The Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) announced the launch of the groundbreaking CodeSearch Program. CodeSearch combines technology with philanthropy to deliver unique partnerships between MCSC, corporate partners and law enforcement nationwide. CodeSearch gives MCSC the power to engage corporate resources and workforces to assist law enforcement in a timely manner when a child goes missing.

MCSC’s CodeSearch partners wanted to contribute more than finances in a way that would resonate with their employees and improve the communities they serve. CodeSearch allows organizations to make a difference using the tools they already possess: human capital and physical resources. CodeSearch engages corporate partners’ employees as field agents who can be eyes and ears on the ground when a child goes missing in their local area. If law enforcement requires additional support in the search, CodeSearch partners have committed to providing resources such as ATVs, helicopters and scuba equipment.

“We know that Corporations want to give back to their communities in meaningful ways and this program allows them to use the expertise they already possess to make their communities safer,” explains Amanda Pick, Executive Director of the Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC). “By providing law enforcement with effective tools and a connected network in the search for missing children, I know we can significantly change the landscape of missing children in our country.”

The Calgary Police Service is pleased to be partnering with MCSC in their efforts to find new and innovative ways to more quickly locate missing children and reunite them with their families. Strategic use of existing and emerging technologies and effective community partnerships are invaluable when it comes to keeping all our children safe.

“Not everyone watches the 6 o’clock news. Having access to members of the community through non-traditional means of communication can only help in the search to locate missing children,” said Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson. “The more eyes we have on the lookout, the greater the chances we can quickly locate a missing child and safely reunite them with their family.”

CodeSearch is powered by the RallyEngine™ emergency response and crisis communications platform, developed and donated by MCSC partner Strut Creative. CodeSearch allows corporate employees to register field agent profiles with their skills and corporations to register available resources. In the event a child goes missing, MCSC can mobilize communities via geo-targeted alerts to any field agents in the area where a child went missing or is expected to be located. These targeted communications deliver critical, time-sensitive information to all personnel in the immediate area. CodeSearch personnel are already in the field, working in their communities, and now they will be part of a connected community helping to keep children safe.

On August 2^nd, 1993, Lindsey Nicholls disappeared from Courtenay, British Columbia. Her mother, Judy Peterson, has seen the continuing progress MCSC has made through their existing programs. “When Lindsey vanished nearly two decades ago, I went all over town with my own posters and a roll of scotch tape,” said Mrs. Peterson. “I believe that if this type of technology had existed, we may have been able to find her. It’s incredible that information about a missing child can be distributed instantly and directly into the hands of a network of Canadians. The ‘not knowing’ has been so difficult, but I am hopeful that CodeSearch will help other families find answers.”

Currently, MCSC has four founding corporate partners: Apache, WestJet, Tervita, and Enmax. Each partner brings unique resources and expertise to the program and is committed to rolling out the program over the next few months. The technology has been fully tested and is in the early stages of being implemented to the specific requirements of each partner.

If you are interested in becoming a CodeSearch partner, please contact MCSC at 1-800-661-6160. For more information on the program, visit www.mcsc.ca/code_search.

Thank you to the Missing Children Society of Canada for this article.