An inmate from Grande Cache Institute escaped from custody this week while on a work-release program at Jasper National Park’s Wabasso Campground.

Dennis Paul Haines, 38, was found to be missing during a routine check at 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 27, according to prison officials. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Haines had been doing work at the campground since Sept. 19 along with two other inmates and two corrections officers from Grande Cache Institute, as part of a new initiative between Parks Canada and the prison. The program was the first of its kind for Jasper, according to park superintendent Greg Fenton, and possibly at any national park in Canada.

Haines is described as 5-foot-10, 180 lbs., with blue eyes and brown hair. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a jean jacket, a white T-shirt, a white long-sleeved shirt, work boots and dark rimmed glasses, according to the RCMP. He also had a change of clothing consisting of black sweat pants and other items.

His direction of travel was unknown, but he is believed to have family in the Lake Louise, Canmore and Calgary areas.

If you see Haines, police ask that you immediately call 911, contact your nearest RCMP detachment,  contact Const. Shawn Cherwaty of the Jasper RCMP at 1-780-852-4848 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Haines was serving a 10-year sentence for nine counts of bank robbery, among other charges. He had told the Fitzhugh on Sept. 22, however, that he was “at the very tail end” of that sentence.

“I’ve only got a year and a half left,” he said.

Haines also said this wasn’t the first work-release program he had been on, and that he had been doing work “outside the fence” in Grande Cache previously.

The Fitzhugh had visited the campground last week to interview the inmates, their guards and park officials about the new program. Look for more on this story in the Oct. 6 edition.