Downtown Penticton Association hands accounting files to RCMP for investigation

PENTICTON – Members of the Downtown Penticton Association found out today the RCMP has been asked to investigate financial irregularities uncovered last year.

An ongoing investigation into “accounting irregularities” that ended July 31, 2016, was handed over to the RCMP last November after the association board found operating irregularities in September, chief executive director Lynn Allin says. An outside audit by a Kelowna company resulted in the board following legal advice to turn the matter over to RCMP.

Allin says association members were notified today, May 15, adding no current services or finances have been affected and accounting controls have been tightened since the discovery.

She says her organization isn’t being investigated, rather the matter has been turned over to the RCMP. Because the investigation is ongoing, she would not comment further.

Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth said in email the RCMP have an ongoing file that was initiated by the Downtown Penticton Association and brought to the RCMP’s attention for a criminal investigation.

The Downtown Penticton Association is made up of 600 downtown property owners and businesses. It receives a business levy collected by the city in the amount of $178,000 annually and also receives money through sponsorship activity.

— This story was updated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, 2017 to clarify the RCMP's involvement in the Downtown Penticton Association's finances. 

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