Byline: ED ARNOLD

PEMBROKE, Ont. -- BY ED ARNOLD Canadian Press PEMBROKE, Ont.

A man who escaped from a Michigan prison in 1984 and took up a new name, family and identity in this city on the Ottawa River has pleaded guilty to 59 armed robberies across Canada.

The so-called Flying Bandit, who criss-crossed the country on Air Canada, got more than $2.3-million in cash and jewelry in three years.

Gilbert Galvan, 30, who was born in Los Angeles and spent most of his adult life in and out of prison, pleaded guilty to the charges in provincial court yesterday.

Police sources say Mr. Galvan was one of Canada's slickest and most successful bandits. He robbed banks in 14 cities from Halifax to Vancouver and in every province except Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.

He robbed some branches more than once - a Toronto-Dominion branch in Peterborough, Ont., got hit three times - and he once robbed two banks in Regina in...