The family of a missing fisherman has announced plans for a celebration of life next month.
The ceremony for Terrace’s Tony Rutledge will take place Dec. 17, 5 p.m., at the Thornhill Pub.
The 52-year old went missing in the evening of Nov. 23 after the small fishing vessel he was in capsized in the channel off Kitamaat Village. His fishing companion was pulled from the water by a Haisla Fisheries vessel 150 metres from shore.
After an aggressive 24-hour search coordinated amoung multiple agencies, driving rain, a 15-knot wind and three-foot waves hampered efforts and the search was eventually called off, with Rutledge presumed drowned.
READ MORE: Fisherman presumed drowned
His daughter, Alexis Kornelsen, said her father is best known locally for his love of fishing, music and mixed martial arts.
Driving rain, a 15-knot wind and three-foot waves hampered the search for a fisherman who is still missing after the boat he was in capsized off Kitamaat Village Nov. 23.
“He made a huge difference in the lives of people that knew him,” Kornelsen said. “He always told us that if we put our mind to something we could change the world,” Alexis said. “He was a fighter. He had a fighter’s mentality, and I like to believe that he fought to the very end.”
-with files from Gerry Leibel