Canada Launches Runaway Prevention Month
The Missing Children Society of Canada is using November to raise awareness of the warning signs and risks facing young people who run away.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Youth
The Missing Children Society of Canada has launched National Runaway Prevention Month for November 2026, with landmarks across Canada lighting up green on Nov. 4. The campaign aims to help people recognize warning signs of runaway risk and support youth challenges.
Why it matters
Nearly nine in 10 people who go missing in Canada are runaways, and about seven in 10 runaways are teens. The campaign frames early connection and access to safe adults and resources as a chance to intervene before a young person leaves home.
The NCMPUR recorded 34,189 reports of missing children in 2025, of which 24,050 were classified as runaways, and 78 per cent of missing children were between 14 and 17. The source does not provide a year-over-year comparison for these figures.
The players
Missing Children Society of Canada
A national non-profit organization focused on preventing child abduction and assisting in the recovery of missing children across Canada.
National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains
The national centre that compiles and reports data on missing persons and unidentified remains in Canada.
The details
The campaign encourages families, trusted adults, schools, police and communities to strengthen youth connections and access to support. Young people may run away because of conflict, abuse, neglect or feeling unheard.
Timeline
November 2025: NCMPUR reporting period for the 2025 missing children data.
November 2026: National Runaway Prevention Month campaign runs.
Nov. 4, 2026: Landmarks across Canada light up green.
Culture Shift
The campaign reflects a broader national focus on early intervention for at-risk youth, drawing on NCMPUR data showing runaways make up the large majority of missing persons in Canada. It positions prevention through relationships and community alongside traditional search and recovery efforts.
Families and trusted adults can watch for warning signs of runaway risk and make sure young people feel heard and know where to find safe people and resources. Schools and community members can help strengthen youth connections during November and beyond.
The takeaway
Helping youth feel heard and connecting them with safe adults and resources can create an opportunity to intervene before they go missing.
Further reading
For more on youth issues, explore the Youth section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 102.9 Rewind Radio - East Kootenay.
