CALGARY - Canada's first permanent kids' digital safety fingerprinting station is now parked in a northwest Calgary auto dealership.

Operation Kidsafe CEO Mark Bott said Charlesglen Toyota Scion was alone in answering his pitch for the Canadian collection point.

The Illinois-based, one-time auto dealer Bott said he was driven to take up the cause of protecting children 15 years ago when he saw the image of a missing girl beamed on his TV.

"She looked just like my daughter. It absolutely rocked me," said Bott.

The former football player said his first inclination was to "go door-to-door with a baseball bat" seeking child abductors, but he decided to pursue a more responsible, preventative route.

On Wednesday morning, a steady stream of children, including Kamden Shavluk, 4, passed their fingers over a red scanner.

The prints they produce can be forwarded by their parents to police in the event their children go missing.

Shavluk's dad, Kyle, said he didn't hesitate to use the free service.

"Kids being safe is always the best thing, It's dangerous out there," he said.

Parents also receive an information kit at the dealership to boost the safety of their kids.

"It's about having a safer community and you'll definitely have that," said Bott.

The data will be kept privately by parents and whomever they wish to share it with, he said, such as schools, hospitals or police.

"There's no big brother aspect there," he said. "This digital fingerprinting machine will be here every single day for your children."

Charlesglen staff have been trained to operate the equipment and the dealership has donated its space and time to the effort, said spokesman David Richardson.

"It was a good fit. It's a great way can thank the citizens of Calgary for making our business such a success," he said.