By Brook Wagner on July 29, 2026.

Calgary police have scaled back the physical search for a missing 11-year-old neurodivergent child after 12 days, focusing more heavily now on evidence and tips.–HANDOUT IMAGEbwagner@medicinehatnews.com
Calgary police are reining back a large-scale ground search for Parker, a missing 11-year-old boy, after 12 days without finding him.
Police announced the change Monday. They said the search is not over, but efforts are moving away from large physical searches toward following tips and evidence. Parker has been missing since July 16.
“Based on operational needs, the information currently available and the results of the search to date, we are refocusing from the physical search,” police said in a written update.

They said their commitment to finding Parker “remains unchanged.”
Police chief Katie McLellan said searchers have finished checking his last known area and Nose Hill Park including nearby waterways, Police say there is no evidence Parker was abducted.
Over 12 days, police say more than 600 tips were assessed and tens of thousands of CCTV clips were reviewed. Searchers walked more than 8,000 kilometres, which police compared to the distance from Calgary to Rome. They also spent more than 5,500 hours on the operation and checked hundreds of homes and businesses. Police released multiple images mapping the searched areas, which illustrate the GPS tracking logged by search teams.
Ground crews, the Air Support Unit, Canine Unit, Mounted Patrol Tea and Mountain Bike Unit all helped, police say. On Monday, police also released a map of the route they believe Parker took the day he went missing, based on camera footage.
“This case has affected the community deeply, and there is not a single member of this team who does not want to find Parker and bring answers to his family,” McLellan said.
Parker was last seen at his day home in the 0 to 100 block Connaught Drive NW that morning. A security camera later recorded him at 12:52 p.m. in the 5000 to 6000 block of Travis Crescent NE. Police say Parker is neurodivergent and non verbal.
Acting Staff Sgt. Scott Guterson says the work will go on.

“We are not giving up. We will continue this investigation for as long as it takes,” he said.
Police thanked the thousands of volunteers, partner agencies and residents who helped. They also pointed people who are struggling to the Victim Assistance Support Team, a free service reachable at 403-428-8398 or 1-888-327-7828.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 403-266-1234.
15
-14