Treasurer stole money from Kelowna school fund to survive: Defence

At one point, the books for the parent advisory council at a Kelowna elementary school were down $14,000. However, the board members at the South Rutland Elementary Parents Advisory Council were left in the dark as treasurer Andrea Marie Blanchard concocted false paperwork presenting an image that everything was OK. However, in December 2018, after almost three years of dipping in and out of the charity's money, things caught up with her. Today, Aug. 12, at the Kelowna Courthouse, Blanchard faced a judge to find out what the repercussions would be for the theft of the money and the lies and deceit that followed as she covered her tracks. BC Provincial Court Judge Clarke Burnett said Blanchard had taken money from families that were struggling and had exactly the same needs as her. The court heard how from 2014 until 2018 Blanchard was the treasurer for the elementary schools PAC. In 2015, the 48-year-old's partner lost his job and due to severe financial difficulties, she started taking PAC cash that she as the treasurer kept at home. Crown prosecutor Patricia O’Neil said Blanchard always meant to pay the money back but didn't. Over the following three years, Blanchard stole from the parent advisory council, money which it had raised through fundraising and applying for grants. Blanchard presented the board with false financial statements, forged signatures on 50 cheques, and made sure she was the only one who had cheque-signing authority. She changed the address for the parent advisory council's bank statements having them sent to her house so no one could open them and discover the shortfalls. "At the height of the theft in June 2018 there was a discrepancy of over $14,000 between the PAC's reported funds and the actual funds," the Crown said. "But by the time that she was removed as treasurer in December of 2018... the discrepancy had shrunk, but it was still significant. There was still over $9,000 missing from the PAC bank accounts." It's unclear under what circumstances the other board members discovered the missing money but in December 2018, Blanchard was removed as treasurer and the RCMP was called. READ MORE: Kamloops mayor accused of groping developer's wife in response to lawsuit https://infotel.ca/newsitem/kamloops-mayor-accused-of-groping-developers-wife-in-response-to-lawsuit/it106133 A lengthy RCMP investigation began. It took several years before she was charged, but in the fall of 2021 https://infotel.ca/newsitem/police-charge-woman-accused-of-stealing-from-kelowna-school-pac/it86864  Crown prosecutors laid charges of fraud, theft over $5,000, forgery, using forged documents, and altering financial records to defraud. The case didn't go to trial and instead, Blanchard pleaded guilty to a single charge of theft over $5,000. Separately, in 2019 the South Rutland Elementary Parents Advisory Council launched a civil case against Blanchard who agreed to pay back $26,000. The Crown told the court the difference between the $26,000 Blanchard agreed to pay back and the $9,000 she was criminally prosecuted for stealing was due to the extra expenses the parent advisory council endured because of the theft. By April 2022, Blanchard had paid back the full amount. Defence lawyer Darren Kautz said the mother of two children started taking the money because of the dire financial circumstances the family was in. "She began stealing money to pay rent, telling herself she would pay it back," Kautz told the court. The court heard how Blanchard would spend a week thinking about taking the money before she did, and afterwards felt anxious because she knew she'd done something wrong. She said she never thought about the consequences of being caught. "Ms. Blanchard recalls continuing to take the money and justifying her actions by telling herself she will, pay it back," the Crown said. She said she felt guilt and shame after she took the money. The court heard that the impact of the Parent Advisory Council was profound. "It meant struggling school supplies, hot meal programs, and field trips. It meant the need to fundraise ways to make up the money that was lost," O'Neil said. The Crown said just because the former treasurer paid the money back didn't "erase the deprivations" that were felt or the countless hours the volunteers spent dealing with the fallout. "Ms. Blanchard's actions came as a personal betrayal to her fellow board members who were friends with her and trusted her," the Crown prosecutor said. The theft caused mistrust, anger, and suspicion among the school community. The court heard how she accepted responsibility and was remorseful for her actions. While the volunteer board felt betrayed by Blanchard's action, neither the Crown nor defence lawyer suggested she should go to jail. The Crown proposed a sentence of three years probation and 100 hours of community service. The defence argued for an unconditional discharge, whereby Blanchard won't get a criminal record provided she passed a probation period. The defence said she was currently on unpaid leave from Service Canada and had worked in the passport office. Any criminal record would mean that she would almost certainly lose her job. READ MORE: 'SURVIVOR': Ex-wife of Vernon killer fears for his next partner https://infotel.ca/newsitem/survivor-ex-wife-of-vernon-killer-fears-for-his-next-partner/it106130 However, the judge didn't seem convinced that she shouldn't get a criminal record. "Money was taken that was being raised to assist with school lunches at a school where... I suspect a number of the children came from families that themselves were struggling... with being able to put food on the table," the judge said. "Taking from those in similar needs to your own so that you don't have to suffer any consequences." The judge said this aspect of the case was "troubling." While it's been almost six years since Blanchard was caught stealing, she'll have to wait a little longer to find out what the consequences of her theft and deception are. The judge said he would make a decision at a later date and due to his vacation leave, adjourned the sentencing until the fall. To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer mailto:bbulmer@infonews.ca  or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. 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