Grave fears for Aussie Julia-Mary Lane missing in Canada bear country

Julia-Mary Lane, known as JM, was last seen setting off on a bushwalk on Saturday afternoon.

She set off for a walk on the Bear Lake Trail near the town of Kimberley, 870km east of Vancouver, but has not returned home.

Her housemate Janet Hamilton raised the alarm, contacting her family and posting on social media, sparking the mass search.

“I haven’t seen my young Australian housemate, JM, since Saturday afternoon and I’m wondering if anyone ran across her while hiking?” she said on Facebook.

“I just spoke to her family in Australia and they are all very worried. Disappearing like this is completely out of character for JM.

“They are normally in contact with her daily and have not heard from her since Saturday morning.”

Ms Hamilton said Ms Lane had left the home they shared in her Ford Escape, which police have since found.

Her brother Connor Lane confirmed her car has been found at Bear Lake and police are scouring the area.

“Please reach out and let me know if you have seen her or have any info about where she might be or was planning on going,” he said on social media.

The 24-year-old Brisbane local had been living in Canada since the start of the year, and had been travelling through British Columbia.

According to Ms Hamilton, Ms Lane was only spending a week in the Kimberley area to go hiking.