A missing 64-year-old Saanich man with dementia who vanished from his care home last week has been found deceased in Langford, seven days after walking out of his facility.
Chris Dube, whose family had been searching tirelessly since his disappearance on Saturday, November 23rd, was located late Saturday.
According to a Facebook group dedicated to Dube’s search, he was reportedly wearing only slippers when he left his dementia ward at Veterans Memorial Lodge in Broadmead, managing to pass through two locked doors, the reception area, and exit the front door of the care home.
In a statement, his family expressed their heartbreak and thanked the community for its prayers and support during the search. They have requested privacy as they process the devastating loss.
Saanich Police confirmed that Dube had been located but did not release any further information.
“Chris, you are loved by many and will be missed immensely,” the family shared.
Over seven days, Saanich Police, volunteers, Search and Rescue, and the Peninsula Emergency Measures Organization searched land and water in PKOLS (Mount Douglas Park) before standing down.
A Victoria Buzz Facebook group member commented on a missing person post, stating they had spoken with Dube on a bus to Langford and reported it to police.
Just last week, a petition to the Canadian government began circulating for a ‘Silver Alert’ program to be launched nation-wide.
Related:
- Victoria resident starts petition for ‘Silver Alert’ system to help seniors with dementia
- Saanich Police continue search for 64-year-old man with dementia
This would be similar to how amber alerts work, but instead of informing people of a missing child, it would inform the public of seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s who have gone missing.
The petition originated in Victoria, and was launched by Britt Moberg, whose 81-year-old father went missing in Winnipeg last December and still has not been found.
“I initiated a petition to the Government of Canada to develop a National Silver Alert System to provide notification when a vulnerable adult with dementia or other cognitive impairment goes missing so they can be brought home safely,” said Moberg.
According to the Alzheimer Society, nearly one million people will be living with dementia by the year 2030 in Canada, and that number is projected to increase to over 1.7 million by 2050.
With files from Curtis Blandy
