Meghan Melnyk, a former Mount Royal University Students' Association president, has been charged with a number of offences, including robbery.Meghan Melnyk, a former Mount Royal University Students' Association president, has been charged with a number of offences, including robbery. (Meghan Melnyk/Twitter)A woman who recently resigned as the Mount Royal Students' Association president was charged Wednesday with robbing a Calgary bank.
Police said they arrested Meghan Darcy Melnyk, 27, after the Servus Credit Union on 68th Avenue S.E. was robbed Wednesday afternoon.
They said a woman entered the bank at about 1:40 p.m. and gave a teller a note demanding money and indicating she had a weapon. The teller turned over an undisclosed amount of cash and the woman left.
A police helicopter was used to help find the suspected robber, who was then arrested alone.
Melnyk is charged with robbery, possession of a prohibited weapon and committing an indictable offence while disguised.
Police also said there were outstanding arrest warrants against her for fraud, uttering forged documents and breach of probation.
Court documents show Melnyk was sentenced to probation for possession of a stolen SUV in 2008, and two years later pleaded guilty to falsely applying for a social insurance number, which brought a fine.
Fred Cheney, the spokesman for Mount Royal, confirmed Melnyk resigned from her position as president of the student organization last month.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, the students association expressed shock over the allegations against Melnyk.
"We are all saddened to hear that Meghan finds herself in these circumstances. … We sincerely hope she gets the help and support she needs."

Student leader said she was 'burnt out'

In a mid-January interview with Mount Royal’s student newspaper, The Reflector, Melnyk talked about needing a break from her student leadership activities.
“People have asked me if I’m running again, but I can’t," she said. "I’m so tired. I mean, I love this job, but I’m just at that point where I’ve given so much of myself that I’m very much burnt out.”
The paper also cited a release from the students association on Jan. 31 announcing that Melnyk resigned after the first of two periodic reviews done by the group.
“The review identified several potential anomalies and policy compliance issues for which council was unable to receive a satisfactory explanation within a reasonable time frame,” the release said. “Council did not have sufficient confidence that its highest standards had been applied.”
A LinkedIn account for Melnyk says she used to work at the Calgary Police Interpretive Centre’s YouthLink, which “educates youth about crime and its consequences.”
In a video done by the student association, Melnyk describes herself as a “dork,” who plays the saxophone. In the same video, she says she’s taking a double major of policy and communications.