Chief Knowlton released a statement on he Piikani Resource Development Ltd. incident.
Chief Tony Knowlton of Piikani Nation has released a statement on the Piikani Resource Development Ltd. (PRDL) incident that recently took place.
In May of 2024, the Alberta RCMP were alerted to possible fraud that involved an RCMP officer and his wife in connection with PRDL.
After an investigation was completed, Pincher Creek residents, 42-year-old Const. Grant Shade and 40-year-old Katrina Shade, were charged with fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000.
Katrina Shade was employed by PRDL at the time of the alleged incidents, and Const. Shade was stationed at Piikani.
In the statement from Chief Knowlton, he says these charges came after an extensive third-party forensic audit, which was requested by PRDL
“The audit revealed that funds had been misappropriated. PRDL and Nation staff reported this to the RCMP, after which charges were laid,” Chief Knowlton said in the release. “Needless to say, I am very disappointed that PRDL and Piikani have been victimized. However, I want to commend staff who discovered the irregularities and the auditors who worked to find their source. The situation could have been much worse was it not for their diligence and reporting.”
Chief Knowlton goes on to say that he cannot provide many more details about the exact nature of the misappropriations, since this will be before the courts soon, and he doesn’t want to interfere with that process.
“However, when it becomes possible to share more details, I will be happy to do that,” Chief Knowlton says. “Lessons have been learned from this situation. Council will discuss ways to ensure nothing that this can happen again in any of our business or administrative units. We are committed to the highest standards of accountability.”
While Chief Knowlton can’t provide more information at this time, he says more information will be forthcoming.
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