe way.

2. Actions Your Family Can Undertake

  • Conduct a telephone search. Phone friends and family who may have some idea of where the missing person is. Start with those closest to the missing person and write all the information down in your journal.

  • If you find out any additional information from telephone inquiries, pass it on to the police.

  • Put up flyers with a photograph of the missing person around your community and online.

  • Tell all necessary people about the disappearance of the missing person. This may include the missing person’s employer, their bank, and their doctor. If the missing person is a child, you will need to contact the school they are attending.

  • If necessary, arrange for the payment of the missing person’s mortgage, rent or bills. You may require legal advice on how to proceed.

3. Actions to Undertake to Take Care of Yourself and Your Family

  • Ask yourself if you need to take an extended leave from work. If you do, talk to your employer about available options.

  • If you feel you need an extension on bill payments, then ask about what options are available.

  • Try to eat, sleep, and exercise on a regular basis. Although you may not feel that you have time, it is essential to take care of yourself.

  • Try not to blame yourself for the disappearance of your loved one. Treat yourself with as much kindness as you can in these difficult times.

  • Try to realize your limits. Be easy on yourself if you cannot provide what is needed in all situations. You may, for instance, be unable to provide emotional support to all of your family members. Don’t feel guilty about seeking counseling services to help your family deal with the wide range of emotions that are being experienced.

  • Don’t feel guilty if you must return to work. This does not mean that you have given up on the search for your loved one.