The Central Okanagan Hospice Association is a non-profit organization run by paid staff and volunteers who offer care and support to the dying.
Global Okanagan has obtained documents revealing that tens-of-thousands of dollars have gone missing from the association’s coffers.
The documents show that in 2015, the association incurred more than $81,000 in so-called bad debt.
In 2016, the association recorded more than $62,000 in bad debt.
The figures for fiscal 2017 ending in March are not included in the report but sources tell Global Okanagan that an additional $37,000 was recorded as bed debt for a three year total of $181,000.
The financial statements say: “in the current fiscal year it was determined that during 2015 and 2016, certain personal employee expenditures were recorded as expenses of the organization. It is not determinable if these funds will be collected. Therefore, these amounts have been reclassified as bad debts in the fiscal year.”
The board of directors recently had its AGM and sources tell us that board members were asked not to speak to the media about the missing funds.
We attempted to get a comment from the new president of the Hospice Association. Our calls were not returned.
We contacted the RCMP to determine if there an investigation underway. They will only say that they do not typically confirm or deny investigations unless criminal charges have been laid.
But we have obtained a document confirming that the RCMP are looking into the matter. The document says: “there is an ongoing investigation and the association fully anticipates charges being brought forward at the end of the investigation.”
However, the document does not say who is under investigation.
Global News will have more on this developing story.
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