May 19: Kudos are Handed Out to Vancity Employees

Vancouver, May 19, 2000 - Vancity employees were decked out in tie-dyed shirts and 'feelin' groovy' for Vancity Credit Union's annual Recognition Night ceremony at the Hyatt Regency last night.

The employee celebration, which had a '60s theme, honours individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to the success of Vancity in the previous year. Kicking off the celebration was Vancity Chief Executive Officer Dave Mowat.

'At Vancity, we know that our members are happiest when our employees feel their work is a rewarding and fulfilling experience,' said Mowat. 'That includes recognizing and celebrating the contributions that individuals and teams have made over the past year. Recognition Night is an opportunity for Vancity to give something back to our employees - the people at the very core of our success.'

Staff accomplishments and contributions have been honoured each year since 1992 at Vancity's Recognition Night ceremony. The awards night illustrates Vancity's commitment to corporate social responsibility, and recognizes the fundamental contribution all of Vancity's 1,500 employees make to the success and achievement of the company.

In February 2000, Vancity was rated by the Globe and Mail's Report on Business Magazine as one of the 35 best companies to work for in Canada.

Award recipients this year are:

• Mover and Shaker Award - Rob Malli, Treasury and Credit
• Leadership Award - Jim Scoular, Manager, Branch 6 (North Burnaby)
• Behind the Scenes Award - Pat McLarnon, Manager, Collections
• It Starts With Me Award - Branch 9 (Main and 26th, Vancouver)
• Spirit Award - Retirement and Tax Services
• Partnership Award, Subsidiary - Dodi Mesenchuck, Branch 41 (Oakridge, Vancouver) insuranceServices
• Partnership Award, Specialist - Herman Kan, Sales
• Team Spirit Award - Circle Development Team (Jim Scoular, Josie Romeo, Ross Lambert, Linda Shaw,
• Sandy Custance, Anjala Jaswal, Kevin Tarumoto, Stella Popoff, Doug Spindler, Kim Dimmer-Drew)
• Directors' Award for Values at Work - Individual - Simon Fulber, Branch 10 (Pender and Hornby, Vancouver)
• Directors' Award for Values at Work - Group - Vancity Insurance Services Ltd.
• Big Buck Award - Earnings Gap Strategy team members
• Head Office Department of the Year Award - Collections Department
• Branch of the Year Award - Branch 16 (North Rd. and Government, Burnaby)
• Branch of the Year Honourable Mention - Branch 27 (Newton, Surrey)

Vancity is Canada's largest credit union, with $6.4 billion in assets, 262,000 members, and 39 branches throughout Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Victoria. Vancity owns Citizens Bank of Canada, serving members across the country by telephone, ATM, and the Internet. Both Vancity and Citizens Bank are guided by a commitment to corporate social responsibility.