Parker's death prompts Calgary parents to turn to tracking technology for child safety

Calgary parents are reassessing child safety practices after the death of 11-year-old Parker, who disappeared from his day home in Thorncliffe on July 16 and was found dead 13 days later, sparking one of the region's most intensive missing-child searches.

With the return to school approaching, some families are now turning to tracking technology for added security. GPS watches designed for children, small trackers that can be slipped into a backpack, Apple AirTags, and dedicated devices such as AngelSense and Tracki are all options families are considering.

"Families are afraid," said Lyndon Parakin, executive director of Autism Calgary. "This is a reality check to the threats that we face as caregivers of vulnerable persons every day." Parakin cautioned that any monitoring tool must be matched to a child's needs, abilities and level of independence.

Parents have expressed divided views on the best approach. One parent said that Parker's death convinced her that more should be done to keep children safe, while another emphasized teaching safety rules and boundaries, even if children don't always follow them.

Parker's death also renewed frustration among community members over the timing of the emergency alert issued during the search. At memorials last week, Calgarians called for better protocols for reporting missing vulnerable children, leading to ongoing discussion about how such cases should be handled.