Changes made at Timmins homeless shelter after former exec accused of stealing $20K
While the community of Timmins is reeling after a local woman was charged with stealing more than $400,000 from her employers, the homeless shelter she worked at said it is making some changes.
Robin Maj (pronounced May) was promoted to the position of executive director after working at Living Space in Timmins for the past year and a half . Mar. 3/22 (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)
Brian Marks is the board chair of the Living Space -- where 51-year-old Robin Maj is accused of stealing about $20,000 -- as well as the chief administrative officer for the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board.
He said when the news about the misappropriation of shelter funds came to light and Maj was fired in March 2022, the board of directors put more financial checks and balances in place.
"Things like having purchases approved, making sure you reconcile purchases with receipts after the fact … and that you don’t have the same people involved in handling money and reconciling," Marks said.
- Download our app to get alerts sent to your device
- Get the latest newsletter sent right to your inbox
He said a reputable, local financial firm will be looking more closely over the shelter’s finances and ensuring that one person does not have full control over purchases and receipts.
While still not disclosing details of why Maj was fired after less than a month as executive director, Marks said acts of fraud can shake people’s trust in an institution.
"In the 12 months, Living Space, you know, has learned from the circumstances to make sure that nothing like this could happen again," he told CTV News in an interview Thursday.
"I want people to know that the organization takes every dollar seriously and wants to be good stewards of money that people donate and public tax money. To be able to ensure that every dollar is leveraged properly, take care of those who are in need."
Maj is also accused of misdirecting more than $380,000 into personal accounts over several months while working as a senior official at a local bank, police said.
"A decent portion of the investigation was focused on the financial records and the transfers of funds," said Marc Depatie, a spokesperson for Timmins Police Services.
"A number of interviews were conducted as to the behaviour of the accused as well. All these things, cumulatively, led to the charges being laid against the accused."
Depatie told CTV News in an email police do not have permission to identify the bank involved.
Between the two cases, she is facing a total of two charges each of fraud, theft, possession of property obtained by crime, all over $5,000, and criminal breach of trust. She is also charged with misappropriation of money under direction over $5,000 in connection to the Living Space investigation.
The charges against Maj have yet to be proven in court and her first appearance is set for Jan. 25.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.