Reid Bricker: Searchers sweep downtown Winnipeg for missing man

A search party made up of friends, family and members of the community fanned out over downtown Winnipeg Saturday in search of Reid Bricker.

Bricker has been missing since Oct. 24. He was released from the Health Sciences Centre at 3:20 a.m. where he was admitted after a suicide attempt.

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Bonnie Bricker, Reid's mother, said she has no idea where her 33-year-old son might be, but she is grateful for the support she has received in trying to track him down.

There are a lot of caring people out there who identify with what we're going through and it's comforting.- Bonnie Bricker

"People have been phoning and coming around, bringing food. Our friends have been amazing. Reid's friends have been amazing," Bonnie said. 

"But at night time, it's a dead time. It's dark and it's cold ... and you say 'My child is out there by himself' ... it's the worst feeling in the whole world."

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Saturday search

​Dozens of searchers hit the streets in Winnipeg Saturday hoping to turn up clues about Bricker's whereabouts.

Bonnie said that her son would be impressed by the outpouring of support.

"I just keep thinking of Reid because he would be absolutely blown away by this. He'd be blown away by this group of caring people because he felt absolutely hopeless," Bonnie said.

"There [are] a lot of caring people out there who identify with what we're going through and it's comforting, for sure."

Megan LaTouche joined the search after learning about Bricker's disappearance on Facebook.

"I just felt as a mom I would be tormented in this situation and I wanted to help anyway I can," said LaTouche.

The Bricker family said Friday that even though Reid has an attachment to the Whiteshell area, where he spends time camping and hiking, there's no proof he's left the city.

Bricker is about five-foot-eight-inches tall with a thin build, short black hair and an unshaven face.

He was last seen wearing a grey and black North Face jacket, a black hooded sweater, a red T-shirt, black pants and black and grey shoes.

Bricker has lived with severe depression, borderline-personality disorder and social anxiety for years, Bonnie told CBC News Friday. His family said he had struggled with suicidal thoughts over the years, and had a history of attempting to take his life. 

A vigil will be held Sunday at sunset at the Manitoba Legislature.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the missing persons unit at 204-986-6250.