THUNDER BAY — Families are expressing anger and frustration after what appeared to be a fun recreational activity for kids turned out to be an alleged scam that resulted in a man and woman being charged with fraud.
“I can’t believe someone would do that to anyone, but especially children,” said a member of the Thunder Bay Ball Hockey League Board.
Early last year, a new ball hockey league for youth between the ages of four and 15 was advertised, including merchandise for purchase such as hoodies and hats.
More than 100 families signed up for the league and two games were held in April. However, when families showed up for future games at the Current River Arena, they discovered the doors were locked and no explanation was given.
“We have been dealing with this since early April. We formed a board of four of us and we saw things weren’t adding up on what [the league organizer] was saying,” the board member said. “[The league organizer] said he ordered all this swag and paid for ice for the year. There has never been any type of booking or any type of payments.”
It is alleged that some families paid upward of $500 and it is estimated that more than $15,000 in total was paid to the league organizer.
A Facebook page was created by the Thunder Bay Ball Hockey League Board to provide families with information. In May 2022, the board spoke with affected families and collected a record of transactions with the league organizer before going to the Thunder Bay Police Service to file a report.
The Thunder Bay Police Service Fraud Unit conducted an investigation and charges of fraud over $5,000 were filed in October against 36-year-old Ryan Clifford Clarke and 38-year-old Renee Marie Lavia, both of Thunder Bay.
“We definitely feel like justice has played its course with them being charged, that he is not getting away with it and hopefully he can’t do it again,” the board member said.
Clarke and Lavia are scheduled to appear in court again on Jan. 16, 2023. None of the allegations against them have been proven in court.
Those who signed up for the league are hoping this serves as a warning to other families to exercise caution before signing up and making payments to a new activity.
“Before you give any kind of money to anyone, find out who they are and what they are doing,” the board member said. “We just want to make the public is aware so it doesn’t happen again.”
