A candlelight vigil marking the sixth anniversary of Ryan Shtuka's disappearance will be held on Feb. 17 at Sun Peaks Resort.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Heather Shtuka
February 15, 2024 - 6:00 PM
An annual run and candlelight tribute will be held for Ryan Shtuka at Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops this weekend and everyone is welcome to attend.
Saturday, Feb. 17, marks the sixth anniversary of the young man’s disappearance from the resort in 2018. He hasn't been heard from since despite family, friends and volunteers searching for answers over the years.
“I know the time has gone by, lots of changes have happened, and yet in so many ways it feels like no time has passed,” Ryan’s mom Heather Shtuka said. “That’s the crux of ambiguous loss, there’s no way to move forward, everything feels like it’s the same because there hasn’t been closure.”
Ryan’s story continues to reach people around the world through his family’s Facebook group and a 3D printed green dinosaur that has become a symbol and has been shared, found and photographed by people from over 30 countries.
Heather published a book about the family’s journey through the tragedy in 2022 called Missing From Me to help other families going through similar experiences. It became an Amazon bestseller.
Heather said she is grateful for the outpouring of support from the community over the years. She recently thanked her community of Beaumont, Edmonton, for their support in Ryan’s case at a local sports arena.
“Growing up we spent time in the arena and our kids grew up there doing sports,” she said. “It’s based on community to make the kids sports happen.
"It reminded us what we’ve grown up with, what our kids have grown up with. With Ryan being missing, community has become even more important. Communities in Sun Peaks, Beaumont, friends and families, they gave us the strength when we didn’t have it, to hold on and do another day."
She said the social media community has continued to expand and isn't just about Ryan anymore.
“It’s about people helping each other and spreading kindness to others in the community,” Heather said. “If you’re not able to help with Ryan’s cause, maybe there is someone else in the group you can help out.”
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The annual Run for Ryan starts at 3 p.m. at the Sunburst Chair at Sun Peaks Resort on Saturday, Feb. 17. It will be followed by hot chocolate at Tube Time where Ryan worked. Later that evening the Shtukas will be at a venue called Bottoms to share drinks with friends in Ryan’s honour.
This year there will not be a walk through the resort with candles, however Heather hopes where ever people are they light a candle in Ryan’s honour at 7 p.m.
Anyone with information on Ryan Shtuka’s disappearance can contact the Kamloops RCMP or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
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