Volunteers searching for Shin Noh, 64, fanned out across the Tri-Cities today in the hopes of finding the retired pastor who has Alzheimer's and has been missing for a week.
A fitness facility on Port Moody's St. Johns Street was the headquarters of the search, organized by Noh's son, Sam, and his girlfriend, Laurie Suchanek.
Together the two were directing volunteers to comb the trails along the Coquitlam River around Gates Park, where tips have come from people living in homeless camps.
Noh told The News he is confident searchers will find his dad, who went missing last Wednesday from his home in the Lansdowne Drive and Guildford Way area after not returning home from a walk.
Noh is described as an Asian male, 5'6" tall with an average build; he is clean shaven and has black hair, which is greying on the sides. When he left his house, he was wearing a green and blue plaid shirt, dark green pants and a black New York Rangers ball cap.
His son said people shouldn't be afraid to approach his dad and would probably be able to tell it's Noh because he would likely be somewhat disheveled, not having been able to wash or shave since going missing.
He's asking people to talk to Noh, and keep him occupied, and then call 911 or Coquitlam RCMP immediately at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2013-27945.
At the headquarters, there are maps and Suchanek is taking calls from searchers.
Missing persons posters with Noh's description written in English and Korean were available at the Eagle Ridge Fitness Centre, and there were maps highlighting areas of the search.
Share Family and Community Services staff picked up posters for distribution to the food bank, and Coquitlam RCMP and Search and Rescue are looking for Noh as well.
"I can sleep now knowing that people are out there looking for my dad," said Noh's son.
Before he retired, the elder Noh was the pastor of a Korean church on Austin Avenue in Coquitlam.
A Facebook page has been set up to keep track of the search.
