Canada news briefs: Ecclesiastical Province of British Columbia and Yukon

Funds disappear

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have begun an investigation into the disappearance of as much as $40,000 from the bank accounts of the parish of St. John the Evangelist in North Vancouver. The loss of the money, allegedly stolen via forged signatures of one of the church wardens during 1998 and 1999, was discovered after church treasurer Curtis Bishop failed to appear at the annual vestry meeting in February. Church wardens called in the RCMP who began an investigation. The police have issued a warrant for Mr. Bishop, for questioning. Rev. June Maffin, rector of St. John’s, said the parish followed accepted procedures in handling its finances. “We’ve learned that even with these checks and balances in place it is possible for someone to embezzle funds between audits if they are skilled at deception.” Topic

BC raises $103K

The people of the Diocese of British Columbia contrib-uted nearly $103,000 to Anglican Appeal in 1998, an impressive 11 per cent of all donations that came in from across the country. Diocesan donors also contributed another $35,000 to appeals for the Alert Big Bay House and the Diocese of Caledonia. Bishop Barry Jenks said he was “thrilled” with the response. The diocese and the national church share in the proceeds from Anglican Appeal donations. The diocesan share of $45,000 will go to Camp Columbia. Diocesan Post