CBSA pilots new initiative in Manitoba with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection

News Release

Today, on International Missing Children’s Day, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is pleased to announce they will work on a pilot project in Manitoba with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (the Canadian Centre) to enhance officer knowledge and training for identifying situations involving missing, sexually abused and exploited children.

This Manitoba pilot project involves the CBSA and the Canadian Centre working together to better identify missing and abducted children, and those at-risk of exploitation, at the border. The Canadian Centre will provide support to officers with specific cases where they must intervene, such as abduction and family reunification or instances where children or youth may be at-risk of sexual exploitation.

The CBSA and the Canadian Centre will also be working together to better and further educate the public on missing children and travelling safely with children abroad.

Quick Facts

Since the inception of the “Our Missing Children” program in 1986, the CBSA was responsible for intercepting over 1,800 missing children at Canada’s borders.
All children who travel, including newborns and infants, require their own passport or travel document when crossing the border.
Anyone with information about suspicious cross-border or illegal activity is encouraged to call the CBSA Border Watch Toll-free Line at 1-888-502-9060.

Quotes

“Protecting and identifying missing children is a matter that is close to the hearts of our employees. As Canada’s first point of contact, our officers play a key role in identifying missing children and protecting at-risk children who arrive at our borders. We remain vigilant in confirming their identity and the identity of those traveling with them. Working with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection will further enhance our capabilities to protect our most vulnerable travellers, our children.”

Kim R. Scoville
Regional Director General, Prairie Region, Canada Border Services Agency

“The work of Canada Border Services Agency officers intersects with many of the issues our agency is involved with every day, so this is a natural fit. Whether it’s a child abduction or protecting a child at risk of being sexually abused or exploited, we are proud to work together to increase the protection of children at our borders.”

Christy Dzikowicz

Director of Missing Children Services at the Canadian Centre

"I commend CBSA employees in Manitoba for spearheading this pilot project with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection to increase identifying and intercepting missing children at Canada's borders. By working together, we raise awareness about this important issue for public safety and the role the CBSA plays in finding missing children with its law enforcement partners."

- The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Associated Links

Our Missing Children

Travel Tips

Border Watch Toll-free Line

Recruitment: Become a CBSA officer

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Contact

CBSA – Regional Communications

1-844-245-2272

prairiemedia@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

Canadian Centre for Child Protection