2013-09-18: Mr. Shin Noh goes missing

On September 19th, 2013, Mr. Shin Ik Noh. 64, went missing in Coquitlam BC. Coquitlam Search and Rescue were called to mount a search of the area, and were unsuccessful after a week of looking. Mr Noh’s family, led by his son Sam Noh, mounted a months long information campaign and search for him, also with no results.
2014 Founded
In 2014, Mike, Matt and Sam founded the BC Silver Alert with the goal to advocate for a system to alert members of the public when vulnerable people with dementia, autism and other cognitive issues go missing.
2014-09-10: Citizen’s Silver Alert System
The newly formed BC Silver Alert creates a web site that monitors BC Police feeds, including the RCMP as well as Vancouver, Victoria, West Vancouver, Port Moody, New Westminister, Abbotsford, Nelson and Delta police.
When any police department posts a missing person alert on their sites, the BC Silver Alert web site copies it, and syndicates it to social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and to email subscribers.
This goes live on September 10th, 2014 – almost one year after Shin Noh went missing, and remains in effect for the next 7 years (2014 to 2020). Some of the early work is documented on this blog.
Silver Alert Legislation
British Columbia MLA Selina Robinson, then in opposition, proposes a Silver Alert act in the BC Legislature. It does not pass.
2015
2015-02-18: Silver Alert Concept
2015-09-17: One Year of Silver Alerts
2015-12-31: Statistics
- 35 Alerts
- ~2.9/month
- July busiest month (6 alerts)
2016
2016-05-30: Missing Senior found by BC Silver Alert
2016-12-31: Statistics
- 28 Alerts
- ~2.3/month
- August busiest month (6 alerts)
2017
2017-04-30: Presentation at Port Moody Talks
Presented at a local community event on the issue of elderly wandering and how a Silver Alert system can help.
2018
Houses of Parliament Petition e-1588
BC Silver Alert supported and promoted a petition initiated by Ontario MPP Sonia Aggelonitis from Toronto. The petition asked for the Canadian Government to develop a National Silver Alert Strategy for all Canadian Provinces and Territories.
2018-05-11: Debate in the Senate of Canada
Senators Wallin and Frances Lankin introduced motions and debate presenting the Silver Alert in the Canadian Senate. Members of the BC Silver Alert had previously supplied information and opinions to senatorial assistants. Debate specifically references the efforts in BC as well as elsewhere in Canada.
2018-10-18: Search and Rescue Dementia Exercise
In conjunction with Coquitlam Search and Rescue, members of the BC Silver Alert took part in a large scale search and rescue exercise and demonstration for researchers from the University of Alberta and the University of Waterloo.
The day long exercise was conducted in Munday park and involved several search and rescue teams and official observers. The day also included a test and simulation of the Community ASAP mobile application.
2018-10-01: Presentation of the BC Association of Municipal Chiefs of Police
We resented to the BCAMCP on the value of the Silver Alert and our successes to date, promoting the idea of using “Silver Alert” as a common term to describe an alert for a vulnerable missing person such as those with dementia.
2018-10-15: Presentation to the BC Search and Rescue Association
We presented to BCSARA, the organization representing the Search and Rescue stakeholders in BC, on the value of the Silver Alert and how it can reduce the amount of time and resources spent searching for vulnerable people, and increase the chance of finding them alive.
2018-10-23: Conclusion of Debate in the Senate of Canada
Senators Wallin and Frances Lankin introduced motions and debate presenting the Silver Alert in the Canadian Senate. Members of the BC Silver Alert had previously supplied information and opinions to senatorial assistants.
2018-12-14: International Consortium on Dementia and Wayfinding meeting
BC Silver Alert members join with a group of international experts including law enforcement, government and researchers, to discuss issues around dementia, wandering and wayfinding.
2019
2018-11-09: Tragic Year for Seniors in the Lower Mainland
2020
2020-11-29:
Members of the BC Silver Alert Society participated in the Online national forum on community alert systems for missing older adults,
This three hour forum brought together persons with lived experience, first responders, community organizations, policy makers, and researchers to inform “made for Canada” approaches to alert systems for missing older adults. Thought leaders presented their perspectives on the topic and addressed the following research questions:
What steps would need to be taken to develop alert systems? Who needs to be involved?
What are the factors to consider (e.g., challenges and opportunities) before we develop alert system(s) for older adults at risk of going missing?
What is the feasibility of developing alert systems locally, provincially, or nationally?
2021
2021-07-19: New Initiatives Fund Grant
The BC Silver Alert and Coquitlam Search and Rescue supported a grant application for the Government of Canada’s SAR New Initiatives Fund, which was awarded in 2021. The project was known as Managing Risks of Going Missing among Persons Living with Dementia by Building Capacities of Search and Rescue Personnel, First Responders, and Communities
2021-06-17: Presentation on Community Alerting Systems
Busola Adekoya, a researcher at the School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo presented to the Canadian Association on Gerontology some of the results of the forum on Community Alerting Systems.
2021-07-19: Mobile Alert App
In conjunction with Coquitlam Search and Rescue, members of the BC Silver Alert Society lent their expertise in the form of testing and advice to the development of a mobile app to assist in searching for missing people.
Neubauer N, Daum C, Miguel-Cruz A, Liu L (2021) Mobile alert app to engage community volunteers to help locate missing persons with dementia. PLoS ONE 16(7): e0254952. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254952
Policy Note
As a result of the participation of BC Silver Alert members in the National Forum on Community Alerting Systems, mentioned above, the following policy note was published with the endorsement of all attendees.
Adekoya, A., Daum, C., Neubauer, N., McLennan, L., & Liu, L. (2021). Community alert systems for missing vulnerable adults: A call to action for policy makers [Unpublished policy brief]. Aging and Innovation Research Program, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
2022
2022-06-03: What’s happening with Silver Alerts in B.C.?, CTV News interviews Sam Noh about BC’s unfulfilled election promise to create a BC Silver Alert.
2023
2023-07-17: Survival of missing B.C. senior with dementia raises new questions about Silver Alert system, Global News
2023-07-17: B.C. promised a ‘Silver Alert’ system for missing seniors with dementia. Where is it?, Global News
2024
2024-03-10: Presentation to Western Canadian Association of Lifeline Programs
Presented on the Silver Alert to the WCALP, an organization that delivers home alerting systems to allow elderly or infirm people to call for help when needed. This organization has intimate knowledge of the needs of a vulnerable population.
2025
Silver Alert in the Media
2014-02-25: Silver Alert bill addresses missing seniors with dementia, CBC News
2014-12-12: B.C. urged to adopt Silver Alert plan to locate missing seniors with dementia, Wendy Stuek, The Globe and Mail
2014-09-18: Appeared on CBC’s The Early Edition,
https://x.com/CBCEarlyEdition/status/512596680819376128
2016-05-30: Missing Senior found by BC Silver Alert
2017-09-17: Noh family seeks fulfillment of NDP Silver Alert promise, Diane Strandberg, TriCity News
2017-01-10: White Rock RCMP seek to boost BC Silver Alert program, Peace Arch News
2018-09-18: ‘Silver Alert’ advocate still waiting on province to move on tracking tech for missing Alzheimer’s sufferers, Sonia Aslam, City News
2018-04-08: Fear for safety of elderly with dementia prompts Silver Alert call, Diane Strandberg, Vancouver Is Awesome
2020-01-09: Silver Alert finds senior missing from U.S. in Trail, Sheri Regnier, Trail Times
2022-04-15: ‘Silent’ protest calls for alert system in Kelowna after tragic death of James Wood, Jacqueline Gelineau, Lake Country Calendar
2022-06-03: What’s happening with Silver Alerts in B.C.?, CTV News interviews Sam Noh about BC’s unfulfilled election promise to create a BC Silver Alert.
2023-07-17: Survival of missing B.C. senior with dementia raises new questions about Silver Alert system, Global News
2023-07-17: Advocates call for ‘Silver Alert’ system as woman with dementia found after six days, CityNews
2023-07-17: B.C. promised a ‘Silver Alert’ system for missing seniors with dementia. Where is it?, Global News
2024-01-07: Call for Silver Alert system in British Columbia, Global News. Founder Michael Coyle speaks to the need for a Silver Alert in BC.
2024-05-01: Silver alerts and how they could help find missing seniors in Canada, CBC News
2024-09-09: Canada needs a national Silver Alert program for older adults, Lili Liu, Adebusola Adekoya and Antonio Miguel Cruz. Contributed to The Globe and Mail
2024-11-28: Victoria resident starts petition for ‘Silver Alert’ system to help seniors with dementia, Victoria Buzz
2024-11-27: Canada needs national ‘Silver Alert’ for seniors with dementia, says daughter, CHEK News
2024-12-10: Tragic ending for missing B.C. seniors prompts renewed calls for Silver Alert system, Global BC