The treasurer of the 24 Squadron Air Cadets sponsoring committee has been charged by RCMP after the air cadet group said “essentially all of their fundraised dollars had disappeared.”
Cadet spokesperson Damian LaGrange said the treasurer of the squadron sponsoring committee is believed to have embezzled $100,000 of fundraising money, which disappeared in May. LaGrange said the committee Gillard served as treasurer for is made up of volunteer parents of cadets who look after “organizing the fundraising and managing the funds.”
Red Deer RCMP confirmed an investigation was opened on May 11 and shortly after David Gillard, 44, was charged with theft.
RCMP said his first court appearance was July 8; his second is set for Aug. 31 in Red Deer.
“Although some of the costs associated with the program such as mandatory training and uniforms for the cadets are funded by the Department of National Defence, there are many additional expenses such as the Air Cadet League fees, band expenses, biathlon, effective speaking, sports days, travel expenses, familiarization flights, just to name a few,” LaGrange wrote in a statement sent to Global News.
LaGrange said the program is “thriving” despite the financial setback, due to “creativity and increased fundraising.”
The air cadet program is a community-based youth program for those aged 12 to 18 years old and has been operating in Red Deer since 1944.
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