Four-year-old girl found safe after wandering away from daycare
Mélissa Gélinas
Local Journalism Initiative
Published in the Pontiac Journal on June 18, 2025.
CAMPBELL’S BAY – A 4-year-old girl walked away unnoticed from her daycare centre and was found about 500 metres away in front of Langford’s grocery store in Campbell’s Bay, where an employee spotted her alone in the rain on May 29.
“It was a rainy Thursday afternoon. While unpacking a delivery, I noticed a little girl
pacing in front of our doors,” said Samantha Beauparlant, an employee at Langford’s.
“She came toward me crying, saying she had lost her parents,” she added. “She had no idea how she’d ended up there.”
Trying to comfort the child, Beauparlant asked for her parents’ names and immediately recognized them. “I sent her mom a message on Facebook right away to say I had found her daughter and she was safe,” she said. “Her reaction was what you’d expect from any mother— she was shocked, confused, upset, and furious.”
The child, Amelia, attends CPE Picabou at 166 Front Street. The incident reportedly began around 10:55 am, when Amelia asked to go to the bathroom. After a few minutes, the educators began searching for her inside and outside the daycare and at a nearby park. “One staff member had seen her downstairs and thought she was heading to her cubby,” said Amelia’s father, Frank Pilon. “So she didn’t intervene.” He added that the door reportedly wasn’t locked properly, allowing Amelia to exit.
The daycare did not call the parents during the incident. Amelia’s mother contacted the daycare only after receiving Beauparlant’s message.
According to the daycare’s official incident report, the child was gone for about 10 minutes. “We don’t believe that.” said Mr. Pilon. “Given the distance she walked, we think it was more like 25 to 30 minutes.”
Mr. Pilon and his wife filed a complaint with the Ministry of Families, responsible for the oversight of CPEs. The complaint is still under review. They also met with the day-care’s director and assistant director. “They admitted there had been a lack of vigilance on the part of the staff,” said Pilon. “We told them it was unacceptable that we didn’t receive a
call from them—or the police.”
The daycare director reportedly told the parents that there was no specific protocol in place for a missing child. According to the Ministry, while written protocols are not mandatory, safety is a legal requirement.
“The Act and Regulation respecting educational childcare services establish various safety obligations,” said Ministry spokesperson Pascal Doyon.
“Childcare providers are legally required to take all necessary measures to ensure the health, safety and well-being of children. This is an obligation of results. Each facility may choose the methods it considers appropriate, and the Ministry offers guides and tools to help them meet these obligations.”
“In this specific case,” he added, “an inspection was conducted on site on June 5 following the complaint. Once the findings have been analyzed, the Ministry will determine the next steps and appropriate measures to ensure proper follow-up with the daycare. When
necessary, the Ministry does not hesitate to take administrative action—including revoking a licence—or to recommend criminal penalties.”
As of now, Amelia still attends the daycare. “We don’t have a choice because we both work,” Mr. Pilon said. “But my wife is still shaken by what happened.”
CPE Picabou did not respond to requests for comment by press time.
