Surrey, BC – Today the results of the KPMG review of the Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) are released to the public. No evidence has been found supporting any of the allegations about PICS and its CEO by the immediate former Chair of Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS), Mr. Dave Hans, based on the procedures performed by independent third-party forensic services provider KPMG. KPMG has delivered its confidential report to the Special Committee of the PICS board.
Although the Board is extremely pleased that the accusations have been shown to be unfounded, we are saddened that the reputation of our 36-year-old organization, which has always worked to build a more inclusive and mutually respectful community has been tarnished because of the actions of one individual. We are confident that the findings of the KPMG report will provide a high level of comfort to all the stakeholders involved in the Guru Nanak Diversity Village project. The Board continues to have the full confidence in PICS’s management, including the CEO. We know how important it is for the public to have confidence in the work of PICS as a community agency, and PICS treated this matter very seriously. Our organization will now move forward in undertaking the fine work that PICS has been renowned for since being established in 1987. We thank our staff and supporters for their dedication, support, and perseverance during this difficult time and are reviewing any potential next steps in this matter. Background: On September 7, 2022, PICS became aware of a letter by immediate former board chair Mr. Hans to then Premier John Horgan. In the correspondence, Mr. Hans made a series of serious allegations about PICS and its CEO, and subsequently made comments to media outlets. It is important to note that he was the chair of the Annual General Meeting that occurred on August 28, 2022 and none of the concerns raised in the letter were mentioned to those in attendance at the AGM. It is further important to note that the individual making the accusations only chose to do so after his failed bid to be re-elected Chair – and not during the many years he was in a number of leadership positions on the Board, including the immediate
2 Chair of the Board (2021-August 28, 2022), immediate past Chair of the Building Committee (2018-August 28, 2022) and Vice Chair of the Board (2020-2021). Tochi Sandhu was unanimously selected as the Board Chair on August 28, 2022 immediately following the AGM in a meeting with the Board in which Mr. Hans was present and not selected to be Chair. In response to the accusations, the PICS Board retained the law firm Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP and KPMG LLP, which conducted a review of the allegations and financial records of the organization, as an independent third-party. KPMG conducted a targeted analysis of relevant financial records of PICS and carried out a series of interviews with staff at various levels of the organization, along with consultants and members of the current board.
No evidence has been found aginst PICS and its CEO-Report submit by KPMG
