John Bjornstrom, British Columbia’s infamous fugitive “Bushman of the Shuswap,” has died at the age of 58. According to an obituary in the Williams Lake Tribune, Bjornstrom died suddenly on Jan. 13.
Bjornstrom, who moved to British Columbia at the age of five and Williams Lake at 12, became a notorious figure in the province two decades ago when he escaped from a minimum-security prison near Kamloops and managed to evade police capture in the Shuswap wilderness for nearly two years.
A gifted outdoorsman who loved nature and wildlife, Bjornstrom earned the nickname “Bushman” at a young age, and lived up to it during his time on the lam, developing a series of camps and lairs in B.C.’s Interior and stealing supplies from the cabins in the area. He became known for the apologetic notes he would leave behind after his break-ins.
His elusiveness frustrated the RCMP, who undertook several creative operations to locate him, including renting an inconspicuous houseboat.
But Bjornstrom loved media attention, which would ultimately lead to his recapture. He contacted reporters multiple times to share his story, and wound up finding national media exposure, all while continuing to evade the authorities. In 2001, he allowed a group of print and television reporters to meet him for an interview near Shuswap Lake.
Bjornstrom told reporters that he had escaped from jail because his life was in danger due to his knowledge of the fraudulent Bre-X gold mining operations, as well as a child pornography ring involving a number of prominent British Columbians. He also claimed to have psychic abilities.
A month later, however, he was caught by RCMP officers who posed as a documentary film crew looking to do a more in-depth story on the infamous “Bushman.”
While awaiting trial, Bjornstrom continued to send letters and poems to the press, and pushed theories about organized crime and pornography rings in the Interior.
Following his sentence, which included an additional 23 months of house arrest, Bjornstrom returned to Williams Lake, where he worked as a truck and limousine driver, and ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2014.
According to his obituary, Bjornstrom was loved in his community, and a friend of The Salvation Army who enjoyed dressing up as Santa Claus for community Christmas dinners.
A celebration of Bjornstrom’s life is planned for Feb. 18 at the Salvation Army Church in Williams Lake.
