Former Cochrane firefighter charged for defrauding local charity​on February 6, 2025 at 8:40 pm

A former firefighter has been charged with fraud after the Cochrane Firefighter’s foundation reported missing funds, says RCMP.

In a Thursday news release, Cochrane RCMP alleged that a former firefighter had been personally gaining from the Cochrane Firefighter’s charitable foundation.

Harold (Jeff) Avery, 57, now a resident of British Columbia, was arrested and charged with fraud over $5,000. Later released on his own undertaking, Avery is set to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Cochrane on March 11.

Cochrane RCMP said no further information is to be released as the matter is now before the courts, it also did not specify how much money the charitable foundation lost.

According to Cochrane Now, Avery was dismissed in 2023 after 22 years with Cochrane Fire Services. Avery told the local outlet at the time that he intended to fight the dismissal and officials from the town declined to discuss possible reasons for his departure.