MONTREAL — The Missing Children’s Network is launching a program called “Together for Safety” in an effort to stem the increasing number of missing children in the province of Quebec.
Pina Arcamone, the director of the network, said the incidents of missing kids jumped drastically in 2015.
“There is a 19 per cent increase [in missing children in Quebec] compared to the previous year,” she told Global News.
According to figures from the RCMP, about three-quarters of all missing children are runaways, and most are found within 24 hours.
To keep children from running away, the network is telling parents to keep in touch with their children.
Specifically, the network recommends watching their Internet use carefully, encouraging children to walk with a buddy, and using a family password in case of emergency.
Arcamone said that a recent alleged attempted kidnapping that occurred at Jeanne-Mance Park on Saturday is an isolated incident as most missing children are runaways, and most do return home.
But, some parents aren’t so lucky.
Caroline Lachance, the mother of David Fortin, 14, who’s been missing since February 10, 2009, told Global News she’s certain her son is alive, and said she still holds out hope she’ll see him one day.