WOKATHON | Rice Box rolls out sixth annual fundraiser Jan. 18 [A25]
Morning gStar
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Sunday, January 11, 2015
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4703 - 27th St. VERNON • 250-545-0606
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Plows lacking RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
LISA VANDERVELDE/ MORNING STAR
Brooklynn Roberts, six, and her brothers Elijah, four, and Jimmy, five, enjoy the fresh powder at Vernon’s Silver Star Elementary.
Six years in prison for fraud MIKE MCINTYRE Winnipeg Free Press
A former Winnipeg Blue Bomber has been sentenced to six years in prison for running one of the biggest frauds ever uncovered in Manitoba. David Lorne Pitcher, 46, admitted to a slew of fraud and forgery charges relating to a bogus operation to build a hotel and recreational facility. He pleaded guilty last year to 17 David Pitcher offences in which victims lost more than $5 million from 2007 to 2012. More than $12 million was collected. Pitcher, originally from Armstrong, returned to court Thursday, where Crown and defence lawyers made the joint-recommendation for the lengthy penitentiary sentence. “I wish to express to all the people I have harmed my deepest apologies,” Pitcher said in a statement to the court. “It was never my
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intention to be here. I was hoping to create a positive end for all involved.” Pitcher was ordered to repay the outstanding money. Pitcher is a former CFL slotback who played in the 1990s for the Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders. Court was told he started with good intentions, hoping to raise enough money to help disadvantaged youth. “He was a football player, a star, someone people would look up to,” provincial court Judge Cynthia Devine said. “This thing turned in on itself, it became clear the dream wouldn’t pan out. It started as a dream and ended as a nightmare.” Pitcher admitted to using forged government documents to scam millions in bridge financing through his company, Community Endowment Funds Inc. Some of the forged documents were purporting to be written by Manitoba cabinet minister Gord Mackintosh and John McBride, the head of PPP Canada, a federal Crown corporation. The money was borrowed for the construction of a large recreational development
known as the Flatland Cable Park, to be located on a 27.5-hectare part of Fort Whyte. Pitcher convinced investors he had federal funding, but also needed additional money to float the project. He used the money for his own personal interests. Pitcher admitted to running a huge Ponzi scheme. “There’s an irony that through his actions he was looking (initially) to prevent crime,” Crown attorney Don Melnyk said. Many of the victims submitted powerful impact statements describing both the massive breach of trust and financial losses they have suffered. It’s unlikely many of them will get their money back because court was told Pitcher won’t likely have the income to fulfil the restitution order. “I hope, over time, some of the damage I’ve caused can be undone,” Pitcher said Thursday. Pitcher had no prior criminal record. He was arrested in early 2014 by RCMP in Vernon and returned to Winnipeg. He is also being sued by the victims in Court of Queen’s Bench. In his statement of defence in that proceeding, he denied wrongdoing.
Rural politicians claim residents were stranded by deep snow and they’re demanding action. The Electoral Area Advisory Committee will approach JPW Road and Bridge, the contractor responsible for rural roads, and local MLAs after a major snow storm passed through the region Jan. 4 and 5. “Residents are upset with the lack of equipment on the roads,” said Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director. A number of complaints have come from rural Enderby. “It took four days to get my road done. There was nothing Sunday, Monday or Tuesday and they came on Wednesday,” said director Herman Halvorson, adding that rural residents, especially on large acreages, depend on roads being accessible. In some cases, residents took action. “I was out plowing roads with my tractor so people could come and go,” said Hank Cameron, Cherryville director. Macnabb, who also plowed roads on his own in the BX, says previous road maintenance companies had subcontractors on stand-by during emergencies and he wants to know if that is possible with JPW. “I also want to find out from the provincial government if money is available for snow events,” he said of the need to talk to Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster and Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo. Cameron supports more resources being available for keeping rural roads clear of snow. “They should be proactive and have sub-contractors that can step into the breach,” he said. The directors from BX-Swan Lake and rural Lumby have also received complaints about road conditions during and after the storm. JPW Road and Bridge was reluctant to comment on the matter until it receives further information from EAAC. “I want to find out what the concerns are,” said president Joe Wrobel.
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