In the summer of 2026, a sense of unease settled over a family in Victoria, British Columbia, with the disappearance of 15-year-old Joshua Kevin Christopher Gates. He was last seen on Friday, July 10, 2026, in the provincial capital. At the time he went missing, Joshua, a male youth described as being five-foot-ten and weighing approximately 141 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, was living in a group home. Reports from the Victoria Police Department indicated he was seen getting into a blue Honda on the 1100 block of Kings Road. His family’s concern grew as days turned into weeks without any word from him. This was not the first time Joshua had gone missing, as his mother shared that he had been in and out of trouble for the preceding two years.
Despite these challenges, he was remembered by his mother as a loving and empathetic child who filled their lives with laughter before his troubles began.
The initial stages of the investigation suggested Joshua may have traveled to the British Columbia mainland, with potential sightings in the northern part of the province. Investigators received information that placed him in Terrace on July 14, just four days after he was last seen in Victoria. It was believed he might be associated with a blue Honda Civic bearing the B.C. licence plate A53 7SM. For a time, police thought Joshua might be traveling with another missing teenager from the area, 15-year-old Jahmai Nathan Joe. This lead, however, brought partial relief but no answers for Joshua’s family when the other youth was located and found to be safe. The boy who was found could not provide any information about Joshua's potential whereabouts, leaving his family and investigators back where they started.
As the investigation continued into August, the Terrace RCMP concluded their active search in the northern region due to a lack of new sightings or information suggesting he was still in the area. The case was then transferred back to the Victoria Police Department, where it remains an active investigation. Joshua's mother, Amanda Gates, has made heartfelt public appeals for any information that might lead to her son. She described the family's experience as "every parent's worst nightmare" and spoke of the immense pain of not knowing if her son is safe, warm, or has enough to eat. She has directly pleaded for Joshua to reach out to his grandparents or older sister just to let them know he is okay. The disappearance of Joshua Gates is a distressing case of a high-risk youth vanishing, leaving a large and supportive family in a state of profound uncertainty and fear as they continue to hope for his safe return.Last Seen: Jul 10, 2026
