A non-profit organization that provided assistance to Canadian first responders and their families has closed its doors and is taking legal action against its former CEO and treasurer for alleged embezzlement and misuse of donor funds.
Established in 2013, the Canadian Critical Incident Stress Foundation (CCISF) was dedicated to supporting police, fire, and paramedic personnel dealing with PTSD and families of those who lost their lives in the line of duty or due to suicide. Recent reports reveal that the charity, based in Hamilton, ceased operations last year and has filed a lawsuit against its former CEO, Renee Jarvis, and former treasurer, Kelsey Pitt.
Jarvis, who was instrumental in founding the organization, served as its initial employee. In 2018, Jarvis hired Pitt, her daughter who also goes by the name Kelsey Gallant, to take on the role of treasurer. The lawsuit, filed in Ontario Superior Court, accuses Jarvis and Pitt of failing to remit payroll deductions to the Canadian Revenue Agency, resulting in a $90,000 tax debt. Allegedly, they then appropriated over $150,000 of the organization’s funds to supposedly address the outstanding tax obligations.
Legal action is seeking the recovery of these misappropriated funds, along with additional amounts for expenses and damages. According to the lawsuit, Pitt and Jarvis collaborated in diverting funds from the charity for personal use without authorization or disclosure to CCISF’s board. The lawsuit also alleges that Pitt ceased working in April 2022 when the CRA initiated an audit, yet continued to receive a salary until February 2024, when the board terminated her employment. Jarvis was dismissed in November 2024. Both individuals reportedly earned salaries exceeding $90,000 annually, in addition to benefits.
The organization is conducting a forensic audit to ascertain if further funds were mishandled. Legal representatives for Jarvis and Pitt have declined to provide comments on the matter. Notably, no defense statements have been submitted to the court at this time.
The CCISF annually organized conferences for individuals suffering from PTSD, with a particular focus on Camp FACES (Family and Children of Emergency Services), a summer retreat for bereaved families. Harold Coffin, who assumed the role of board chair following the revelations, made the difficult decision to wind down the charity’s operations in light of the circumstances. The final Camp FACES took place last summer, and efforts are underway to close the organization in compliance with regulatory requirements.
Coffin expressed sadness over the closure, emphasizing the camp’s significance for families coping with loss. Plans to address the audit findings and potentially involve law enforcement are pending.
The lawsuit further reveals that Jarvis, a former civilian employee of the Hamilton Police Service, has a prior criminal conviction for tax fraud in the United States. Details of her conviction were outlined in a U.S. Attorney’s news release from June 2014.
Public financial disclosures submitted to the CRA indicate that the CCISF consistently allocated a substantial portion of its budget to fundraising activities rather than programs, utilizing third-party services extensively. Industry benchmarks suggest that fundraising costs for charities should not surpass 35% of the budget. However, the CCISF’s average spending on fundraising over the past five tax years exceeded this threshold, highlighting concerns about financial management practices within the organization.
Charity watchdogs underscore the importance of donor due diligence in ensuring funds are utilized for their intended purposes. The increasing reliance on for-profit fundraising companies poses challenges for both donors and compliant charities striving to uphold transparency and accountability standards. Efforts to address these issues and enhance oversight mechanisms are essential to safeguarding charitable contributions and maintaining public trust in philanthropic endeavors.