Former university manager charged with fraud, theft from Simon Fraser University

A former manager at Simon Fraser University has been charged with fraud and theft over $5,000, according to documents filed in B.C. provincial court.

Kristen Tanya Schiefke is accused of defrauding the university and stealing funds between 2018 and 2023. The criminal charges come months after SFU launched a civil lawsuit alleging Schiefke misappropriated close to $200,000 while employed at the institution.

In its civil claim, filed in September 2025, SFU alleged Schiefke approved a series of invoices beginning in July 2018 from an entity called “KTS Kreations.” The invoices were reportedly for services such as set design and costume design, but the university claimed the work was never performed.

SFU further alleged that KTS Kreations was owned or operated by Schiefke herself. According to the claim, the university paid approximately $46,500 either directly to Schiefke or to KTS, after she requested to personally collect the cheques, citing that the business was based in Ireland.

At the time, Schiefke was employed as the manager of academic and administrative services at SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts, a role she held from 2012 until 2023.

The lawsuit also alleges Schiefke added her spouse and her spouse’s teenage son to the university’s payroll. SFU claims her spouse, a drywaller by trade, was paid $138,734 as a research assistant, while her stepson received $5,250 as a project assistant.

In addition, SFU alleges Schiefke approved two honorariums totalling $6,600 to her spouse — one for a guest speaker appearance and another for acting as a director and producer in a spring production.

The university claims Schiefke, her spouse and her stepson conspired to defraud the institution.

Other allegations in the civil claim include purchasing electronics such as a camera, computer monitor and iPhone for personal use, adding a personal mobile phone plan to SFU’s corporate account, and depositing cash locker rental payments from students into her personal bank account.

SFU said the alleged irregularities were discovered in July 2023 after suspicious charges appeared on a credit card statement, including the purchase of a second office chair. According to the claim, Schiefke initially said the chair would be refunded, but the university later alleged she transferred funds from another SFU operating account to cover the cost instead.

The civil lawsuit also claims the misappropriated funds were used, in part, to help pay for a condominium in Coquitlam purchased by Schiefke and her spouse in 2018.

Schiefke has denied all allegations. In her response to the civil claim, she stated she did not misuse university funds for personal benefit and argued SFU failed to exercise reasonable oversight of its employees and financial systems.

Her spouse and stepson, neither of whom have been criminally charged, also deny any wrongdoing and say they were never employed by SFU or aware of any improper payments.

The allegations contained in the civil lawsuit have not been tested in court. CBC News contacted Schiefke’s lawyer for comment on the criminal charges but did not receive a response by deadline.

Schiefke is scheduled to appear in court next on Feb. 19.