The family of an 11-year-old Calgary boy named Parker, who disappeared from his home on July 16, is thanking the people of Calgary for their “compassion, determination and truly heroic efforts” as the search for their son continues.
Describing the experience in a social media post as an “incredibly painful time,” the family also provided an update on search plans.
Calgary police said the boy, who is neurodivergent and non-verbal, was last seen at his day home in the 0 to 100 block of Connaught Drive near Northmount Drive NW sometime between 11:08 a.m. and 11:41 a.m. on Thursday, July 16.
On Saturday, two days after he disappeared, Calgary police received special permission from the province to issue an Amber Alert, although they say there is no evidence yet of his abduction.
According to police, Parker is neurodivergent and nonverbal and may become even more frightened if he encounters strangers. If anyone sees him, they are instructed not to approach him, but to keep him in sight and call 9-1-1 immediately.
Global news
A new map provided by Calgary police on Tuesday shows Parker heading northeast towards the community of Highwood.
Story continues below advertisement
He is then “believed” to have driven along Northmount Drive into the area around Center Street and McKnight Boulevard – possibly backtracking at times – and was last captured on video in the 5000-6000 block of Travis Crescent NE around 12:52 p.m. on Thursday, July 16th.
A map provided by Calgary police on Tuesday shows the last known places Parker was seen and the route he is believed to have taken.
Source: Calgary Police
In a written media release on Tuesday, CPS said more than 400 officers were involved in the search for the missing boy, following more than 300 public reports.
Receive daily national news
Get Canada’s daily headlines delivered to your inbox so you never miss the day’s top stories.
They covered more than 7,000 km – equivalent to the distance from Calgary to London, England – in a total of 5,500 hours of searching, knocking on the doors of several hundred homes and businesses, as well as air support, mountain bike and mounted patrols, dogs and a vast river searched by the Calgary Fire Department, and searches of railroad tracks and surrounding property by Canadian Pacific Kansas City officers.
Story continues below advertisement
The search also involved hundreds of search and rescue personnel, as well as concerned community members.
Calgary police officers were seen at the command center in Thorncliffe early Tuesday morning as the search for Parker entered its sixth day.
Global news
Despite overwhelming public assistance, police on Tuesday also issued a warning about people showing up at private homes and confronting people who live there or trying to investigate criminal activity themselves.
“This behavior is unacceptable and puts members of the community at risk,” police said in a statement.
“Confronting residents and conducting their own investigations could interfere with our efforts and divert police resources from the search and investigation,” police added.
In a separate map posted on social media, the family announced plans for volunteers to concentrate on searching an area between 1.8 and 3.8 kilometers from where Parker was last seen, and urged anyone wishing to help to focus their efforts on that area and to “make the best use of everyone’s time and efforts.”
Story continues below advertisement
In a social media post, Parker’s family also provided an update on their search plans.
Source: Facebook/findparkeryyc
Describing Parker as a “resourceful young man”, the family also urged anyone who may have already searched their property to do so again – “inside and outside, including garages, sheds, vehicles, stairwells, gardens, storage areas and any other place where a small child might fit” and to keep an eye out for anything “that appears out of place”.
Calgary police are also urging anyone living in the area who has CCTV or dash cam footage from the time of Parker’s disappearance to the present to contact them.
Police said Parker is 150 cm (4 ft 11 in) tall, weighs about 41 kg (90 lb), has brown hair, a shaved head and brown eyes. He was last seen shirtless, wearing dark shorts and black noise-canceling headphones.
“Our hearts are heavy, but our hope and determination remain,” the family wrote in a social media post, thanking Calgarians for “standing together for Parker.”
Story continues below advertisement
1:33
Search enters sixth day for missing 11-year-old Calgary boy with autism
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.