Canadian Orpheus Choir defrauded of $40K, man charged

For 40 years the Canadian Orpheus Choir have toured Southern Ontario and Europe raising money for art-centred charities.

Over that time, the men’s choir from Hamilton has raised nearly $1 million for charity, but in October, the group of volunteers were dealt a massive blow.

“We were told in our annual general meeting this year that there was $40,000 in the bank and there was now $500 and it had all been taken away,” said Richard Cunningham, Music Director.

The money was built up through donations and paid for the choir’s director, musician, room rentals and events, all of which were suddenly in flux.

The man who allegedly took the money was the group’s volunteer treasurer who didn’t perform with the choir but did dabble in another music genre.

Mackenzie Jenkyns fronted the Hamilton indie band ‘This Mad Desire’ and was working for an investment company when the choir brought him on. The group says they figured his employer had already done a background check.

The 42-year-old man was charged Monday with fraud and theft over $5,000.

Despite their cloudy future, members were confident they’ll stay afloat.

At first, the help came from within as choir members donated thousands of dollars. Then, the community opened their collective wallets.

Hamilton police suggest several measures to prevent such fraud by making sure there are two authorization signatures for checks; monitor how funds are coming in, preferably not cash; and implementing a policy where the group checks the books monthly or bi-monthly and not letting it go too long.