Saskatoon Lighthouse in receivership, board members claim financial mismanagement

In early February, Jerome Hepfner and Twila Reddekopp filed affidavits claiming that the Lighthouse board hadn't been making decisions in the best interest of the organization.

The Lighthouse in Saskatoon is in receivership after a decision at the Saskatoon Court of King’s Bench on Friday.

The accounting firm MNP LLP will take control of the non-profit organization for the time being.

In early February, Jerome Hepfner and Twila Reddekopp – two members of the board – filed affidavits claiming that the Lighthouse governing body hadn’t been making decisions in the best interest of the organization.

“You have seen the reason for our application detailed in affidavits and supporting documents,” read a statement from Hepfner on Friday. “We believe that receivership is the best course of action to protect clients, staff, creditors, the assets and the organization itself.”

Hepfner and Reddekopp were co-managers of the Lighthouse, replacing executive director Don Windels after he was placed on leave.

The pair were removed from their managerial positions last month but still remain members of the board.

Adeel Salman, another Lighthouse board member, said that regardless of sides in the courtroom, board members need to look past divisions.

“The most important people in this scenario are (the Lighthouse) residents,” said Salman. “We put them first, they are part of the community. The Lighthouse is a community organization, so we need to make sure that we make (the Lighthouse residents) a viable part of the community.”