Choices For Youth hires outside investigator to look into sexual harassment allegations

Allegations against a high-level member of Choices For Youth are now being investigated, but the non-profit organization won't say who it hired to conduct the probe, or who is being investigated.

CBC News contacted Choices For Youth chairperson Lynn Zurel on Thursday, who confirmed the investigation, but wouldn't take any questions.

"[We] will have no further comment while the investigation is ongoing," she wrote in an email.

Last week, an anonymous letter was sent to media levelling allegations of harassment, sexual harassment, bullying and abuse of power against a member of the Choices For Youth staff.

No newinformation on allegations

CBCNews is not naming the individual at this time, as the claims have yet to be properly verified.

On Monday, the board of directors said it was reviewing the complaint, which in turn led to the external investigation being called.

The letter was signed "Desperate Whistle-Blowers," and said the complaints had been raised with board members before, but were ignored.

When asked who had been hired to do the investigation, Zurelsaid she couldn't answer.

"We won't be able to say until their engagement is finalized," she wrote.

Choices For Youth is a non-profit organizationworking with vulnerable people between the ages of16 and 29 to provide things like housing, employment and access to health care.

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