The Nanaimo RCMP says a 27-year-old woman who was reported missing after last being seen in late June has been located and is safe. Police had asked the public for help earlier this month after the woman’s family reported her missing on Aug. 10.
Police and family sought help after prolonged absence
According to the detachment, the woman was last seen by family on June 28 in the area of Southgate Mall in south Nanaimo. Local patrol officers conducted multiple checks and inquiries in an effort to locate her before the missing-person report was filed in August.
- Last seen: June 28, 2026, near Southgate Mall, south Nanaimo
- Reported missing to police: Aug. 10, 2026
- Concerns: police and family were worried for her welfare because she has medical issues requiring attention
The RCMP had released a recent photograph and a description to the public as part of the search. Police described what she was wearing when last seen: a beige Gilligan-style bucket hat, a Country Grocer jacket, shorts and a backpack.
“The missing woman was found safe,”
Timeline and response
The sequence of events underlined how a gap between a last sighting and the reporting date can extend the period of uncertainty for family members and investigators. The detachment said officers had undertaken numerous checks prior to the family’s report.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last seen | June 28, 2026 |
| Reported missing to RCMP | Aug. 10, 2026 |
| Update from RCMP | Aug. 18, 2026 (found safe) |
Missing-person cases with underlying health concerns prompt a different urgency for police, who balance searching public spaces with following up leads and conducting welfare checks. The detachment’s public notice had aimed to alert residents and ask anyone with information to come forward.
Community implications and next steps
For neighbourhoods around Southgate Mall and the broader Nanaimo community, the incident is a reminder of the importance of checking on vulnerable friends and family, and of the role public alerts can play in locating someone who may need medical care. Police did not release further identifying details in the public notice; the original story preserved in news archives had some identification removed out of privacy concerns.
RCMP statements like the one issued in this case are typically concise: they confirm the safety of the person involved and often do not provide further medical or personal information unless family members wish to make a statement. The detachment’s update closes this chapter of active public appeal, but it also highlights the challenges families face when the interval between a last sighting and a missing-person report is prolonged.
The Nanaimo RCMP previously encouraged anyone with information during the search to contact the detachment. With the woman now found, police have not asked for additional public assistance related to this file.
This account is based on official RCMP communications and the public notice issued by the detachment. No further identifying or health details have been released.
