Pictured: Heather Shtuka with her son, Ryan.

By Aaron Schulze

Missing: Ryan Shtuka

Shtuka family manages expectations as RCMP search for Ryan again at Sun Peaks

May 30, 2021 | 2:34 PM

SUN PEAKS — It’s been three years since the RCMP, and Search and Rescue teams, have attempted to locate Ryan Shtuka.

The 20-year-old was last seen leaving a party on Burfield Drive at Sun Peaks at around 2:00 a.m on Feb. 17, 2018, to walk a short distance home. The next day Ryan did not show up for work and has not been active on social media or cellular networks since.

RCMP searched Sun Peaks on May 29 and 30. Ryan’s parents – Heather and Scott – made the trip to Sun Peaks as they didn’t want to wait in their home in Edmonton to hear the result of the organized search. The Shtuka’s have organized their volunteer searches in the past.

Heather said she and Scott have talked about managing their expectations of a potential discovery of Ryan.

“The last time they came out three years ago, it was hard,” Heather said. “You felt like something was bound to happen. You had all these resources, all this drive and will and determination. Yet, nothing seemed to play in our hands and bring Ryan home. When you’re left with that and everybody goes home, it’s really hard to process that grieving. How do you move on?”

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This search, Heather said the best-case scenario would be to discover Ryan and move on to the next chapter of the Shtuka’s grief journey. If nothing is found, they’ll change their mindsets to be grateful they have engaged and passionate RCMP officers still attempting to find him.

“They’re still coming out three years later,” she said. “The areas they have searched… will be areas we can most confidently cross off our list. I look at the Kamloops community, B.C. in general, as well as our hometown in Edmonton, and I’m amazed at how passionate people are and how they support and love us so well and offer us prayers and grace and hope. On the days that I don’t think I can stand; I look around to this community we’ve found.”

Heather said her family still receives updates from people passing through Sun Peaks on if they located Ryan, or perhaps found someone who looks like it could be him. In the meantime, she encourages the public to show the same love and assistance to other families who have missing loved ones.