The national association for Canada’s credit unions, the Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 National Credit Union Awards Program. The awards program recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of credit unions and credit union leaders, for their positive impact on the communities in which they live and work.
This year, CCUA added two new awards to its program: Learning Leader and Best in Marketing. This is in addition to five other awards categories, including: Hall of Fame, Community Economic Development, Innovation, Social Responsibility and Young Leaders. They were presented at a gala event during the Association’s annual, national conference for Canada’s credit union leaders in Halifax, NS last night.
“There’s no doubt that Canada’s credit unions and caisses populaires have always placed emphasis on the importance of its members, through innovative programs and services – many of which are ‘firsts’ in the industry,” explains Martha Durdin, president and CEO, Canadian Credit Union Association. “But they also focus on the development of young leaders who will continue to build on the success of their predecessors. I am inspired by the creativity, ingenuity and passion our awards recipients have demonstrated, and look forward to what’s yet to come.”
Listed below is a highlight of all of this year’s award winners. For more detailed information about each category and award recipient, visit www.ccua.com/awards.
Hall of Fame
This year’s Hall of Fame award winners were formally recognized for their years of leadership and for their positive influence in the Canadian credit union system. They included: Daniel Burns and Terry Enns. Learn more.
Innovation Award
The 2017 recipient of the Innovation award is Northern Credit Union (ON), for their Small Business Rocks program, making them the first financial institution in Canada to offer small business lending and deposit accounts entirely online. Learn more.
Best of Marketing Award (NEW)
For receiving the highest average score of all entries received for the 2017 MACU Achievement in Marketing Excellence Awards (AIME), Synergy Credit Union (SK) was awarded the 2017 Best of Marketing Award for their Earn It. Invest It. Grow It. television campaign. Learn more.
Community Economic Development Award
For their dedication to economic equity, and generous sense of community, Vancity Credit Union (BC) is the recipient of the 2017 National Credit Union Community Economic Development Award for the development of their Refugee Settlement Assistance Program, developed to assist the needs of arriving Syrian refugees. Learn more.
National Credit Union Social Responsibility Award
For their continuing commitment to making community responsibility and sustainability a core part of their business, Assiniboine Credit Union (MB) received the 2017 National Credit Union Social Responsibility Award for their Eco-Excellence Program. Learn more.
Learning Leader (NEW)
Vancity Credit Union (BC) has been awarded the 2017 Learning Leader award for their Banking Application Renewal Learning Program, which is a strategic program created to renew the credit union’s core banking system, to help provide improved member services. Learn more.
National Young Leaders
In addition to our long-standing Hall of Fame award recipients, five young credit union leaders were recognized as National Young Leaders to mark their exceptional efforts:
* Gareth Edwards, Manager, Commercial Banking (Real Estate) l, First Calgary Financial (AB), a division of Connect First Credit Union
* David Kropp, Assistant Vice-President, Communications, First West Credit Union (BC)
* Emma Lafreniere, Manager, Loss Prevention, Steinbach Credit Union (MB)
* Sarah Rea, Senior Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Meridian Credit Union (ON)
* Sara Rusak, Manager, Business Integration, Assiniboine Credit Union (MB)
David Kropp also received the National Young Leaders Award, which provides a $10,000 scholarship to cover tuition and travel costs to attend a leadership development program at a university in Canada. Learn more.
About Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA)
Canadian Credit Union Association is the national trade association for Canada’s credit unions and caisses populaires outside Quebec. These financial institutions offer a full-range of retail banking services to almost 5.6 million Canadians. Collectively Canada’s 281 credit unions generate over $6.5 billion in economic impact, are leaders in small business lending, and have assets of over $202.5 billion. For more information, visit www.ccua.com.
Attachments:
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7d9c243b-c697-4ba8-9cb7-f8fc408b45fd