CALGARY — It was a brief but important announcement when the  The Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA) announced a partnership with the Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) at their 75th annual Management Conference.

Not many words we’re needed — it’s an obvious and important partnership. But the strength of the partnership lies in the use of a program called “CodeSearch” that uses technology to help bring non-profits, corporations and law enforcement together.

With a free smart phone app, users sign up to be “field agents.” When a child goes missing, the system pushes out a notification, creating, in effect, a virtual community with eyes and ears in the real world.

“When a child goes missing time is of the essence,” says Don Wilson, executive director, AMTA. “Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week transport trucks are in every community across Alberta and Canada. The drivers behind the wheel of trucks and buses are ideally positioned to provide the valuable eyes and ears on the lookout for missing children.”

“The trucking industry provides the necessities of daily living to every community, our employees live in every community,” said Wilson. “We are a natural strategic partner in providing extra eyes on the street.”

“CodeSearch is changing the face of Corporate Volunteering and AMTA is helping lead the transport industry nationwide,” said Amanda Pick, Executive Director of the MCSC.

“When we can have information about a missing child in the hands of those who are on the road, we know we can help bring them home safe.”

For more, click here.