Parker Wells, Darius MacDougall, and the fight to strengthen Canada's Emergency Alert System

Parker Wells, Darius MacDougall, and the fight to strengthen Canada's Emergency Alert System

Author: CanadianGothic / Curiouscast August 12, 2026 Duration: 1:05:36
Canada has an emergency alert system capable of reaching millions of people within seconds, but when a vulnerable person goes missing, whether that system can be used often depends on where they disappear. In this episode of The Canadian Gothic, we are joined by Jennifer Ball, founder of the Project Indigo movement, and Ronald DeGagne the advocate behind the Darius’ Law petition, to examine the gaps in Canada’s emergency alert system. Jennifer discusses how the disappearance of Parker Wells inspired her advocacy, while Ronald explains how the disappearance of six-year-old Darius MacDougall pushed him to call for change. Together, they discuss why AMBER Alerts do not cover many vulnerable missing-person cases, the patchwork of Silver and vulnerable-person alert policies across Canada, and what a standardized national system could look like. Episode Links: Darius’ Law Petition - https://www.change.org/p/strengthen-canada-s-amber-alert-system Project Indigo - https://indigoalertcanada.com/ Send a voicememo to the show: ⁠https://www.thecanadiangothic.com/contact⁠ Subscribe to the show: ⁠https://www.thecanadiangothic.com/subscribe⁠ Musical Theme: Noir Toyko by Monty Datta Social Links: Website: ⁠https://www.thecanadiangothic.com/⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheCanadianGothic⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thecanadiangothic/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the producers at Nighttime and Curiouscast, The Canadian Gothic explores the strange and often unsettling stories that form a shadow history of the country. This isn't a simple retelling of familiar tales; instead, the podcast meticulously reconstructs chilling true crime cases, long-forgotten disappearances, and encounters with the unexplained that linger in small towns and big cities alike. Listeners will hear a compelling blend of archival recordings, interviews with those directly involved, and detailed narrative storytelling that prioritizes depth and atmosphere. Each episode functions as a self-contained journey into a particular mystery, whether it's a decades-old cold case or a recent, bizarre event that defies easy explanation. The research is thorough, avoiding sensationalism in favor of presenting the facts and the human experiences at their core. By focusing on Canada's unique landscape of the mysterious, the series reveals how the paranormal and the criminal are often intertwined with our culture and history. The result is a consistently engaging documentary-style podcast that feels both expansive and intimate, perfect for anyone drawn to the darker, more enigmatic corners of real-life stories. You'll find yourself pulled into these richly woven narratives, each one designed to not just inform but to immerse you completely in the lingering question at the heart of every case.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Canadian Gothic
Podcast Episodes
Where is Parker Wells? (Last Seen in Calgary, AB | July 16, 2026) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:43
On July 16, 2026, 11-year-old Parker Wells disappeared from his day home in Calgary. Parker is autistic, neurodivergent and nonverbal, and operates more like a 2-3 year old. His disappearance has prompted an enormous sea…
Encounters With Creeps - Volume 34 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:50
In Encounters with CREEPS, Canadian Gothic listeners are invited to share their unsettling experiences with the many CREEPS lurking in everyday life. In this episode, Jordan and Madelayne unpack the 34th volume of your E…
Eli Wood is Missing (Last Seen in Kitchener, Ontario Oct 18, 2025) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:45
On October 18, 2025, 25-year-old Eli Wood was last seen by his family on a video call that ended just prior to midnight. Something they did daily as a way to stay connected while Eli was attending university in Kitchener…