3 of provinces’ top crime and safety organizations join forces, to help bring missing Manitobans home

It’s a historic day in Winnipeg, as Bear Clan, Aboriginal Alert, and Crime Stoppers have all joined forces in hopes of helping bring missing persons home and create a stronger, more united community

“The goal is to bring our Manitobans home before they become victimized or even worse victims themselves,” said Rob MacKenzie, Board of Director Chair for Winnipeg Crime Stoppers.

“Together we can bring all missing Manitobans home.”

The partnership began when a Thunder Bay family sought help locating a loved one in Winnipeg. With no Bear Clan presence in Northern Ontario, they teamed up with Aboriginal Alert’s missing persons database, leading to the individual being found within two hours. Now, the partnership has expanded to include Winnipeg Crime Stoppers.

“This is what we’re hoping will help spread more awareness about missing persons,” said Angela Klassen, West Broadway Coordinator of Bear Clan.

Nicole Martel, with Aboriginal Alert, said, “I really do believe we can do better case management when there’s communication involved.”

The Bear Clan Patrol in Winnipeg has worked with families of over 4,000 missing persons. They say their success rate stands at 71 per cent, with 228 of 321 cases resolved.

“We hope to build on that success rate with the help of crime stoppers and with our partnership with Aboriginal alerts,” said Klassen.

Aboriginal Alert, founded in 2017, operates a system that sends out alerts through email to subscribers within a 100-kilometre radius of the missing person’s last known location. The organization had a notable success rate in 2023, locating over 1,000 people, including more than 400 children and youth.

“More eyes on the streets means more protection, when people look out for one another, fewer people fall through the cracks,” said Martel.

Winnipeg Crime Stoppers will add an important element to this initiative, by enabling anonymous tips. Crime Stoppers hopes this will encourage more people to come forward with information, offering cash rewards for tips that help resolve cases.

“This collaboration will give an alternate option for people to come forward with information regarding missing individuals,” said MacKenzie.

The three organizations hope to eventually take this collaboration to the national level.