Tim Panchyshyn says he's living every parent's worst nightmare.

His 21-year-old son Nolan Panchyshyn of Southampton, who he describes as an intelligent and loyal man with a big heart, has been missing for nearly two months.

“It has been extremely difficult,” he said Wednesday in an interview.

“We just want to know where he is; whether he's alive or not, I just want him back. Somebody knows something. If they can just come forward with any information, that would be amazing.”

The Saugeen Shores Police Service is investigating Nolan's disappearance.

Sgt. Kevin Zettel said Nolan was last seen Dec. 12 and was reported missing to police by a family member Dec. 20.

“It became an active investigation then,” Zettel said.

“We are still appealing to the public, obviously, for any tips or any leads. And we're interviewing numerous people.”

He said police are also concerned for Nolan's well-being.

“According to the family, this is very out of character for him. Being not heard from for a couple days is one thing, but especially going over Christmas and the family not hearing anything from him and not having any contact, whether it be in person or any electronic means, is concerning for the family and it concerns us in turn,” he said.

Tim said his son had been involved in drugs, but was working on turning his life around.

“He has so much potential to be a successful part of society. He was just starting to turn a corner and we all had hope,” he said.

Zettel noted that while investigating the disappearance of someone who lived a “high-risk lifestyle,” such as one involving drugs, officers can sometimes encounter people who are worried about speaking with police.

“Even though we're simply asking about the missing person, there may be a heightened sense of awareness that we're trying to back-door to get some information on drugs and that's not the case. We're trying to get information on Nolan and trying to get him back to his family,” he said.

“But it does put up walls and makes people skeptical that we're interviewing at times.”

He said Crime Stoppers is a completely safe, trusted and anonymous way for people to submit tips.

Nolan's family is also encouraging people who wish to submit information anonymously to do so via the website www.pleasebringmehome.com.

That website is operated by amateur sleuth Nick Oldrieve and his partners, who have been collecting tips on several local cold cases, including the 1988 disappearance of Lisa Maas.

“We are directed towards cold cases, but we had a family reach out to us for some help and we thought, we can't say no, so we put a story about Nolan on our website and are encouraging people, if they have any information about where Nolan is – that's all we're concerned about – to let us know,” Oldrieve said.

Any of the anonymous tips received, he said, will be forwarded to Nolan's family contact who will send them on to police if they are not already aware of the information.

Oldrieve said about four tips have been received so far. Any and all tips are welcome, he said, no matter how insignificant they may seem.

The website, he said, is also a way for Nolan to confirm he is OK.

Tim Panchyshyn said his son was born in Southampton, where he still lives, and had worked in the restaurant business.

He said Nolan maintained regular contact with his family and has never before left his home for more than one or two days at a time.

“He's never ever done this before. He left with only the clothes on his back,” Tim said. “He was on social media every day socializing with all his friends and stuff like that. So even being away from that is very, very strange.”

His family has set up a Facebook page, called Help Bring Nolan Home, where they have been posting photos of the missing man and pleas for anyone with information about his disappearance to come forward.

“If you know that your child(ren) hung out or associated with Nolan, please talk to them and ask them that if they know anything at all that could lead us to Nolan's whereabouts, to please please share it,” says a post on the page.

Nolan Panchyshyn is described as being 6'1” with a medium build. He has hazel eyes and short brown hair. At the time of his disappearance, police said he may have been wearing glasses, a black bomber-style winter coat and hiking boots.

People can contact the Saugeen Shores police at 519-832-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.