The death of Parker Wells, a non-verbal 11-year-old boy in Calgary, has sparked increased calls across Canada for an “Indigo Alert” system. This is essentially an Amber Alert, but specifically for when vulnerable people go missing. A weeks-long search for Wells ended in the tragic discovery of his body last month. Saskatchewan Representative of Indigo Alert Canada Abby Firlotte said that Wells’ death could have been prevented. “I truly do believe that if we had an Indigo Alert already implemented nationwide in every single province, that Parker Wells would still be alive here today,” she said. The Autism Resource Centre in Regina believes the Amber Alert system needs to change to better represent the varying needs of those who have autism, are non-communicative or are neurodivergent. “What we currently have in place has very strict rules, and you have to have been abducted. But for someone who doesn’t have as much … safety awareness and skills, the level of risk can be immediate,” said Leo Saccary, life skills and communications program manager. Aly Rapinchuk, another Saskatchewan representative for Indigo Alert Canada, told CTV News that the movement hits close to home because of an experience she had with her daughter. “Personally, as a parent to a child who is autistic, I do understand the gaps. My daughter has personally eloped from school, and they did not have the proper supervision,” Rapinchuk said. “So with her being medically complex, as well as having uncontrolled epilepsy – had she gone missing and had a seizure alone, it could have been tragic.” Both Rapinchuk and Firlotte had one shared message for all the supporters of the Indigo Alert movement: continue to be loud and speak out for change. “We’re not going to stop and we’re not going to stop talking until this is law, until this is a new alert, until they either amend the Amber Alert [or do] whatever they can do to protect the vulnerable individuals in our community,” Firlotte said. The Saskatchewan representatives hope to be loud themselves on Sept. 12, which is when they plan to hold a rally in honour of Parker Wells outside the Legislative Building. The rally will also serve as a chance to raise awareness of the movement. In a statement to CTV News, the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) said a new alerting category would require consideration through national governance bodies responsible for public alerting. The SPSA added that it would be in support of a new alert category that has clear eligibility criteria and could be consistently applied across Canada.
