Ottawa police have charged a 46-year-old Ottawa woman with defrauding a provincially funded charity of more than $1 million over a period of nine years.

Yolanda Knight was arrested Thursday and was scheduled to appear in court Friday, charged with fraud, breach of trust, theft, uttering a forged document and possession of the proceeds of crime.

Knight was the financial director for an agency that takes care of disabled adults.

Total Communication Environment (TCE) is an Ottawa-based charity that provides residential care, day service and outreach services for adults with multiple disabilities.

"At the request of police, Total Communications Environment has until now refrained from discussing the results of a financial audit completed in September 2009," said TCE's executive director Karen Belyea in a statement issued Thursday.

"At that time, certain irregularities were brought to the attention of TCE's management and board of directors," she said.

"When it became apparent that satisfactory answers would not be forthcoming, our director of finance was suspended. Subsequently, her employment was terminated. TCE also immediately advised the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services and asked Ottawa police organized fraud unit to investigate," she said.

Police issued a statement alleging Knight was responsible for the misappropriation of $1.1 million.

Belyea said the alleged fraud has not compromised the quality of care at TCE.

"While this ordeal has shattered our faith in someone who had been one of our most trusted employees, we are confident that Total Communication Environment will come out of this ordeal a stronger, more effective and accountable organization. Indeed, our commitment to our residents, families, staff and donors is as strong today as it has ever been in our 30-year history."