Police charge woman accused of stealing from Kelowna school PAC

Andrea Marie Blanchard has been charged with defrauding the South Rutland Elementary School Parent Advisory Council of more than $5,000

The 46-year-old faces five criminal charges, including fraud, theft over $5,000, forgery, using forged documents and altering documents, according to charges filed at the Kelowna Court House on Oct. 20.

The offences are said to have taken place between Jan. 12, 2016 and Nov. 8, 2018.

The police investigation into the alleged fraud began on Dec. 9, 2018, with fraud section officers working closely with the parent advisory council's executive to gather information, according to an RCMP media release issued today, Nov. 4. RCMP said it won't be releasing any more information about the case to the public as the matter is before the courts.

South Rutland PAC president Toni Koryakuss told iNFOnews.ca, in an email, that Blanchard was the PAC treasurer and has signed an agreement to pay back more than $26,000.

The PAC was able to raise more funds that are now being used for a playground project at the school.

READ MORE: Three years later, still no one charged in Central Okanagan school PAC fraud investigations

Blanchard is scheduled to appear in a Kelowna court on Dec. 16 to face the charges.

— This story was updated at 2:03 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, to add comment from RCMP.

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