Observant parent thwarted abduction attempt of girl, 7, from B.C. school: police

The RCMP logo is seen outside the force's 'E' division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on March 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Police in Chilliwack, B.C., say the attempted abduction of a seven-year-old girl from a school on Wednesday, by a man wearing a “purple bunny-like mask,” was thwarted by a concerned parent.

RCMP were called to the grounds of Chilliwack Elementary School just after 9 a.m. after a masked man was seen attempting to remove the child from the school.

Supt. Darren Pankratz says a parent dropping off their child noticed the situation wasn’t right and intervened, bringing the girl back unharmed before notifying police.

Police have charged 49-year-old Joel McGillis with kidnapping a person under 16, and he was due in court on Friday.

Pankratz says McGillis and the girl did not know each other, and the situation, while rare, is a reminder for parents to have conversations with their children about safety.

RCMP are asking anyone who saw a person wearing a purple mask on Wednesday morning to contact them.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2026.