Inmate escapes from Bowden Institution north of Calgary

An inmate has escaped from the Bowden Institution's minimum security unit about 100 kilometres north of Calgary.

Officials realized Sylvain Martin, 50, was not accounted for during their 10:30 p.m MT count on Thursday, said the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) in a release.

Martin is five feet five, weighs about 150 pounds and has a fair complexion with blue eye and auburn hair.

He has scars on his lower back and his eyes, and tattoos on his right forearm, upper backand lower back.

Martin is serving a 10-year sentence for fraud, obstruction of police, forgery and other offences.

Officials are investigating the escape and are working with police to locate the inmate, the CSC says.

Anyone with information on hiswhereabouts is asked to contact police.