After four years, the Shtuka family continues to search for answers to son Ryan’s disappearance

KAMLOOPS — Four years ago Thursday (Feb. 17), Ryan Shutka disappeared from Sun Peaks Resort. There have been countless hours spent searching for the young man who came to that community from Beaumont, Alberta — yet what happened to him still remains a mystery.

“We can’t forget that he loved it up here. It was his second home,” Ryan’s dad, Scott, says, as he remembers Ryan’s decision to move to Sun Peaks. “He really enjoyed coming up and doing what he was doing.”

Heather and Scott Shtuka have been at Sun Peaks for the past week, taking time to remember their son Ryan. He was just 20 years old when he decided to move to the mountain resort community.

“I can’t say now — when you look back on him turning 25 this year — where he would be or what he would be doing,” Heather Shtuka says. “It’s always that blank slate for us.”

It was along Burfield Drive that Ryan was last seen leaving a house party in the early morning hours of February 17, 2018. What happened after he left that party is still a mystery.

“Right now, that investigation is still ongoing,” Cst. Crystal Evelyn, Kamloops RCMP spokesperson explains. “The reason that it’s ongoing is because Ryan hasn’t been located. These cases don’t just close. They do stay open. Until we know what happened to Ryan, we’ll continue to investigate.”

Countless hours have been spent searching Sun Peaks and the surrounding area for any trace of Ryan. That includes a comprehensive two-day search by RCMP last spring.

“In May of 2021, there was a two-day search with our TAC Team in the Burfield area of Sun Peaks,” Cst. Evelyn says. “Unfortunately, nothing further was turned out to further that investigation.”

For the Shtukas, returning to Sun Peaks at this time of year is an opportunity to remember their son. This afternoon, the resort and community came together for ‘A Run for Ryan’ — an event the Shtuka family has come to look forward to.

“For me, today, to do the ‘Run for Ryan,’ Scott and I look at it as this opportunity to spend the day doing something that Ryan loved doing,” Heather says.“To continue his legacy, as well,” Scott says.

“I’m not very good at it. You’re much better than I am,” Heather says, addressing Scott. “I think I’m offering Ryan that brief look into some humour as he watches me ski.”

That’s what keeps Heather and Scott coming back to Sun Peaks, winter and summer — that connection to the community, as well as the hope they one day find an answer to the question of what happened to their son.