Calgary realtors join forces to help search for missing 11-year-old boy

Calgary realtors have joined forces with police, dedicating their efforts to the ongoing search for 11-year-old Parker, who remains missing under an Amber Alert. As the search enters its eighth day, real estate agents are proactively ensuring that all vacant homes and their surrounding properties are being meticulously examined.

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A lot of phone calls with the police. They’ve been asking questions, searching the property themselves, the owners of our vacant property that’s listed for sale, they’ve been coming daily to check, just to see inside, outside.

Agents are engaged in constant communication with law enforcement, assisting with searches and providing access to properties listed for sale. Justine Poirier, a real estate agent with The Real Estate District, described the intensive process: "I was here yesterday doing my part to see. I’ve looked at every cabinet, opened up everything, the shed, the garage, just to, you never know, could he have popped in if someone went to look at the garage during a showing."

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I was here yesterday doing my part to see. I’ve looked at every cabinet, opened up everything, the shed, the garage, just to, you never know, could he have popped in if someone went to look at the garage during a showing. So it’s … been busy.

Police have identified specific streets of interest, including Travis Street, Travis Crescent, and others in the Thorncliffe neighborhood, where Parker was last seen. Realtors have organized themselves using a shared spreadsheet to systematically cover vacant listings in and around these areas. "One of our colleagues, he is a very close friend of the family. He’s also been working around the clock also trying to help," Poirier added.

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So in the real estate industry, us realtors, we’ve all grouped together. Someone started a spreadsheet of all the vacant properties or listings in and around Thorncliffe and every realtor has been trying to be like, ‘OK, I’ll go check this one, you go check that one.’

Realtors believe their efforts have been valuable, with Poirier noting that police have utilized footage from their doorbell cameras. Parker, who is neurodivergent and has non-verbal autism, may become frightened if approached by strangers and is known to enter accessible buildings, sometimes locking doors behind him. Authorities urge the public not to approach him if spotted, but to maintain visual contact and immediately notify the police.

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One of our colleagues, he is a very close friend of the family. He’s also been working around the clock also trying to help.