Vigil for missing 20 year old

Photo: Derryn Donaghey

Candle light vigil at Sun Peaks Resort

A candlelight vigil will be held at Sun Peaks Resort and Beaumont, Alta., for a missing 20-year-old man.

Ryan Shtuka, originally from Beaumont, was last seen on Feb. 17 at a house party near Burfield Drive in Sun Peaks Resort.

The next day he did not show up for his job as a ski lift operator at the resort and was reported missing that night.

Since then, his mother, family, friends and volunteers have been scouring every inch of Sun Peaks Resort for him.

“Back home wanted to let us know and Ryan know that our family back in Beaumont are thinking about us and are praying for Ryan to be found,” said his mother Heather Shtuka.

The vigils will be held at 6 p.m. at Sun Peaks behind the Day Lodge, and also at Beaumont Composite High School at 7 p.m.

Volunteers have been searching since the break of daylight to dusk for the man, who was last seen wearing a navy blue coat and burgundy ball cap.

“We are basically going over and over again the same places,” she said. “It feels like we have done almost every section, we’ve covered it all and are covering it again.”

Heather said they are asking residents in Sun Peaks to check garages, sheds and any areas out of the elements he could possibly be.

“Anything outside of (Sun Peaks) is really out of character for him,” said Heather, but they do realize it's possible.

Anyone with clues about where Shtuka may be or any information is being asked to contact Kamloops RCMP.