Effective August 31, 2020, ARCHES will no longer be providing supervised consumption, needle collection, or outreach services. "If you have to face a tough reality, then you have to face it, and you have to make a decision.
Our newsroom abides by the RTDNA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and follows the Canadian Press Stylebook The Supervised Consumption Site in Lethbridge. Over the past two years, ARCHES … Due to the sensitive and/or legal subject matter of some of the content on globalnews.ca, we reserve the ability to disable comments from time to time.Alberta’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions has confirmed Lethbridge police have been asked to investigate whether any crimes have occurred.“The Economic Crimes Unit is conducting the investigation, which is currently in the very early stages,” a police spokesperson told Global News on Thursday.“We will not be doing any interviews or commenting on the matter further in order to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.”The audit findings, released July 16, alleged the site’s operator, ARCHES, mismanaged public funds.The report — completed by accounting firm Deloitte — found more than $1.6 million was unaccounted for due to missing documentation for expenses between 2017 and 2018 and that a senior executive’s compensation totalled $342,943 in one year, despite the grant agreement allowing for a salary of $80,000.It also said the interest of ARCHES’ bank accounts — which the province said was $13,000 — was used to fund parties, staff retreats, entertainment and gift cards.According to the Alberta government, ARCHES has received more than $14.4 million in government grants over the past two years.When it released the audit findings last week, the UCP said it would no longer be providing funding for the ARCHES-run site.It also said auditors were unable to review all allegations made or provide complete financial value for each allegation because of the state of the site’s records and related outstanding documents.Global News has reached out to ARCHES for comment on the audit findings being turned over to the police but we have not heard back.Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing stories, delivered to your inboxGet a roundup of the most important and intriguing stories, delivered to your inbox
© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. ARCHES audit findings turned over to Lethbridge police for investigation She has also been a reporter at the Edmonton Journal and Saskatoon StarPhoenix. ARCHES will vacate its downtown location by Sept. 30. (Lethbridge News Now)Community quick to support fundraiser for local teen after fall at Lundbreck FallsHatters finding and enjoying outdoor fun in the heat `LETHBRIDGE, AB – Financial information posted on Revenue Canada’s Registered Charity Information Return, shows that ARCHES (AIDS Outreach Community Harm Education Support Society) received more than $7 million in funding in 2019, mainly from the provincial government – but also from the City of Lethbridge and the Federal Government. The audit findings into the ARCHES supervised consumption site have been turned over to Lethbridge police to see if criminal charges should be laid. He said the board and employees at ARCHES are motivated to improve the organization. By 2019, that had grown to 177 employees and a $7-million budget.The site has been controversial, facing allegations it leads to disorder and discarded needles near its location in the centre of the city. "We were generally unable to locate any supporting documentation relating to the expenditures for the 2017-18 fiscal year," the report said.Last week, board chair Fitchett wouldn't say if she is still working in the role. You can reach her at janet.french@cbc.caIt is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges.Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered onThe Alberta government has halted grant funding to Lethbridge’s only supervised consumption site after a government-ordered audit found $1.6 million of public money unaccounted for.Lethbridge supervised consumption site loses government funding after audit finds $1.6M shortfall Article Sidebar. "There is a grooming culture here that is alarming …"Both Fitchett and DeCocco-Kolebaba said they were hopeful that ongoing changes would strengthen ARCHES.Luan said ideology isn't driving the ARCHES funding cut.