RM’s former chief administrator pleads guilty in theft of $30K from curling club

BRANDON — The former chief administrative officer of the Rural Municipality of North Cypress-Langford admitted Thursday to stealing thousands of dollars from the Carberry Curling Club.

Trisha Dawn Fraser, 36, pleaded guilty in Brandon provincial court to theft over $5,000. She was charged in February, following a Carberry RCMP investigation that began last year.

RCMP received a report on Dec. 7 that the former treasurer of the Carberry Curling Club had stolen money during the past year.

The investigation found that about $30,000 was stolen from the club over the course of a year, while Fraser was serving as treasurer, a volunteer role.

She then left the treasurer position and, while working as CAO for the RM of North Cypress-Langford — she had been in that job since 2019 — Fraser used unauthorized funds from the municipality to reimburse the curling club.

She was fired after the theft was discovered.

In a statement issued Dec. 11, the RM said it was investigating an employee who had been placed on paid leave.

A day later, the RM announced it was closing the office to the public from Dec. 13 to Dec. 15.

On Dec. 15, the RM issued a notice saying Fraser was no longer CAO. The statement did not provide any other details.

Fraser, who has no previous court record, is scheduled to make her next appearance on Aug. 30, after a pre-sentence report has been prepared. Defence lawyer Tyrone Krawetz suggested the report consider the possibility of a conditional sentence.

— Brandon Sun