Respected international tourism organization falls victim to fraud
By Contributor
A “valued” member of the International Selkirk Loop is alleged to have embezzled funds from the organization, it was recently found.
Suspicion of missing funds was brought to light during a recent tax preparation, a press release from the ISL read Sept. 13, and was later verified by an independent CPA firm.
The case is currently under investigation, with the prosecuting attorney having verified information and leveling three felony charges of grand theft. The case will be tried in Kootenai County.
The “trusted former employee” of the ISL has shaken the trust of the organization, said Carol Graham, executive director for the ISL.
She said the first thoughts were about ISL’s member businesses — including many from Nelson, Trail and Castlegar — the organization and how this event would affect overall operation.
“This person was a coworker, a valued associate and in a position of trust, and that trust has clearly been violated,” she said.
But the ISL is on firm financial ground, and the alleged incident will in no way impact the current or future health of the organization, added John Reed, chair of the ISL.
“A thorough review of all financial practices is underway, and new policies will be put into effect in order to ensure that anything of this nature never happens again” he said.
The award winning International Selkirk Loop was founded over 10 years ago, and is North America’s only international driving loop, including major parts of the West Kootenay.
It is comprised of a series of roadways and over 350 member businesses in 65 vibrant communities, which encircle the Selkirk Mountain range in Idaho, Washington, Montana and south-eastern British Columbia.
This information and more can be found online at http://www.selkirkloop.org.
