Authorities are searching for a 39-year-old man serving a sentence for second degree murder who escaped from a minimum security prison Friday night.

James Gordon Wrigley escaped from the Grierson Centre at about 9:30 p.m.

Both police and Correctional Service Canada are searching for the missing inmate.

"He was found to be missing on a check last night about 9:30 p.m local time," Correctional Service of Canada spokesperson Jeff Campbell told CTV.ca on Saturday afternoon.

"Consequently, we've notified police and we are working with them to ensure he is brought back into custody as soon as possible."

It was not immediately known how Wrigley managed to escape from custody, but Campbell said the circumstances of his escape would be reviewed.

Wrigley is described as 5'6" in height, weighing about 180 pounds. He has brown hair, green eyes and a fair complexion.

Those with information about Wrigley's whereabouts are asked to call police.

He began serving an indeterminate sentence for second-degree murder in June 1994.

An indeterminate sentence means "he will be either incarcerated or under CSC supervision for the balance of his life," Campbell said.