By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
The heartbreaking story of Ryan Shtuka who went missing nearly seven years ago in Sun Peaks, BC was reinvoked recently in Osoyoos with the appearance in Veterans Park of one of the more than 9,000 Shtukasaurus’ circling the globe.
The 20 year old Alberta native was working at Sun Peaks Mountain Resort when he mysteriously vanished in the wee hours of the morning of Feb. 17, 2018 while walking home after attending a house party not far from his home.
Since that time his family, friends and a huge number of complete strangers continued the search for the young man. Despite these intensive and prolonged efforts, not one single viable clue has been found.
Ryan Shtuka, missing since Feb. 17, 2018.
Heather Shtuka photo
In a bid to share the story of Shtuka’s disappearance volunteers began in 2022 creating small 3D-printed dinosaurs, or in this case “Shtukasaurus’”. Dinosaurs were chosen as they were his favourite as a child.
Each bears a short message about his disappearance, a message about kindness and instructions asking people who find one to take a picture and post it before either leaving the dino where it is or taking it to a new spot for someone else to find.
Scanning a QR code on the tag with a smartphone opens a Facebook page dedicated to his story. To date, it has over 68.7 thousand members. The Shtukasaurus’ have been spotted and photographed far and wide in over 30 countries.
Ryan’s mother Heather Shtuka marked a sad anniversary just days ago with it being seven years since she last hugged her son for the last time on Dec. 1, 2017.
Don Urquhart photos
In a post on the Missing: Ryan Shtuka Facebook page Heather Shtuka writes: “The last day I saw him—December 1, 2017—plays over and over in my mind.
“There was no way to know what was coming. No warning. No sign. Just the naive certainty that we’d have so many more moments to share. So many words left unsaid, so many moments we would never get to cherish.
“Grief is a thief, stealing not just what was but what could have been. And yet, in its depths, I find myself clinging to every detail, every memory of the beautiful boy who made my life richer just by being in it.
“My heart lays open to the world today—a heart that still hopes for closure, even if the answers remain forever out of reach.”
“Missing From Me”, a book by Heather Shtuka, mother of Ryan Shtuka.
Heather has written a book about her son’s disappearance, “Missing From Me” and a documentary has also been made titled “Peaks and Valleys: The Search for Ryan Shtuka”. The documentary, released in 2020, was a finalist in the Canada Shorts Film Festival.
For more information visit the Facebook page or website. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Kamloops RCMP at +1-250-828-3000 or for anonymous tips Crimestoppers at +1-800-222-8477. A $15,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the recovery of Ryan.
