Family advocates for broader coverage of Silver Alerts in remembrance of a cherished individual who went missing: "An adored person went astray, and we aim to widen Silver Alert notifications"
In the heart of Canada, a growing movement is gaining momentum, driven by the urgent need to safeguard the welfare of seniors and adults with cognitive impairments. The National Silver Alert System, a concept reminiscent of AMBER Alerts for children, is being advocated for to help find missing vulnerable adults more swiftly.
The impetus for this movement can be traced back to December 2023, when Earl Moberg, an 81-year-old man with Alzheimer’s, disappeared and remains missing. His wife, Brenda Moberg, has been at the forefront of the petition efforts to create a national system that would broadcast alerts to cellphones, radio, and television when such individuals go missing.
A Journey of Advocacy
Brenda Moberg launched a federal petition in October 2023, supported by Conservative MP Raquel Dancho, calling on the government to implement a national Silver Alert. The petition garnered thousands of signatures (4,673 initially) but stalled after Parliament was prorogued and a federal election was called early 2024, halting progress for many initiatives.
The petition was relaunched in 2025, with ongoing support from MP Dancho and others, targeting the resumption of parliamentary debates and legislative action on this issue. Public and political attention has increased, especially in light of tragic outcomes with missing seniors, emphasizing that up to 60% of people with Alzheimer’s or dementia may wander and go missing, and that the risk of injury or death increases sharply if not found within 12 hours.
The Current Landscape
As of mid-2025, there is no federally mandated, standardized Silver Alert System in Canada that issues alerts directly to the public via mobile devices. Alerts might only be issued through media channels for certain cases, but the public notification does not yet include direct cellphone alerts as envisioned by advocates.
However, momentum is building politically to advance this cause, with plans to bring the issue to the House of Commons following the summer parliamentary recess in 2025. The aging population and increasing dementia prevalence, with nearly one million Canadians living with Alzheimer’s projected by 2030, underscore the urgency of this issue.
A Call to Action
The Moberg family, who have been advocating for a National Silver Alert System to be developed by the Government of Canada, expressed their gratitude to everyone who signed the petition and helped search for Earl since his disappearance. The petition, sponsored by Kildonan-St. Paul MP Raquel Dancho, is currently collecting online signatures until Oct. 2, 2025.
Earl, described as a loved one, father, and teacher, continues to be missed. The Mobergs, along with other advocates, are working tirelessly to change how the public is notified of missing adults, aiming to ensure a brighter future for vulnerable individuals and their families.
In this journey of advocacy, Brenda Moberg and her supporters are pushing for increased mental health awareness and health-and-wellness initiatives, particularly focusing on the safety and welfare of seniors and adults with cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer's. This call to action, represented by the ongoing federal petition for a national Silver Alert system, aims to ensure swift and efficient response when vulnerable adults go missing, ultimately reducing their risk of injury or death.
