As emergency services continue to search for a missing toddler, members of the Grande Prairie community are finding ways to show their support to his family. Volunteers have been organizing on social media to search outside of the active zone, bringing coffee, food, and gas to those searching, and making donations..
Two-year-old Myles disappeared from his family when they were near the Canfor Bridge along the Wapiti River Friday evening. Multiple agencies have been searching the area by air, water, and ground since, but there’s still no sign of the boy.
Another way people have been rallying around the family is by placing a stuffed animal outside their front door. It started with a photo shared by Arlene de Heus on Facebook with the hashtag #teddybearsformyles, and people across the community and beyond have followed suit.
“I felt hopeless and was worried for him and his family and wanted to do something to show my support,” she says.
“A teddy bear always made my child feel safe and in comfort, so I thought if I put it out there maybe the pictures will help show the love and bring him home.”
RCMP have thanked the public for their outpouring of support for the family while asking them to remain away from the search area. De Heus says it’s not surprising how the community has come together.
“It pulls at every parent’s heartstrings. It’s the worst thing that a parent could go through and as parents in our city we all band together in that feeling of loss; you just pray that everything’s going to be okay.”
Crews will likely work until dark again Monday night and resume their efforts Tuesday morning.