The quiet community of Digby County, Nova Scotia, has once again become the epicenter of a growing search effort, as authorities resume operations to locate two young children who went missing nearly three weeks ago. Seven-year-old Caleb Reid and his five-year-old sister, Sophie, vanished from their grandmother’s rural property on the afternoon of May 3, sparking an intensive search that was temporarily scaled back after ten days without significant leads.

Now, with new information surfacing and growing public pressure, officials have restarted the search, deploying fresh personnel and updated technology. Community members welcomed the renewed effort but are also demanding clarity about why the investigation appeared to stall, and whether early missteps might have cost valuable time.

Caleb and Sophie had been playing in the yard after lunch, according to their grandmother, when she briefly stepped inside to take a phone call. When she returned minutes later, the children were gone. The family immediately began searching the property before contacting emergency services. RCMP officers arrived within an hour, and the initial search expanded quickly to include local fire departments, volunteer groups, tracking dogs, and aerial surveillance.

For days, searchers combed the woods, marshes, and shoreline surrounding the property. Boats patrolled nearby waterways, and drones scanned hard-to-reach terrain. Despite ideal weather conditions and dozens of trained personnel on the ground, there was no sign of the children—no footprints, no clothing, and no confirmed sightings.

At the time, authorities treated the case as a possible lost-person scenario, based on the assumption that the children had wandered off into the woods. However, after more than a week of exhaustive searching, RCMP officials began to wind down field operations, shifting to what they called an “investigative phase” and focusing on interviews, digital forensics, and background checks.

That shift drew immediate criticism from the public and the children’s family. “You don’t just stop looking,” said Caleb and Sophie’s father, Michael Reid, during an emotional press conference. “They’re out there somewhere, and we need every single pair of hands and eyes looking until they’re found. We need answers.”

Adding fuel to the growing controversy were reports that some key areas were not thoroughly searched in the initial days, due in part to miscommunications between agencies. Anonymous sources within the search operation also raised concerns about delayed coordination and confusion over who was leading the investigation.

These concerns prompted a public outcry and a renewed call for action. Online petitions circulated calling for a full-scale search to resume. Community members organized independent search parties. Local politicians urged the provincial government to provide more resources. The RCMP, facing mounting pressure, announced the reactivation of active search operations earlier this week.

“This remains an open and urgent investigation,” said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Melissa Dempsey. “Based on new information and continued public engagement, we are expanding the search area and reassigning additional resources, including specialized units from across the province.”

The “new information” has not been disclosed in detail, but sources familiar with the case say it may include witness reports and a possible sighting near a service road several kilometers from the family’s home. Law enforcement has not confirmed whether this sighting is credible, but it was enough to warrant a fresh look at areas that had previously been dismissed.

Search-and-rescue personnel, including new canine teams and technical specialists, have begun canvassing these new zones. Command centers have been re-established, and volunteers are once again showing up in large numbers. Among them are many who were involved in the original effort and felt frustrated by its sudden pause.

“There was no closure,” said Melanie O’Connor, a retired paramedic who helped coordinate volunteer searchers. “We had no answers, no direction, and we were told to go home. Now we’re back—because these kids deserve more than assumptions and dead ends.”

The Reid family has largely avoided speaking publicly since the investigation shifted focus, but they released a written statement thanking those who have returned to the search. “Your dedication is the light we’re holding onto. We will never stop looking for Caleb and Sophie, and we believe they are still out there.”

The case has also drawn national attention, with child safety advocates and former law enforcement professionals weighing in. Critics argue that the initial investigation suffered from tunnel vision, focusing too heavily on the lost-person theory and potentially missing signs of abduction or foul play.

“It’s always a balancing act,” said Tom Granger, a former police investigator who now works in missing persons advocacy. “You don’t want to create panic, but you also can’t afford to rule things out too quickly. Once that early window of opportunity closes, it becomes exponentially harder to find someone—especially children.”

The Nova Scotia Department of Justice has acknowledged the public’s concerns and confirmed that, in addition to the ongoing search, an internal review of the early investigation protocols is underway. Officials emphasize that their priority remains finding the children and ensuring all possibilities are fully explored.

Meanwhile, community support for the family continues to grow. Ribbons and posters bearing the children’s photos decorate storefronts and telephone poles. Local businesses are donating supplies to support search crews. Vigils and prayer circles are held each evening at the town square, where candles spell out the words Come Home Safe.

The emotional toll on Digby County is evident. Parents now keep their children within arm’s reach. Schools have brought in counselors. What was once considered a peaceful, close-knit community has been disrupted by uncertainty and fear. Yet within that fear, there is also unity.

As the search resumes, many hope that the renewed effort will finally lead to answers. Authorities remain cautious but determined. “Every day matters,” said Cpl. Dempsey. “We are doing everything in our power to bring these children home.”

For now, the woods remain quiet, the roads watched closely, and the town holds its breath. Caleb and Sophie Reid are still missing, but their names are being spoken again—not as a memory, but as a call to action. With fresh eyes and undeterred hearts, the search continues.