May 25th is Missing Children’s Day

Child Find Canada ~ Green Ribbon of Hopetm  Campaign 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * May 01, 2006 – May 31, 2006

CHILD FIND LAUNCHES 15TH ANNUAL GREEN RIBBON OF HOPE CAMPAIGN

Winnipeg - CHILD FIND CANADA INC. announces the fifteenth annual Green Ribbon of Hope Campaigntm . This Campaign, which runs for the entire month of May, raises awareness of the issue of Missing Children. Each year in Canada, THOUSANDS of children are reported missing. The Green Ribbon has become a symbol of Hope for their safe return.

May 25th is Missing Children’s Day ~ In 1986 the Solicitor General of Canada declared May 25th to be Missing Children’s Day.

During the month of May the Green Ribbon of Hope is recognized as a symbol to remember missing children and to seek their safe return. Green is regarded as the colour of Hope and epitomizes the quest for the safe return of all missing children. Community members are asked to show their support and concern of the missing children’s issue by prominently wearing a green ribbon.

Proceeds generated by the Green Ribbon Campaign will enable Child Find Canada and its provincial partners to continue their mandate ~ assisting in the search for missing children and the education of children and adults about child personal safety.

Activities carried out during the month of May include fingerprint clinics and various community fundraising events. Green Ribbon boxes are placed in various business locations.

Special Event to commemorate 15th Annual Campaign: 


Have you ever wondered what making a difference would feel like?

In Motion for the Missing
61 days, 10 provinces, 2 men, 1 cause!  In Motion for the Missing is simply this … an awesome life changing adventure.  During May and June, 2006, Brian Potter and Tom Ropeleski, two retired high school teachers from Montreal, Quebec will join forces by cycling across Canada in order to bring school-age children and young adolescents, as well as communities and the entire country to a new level of awareness about the issues of missing and exploited children.  During these two months of hope, through a bold display of commitment and physical endurance, they will honour lives lost,  celebrate those reunited, and help bring the issues of missing and exploited children to the forefront of  Canadians’ minds.
The money raised during the In Motion for the Missing event will benefit Child Find and The Missing Children Network, two humanitarian organizations who work in collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the search for missing children, provide prevention and awareness programs, as well as advocate for the rights of all children. The provincial offices of Child Find and Missing Children Network have been teaching child personal safety for more than twenty years, delivering quality education which teaches children of all ages comprehensive personal safety skills.
 The issue of child abduction is well known to the Canadian public. What most Canadians fail to recognize however, is the importance of appropriate safety education and the roles that parents, educators and the community can play to keep children out of harm’s way. 

A missing child is every parents worst nightmare.  In 2005, over  67,000 Canadian children were reported missing to police authorities. [These statistics do not include the number of attempted abductions occurring while children were walking to and from school or other activities.]   This is the  equivalent of one child reported missing every seven and a half minutes! Fortunately, however, there is a recovery rate of over a ninety percent, thanks, in part, to the combined efforts of law enforcement agencies and organizations like Child Find & Missing Children Network.

Brian and Tom’s extraordinary effort focuses on an issue that affects literally thousands of Canadian families every year … it is also about empowering our youngsters to become strong, safe and smart, thus encouraging them to become community leaders.

Through interactive presentations at schools across the country Brian Potter & Tom Ropeleski, two former educators,  will send an enthusiastic and motivational message to Canadian youth while encouraging them to participate by hosting a variety of fundraising activities.

In Motion for the Missing is your chance to go the distance in the fight against the exploitation of children; it’s your chance to be a hero; your chance to be part of a legacy in Canadian culture and make a difference in the life of a child. 

In Motion for the Missing is one bike ride you will never forget.

Get involved today and become a hometown hero! www.inmotionforthemissing.ca

If you would like to make a donation or find out more about the Green Ribbon of Hope Campaign, please call or write the Child Find office nearest you.

Child Find Canada Inc. is a registered charitable organization established in 1988 whose mandate is to support its existing and future members who educate and advocate for the rights of children and youth, and assist in the location of missing children.

All Children Have the Right to be Safe !!!

For further information, contact :                                 

Kathryn Anderson
CHILD FIND CANADA INC.
204. 339. 5584