Toronto authorities are reaching out to the community for help in finding David, a 78-year-old man who has been missing for over a week after he was last spotted kayaking on the picturesque Humber River.
David was reported missing on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the South Kingsway and The Queensway vicinity. Described as being 5-foot-8 with black and grey hair, sporting a thin chinstrap beard, he was last seen donning a red shirt, black and red vest, black pants, and black shoes.
New information has emerged from Duty Officer Scott Shutt, revealing that the search for David escalated following the discovery of his abandoned vehicle near the Humber River. A witness recalled seeing him set off in an inflatable kayak on Sept. 10, and since then, neither David nor any kayak-related items have been located.
The investigation gained momentum on Sept. 15, triggered by a check-address call prompted by a fire smell at David’s residence. It was revealed that David lived alone and had embarked on a kayaking trip earlier that week. A search operation involving the TPS Marine Unit, Peel’s Marine Unit, and drone teams has been diligently scouring the riverbanks for eight days in pursuit of any leads.
Detective Schutt emphasized the importance of the public’s involvement in the search, citing David’s solitary lifestyle as a factor in delayed reporting. Despite not yet reaching Level 1 status, denoting the highest priority in missing person cases, authorities stress the critical need for information from anyone who may have sighted David or his kayak on or after Sept. 10. If you have any details, please reach out to the police at 416-808-3300.
