Edmonton police have issued Canada-wide warrants for Scot MacDermid, 42, in connection with the disappearance of his children, nine-year-old Lesley and six-year-old George. The warrants were issued Sept. 23 for two counts of abduction in contravention of a custody order. Police say the children remain their top priority and have not issued an Amber Alert because the criteria have not been met.

MacDermid and the children were reported missing after disappearing from north Edmonton on Friday, Aug. 28. Their last known location in the city was Manning Town Centre, a shopping complex in northeast Edmonton near 155 Avenue and 37 Street. Police later learned that the three were seen in Lloydminster at about 6:30 p.m. that day, accompanied by an unidentified man. Investigators have since located and spoken with that man.

Police first appealed for public help on Sept. 8, 12 days after the disappearance. At the time, they said MacDermid could not be reached and expressed concern for the family’s welfare. In a Sept. 17 release, police said the group might have been seen in Saskatchewan or Manitoba. Their direction of travel after Lloydminster remains unknown.

The charge applies when investigators believe a parent or guardian took a child under 14 in breach of a valid court order, intending to deprive another guardian of possession. Police allege MacDermid abducted the children on purpose and say the two counts relate to a custody order.

MacDermid is described as five feet, five inches tall and about 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. George is four feet, two inches tall and about 45 pounds, with short, curly brown hair and brown eyes. Lesley is four feet, four inches tall and about 45 pounds, with medium-length curly brown hair and brown eyes.

Staff Sgt. Robert Davis of the Edmonton Police Service child protection unit said in a news release: “An Amber Alert is one tool available to police, but it is not the investigation itself. Finding Lesley and George remains our top priority,” Davis also said: “We want the community to know that we are working to locate the children safely.”

Anyone with information about MacDermid, George or Lesley’s whereabouts is asked to call Edmonton police at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone.

Based on reporting by Global News Edmonton and CTV News Edmonton.