May 7 2008 Media Release

Vancouver, May 7, 2008 - Vancity's Board of Directors re-elected Patrice Pratt as chair and Catherine McCreary as vice-chair. Both are for one-year term positions and effective immediately.

first joined Vancity's Board in 2005 and was named vice-chair in 2006. Patrice is retired from the British Columbia Government & Service Employees Union (BCGEU), after 27 years on their executive leadership team. Her previous board experience includes past chair of the United Way of the Lower Mainland, with involvement in their 'Success by 6' initiative, and as a board member of the Vancouver Foundation where she was chair of their Four Pillars Advisory Committee.

Patrice represents credit unions on the Early Childhood Development Provincial Partnership in collaboration with the United Way and the Provincial Government, and serves on the International Program Committee of the Canadian Cooperatives Association. Patrice also sits on the board of Vancity Capital, a subsidiary of Vancity. Earlier this year she was recognized as a local business community leader with a Business in Vancouver 'Influential Women in Business' Award and, the City of Burnaby named her to their Local Heroes list for 2007.

"From welcoming Tamara Vrooman as our new CEO to our carbon neutral announcement, it has been an exciting year," says Patrice. "One of the best aspects of being chair is the opportunity to meet and connect with our wonderfully dedicated Vancity staff who work hard to serve our members and to make a difference in our community."

has been a member of Vancity's Board since 1999 and has served as vice-chair for the past year. Catherine has practiced law for 25 years and served two terms on the BC Labour Relations Board. She currently works as a labour arbitrator and mediator. Catherine is chair of Inhance Investment Management, Vancity's socially responsible investment arm, and represents Vancity on the Board of Directors of Credit Union Central of British Columbia where she chairs their audit committee. She is also a former director of First Calgary Savings and Credit Union.

"I'm looking forward to continuing our work to take Vancity to the next level," comments Catherine. "As a member of the board's Community Leadership Committee, I'm particularly interested in exploring innovative ways to be relevant to our members and to serve the best interests of the communities where we operate," she adds.

In the recent Vancity board election, Vancity members re-elected Patrice and Catherine as well as for a three-year term and Wendy Holm for a one-year term. They join current board members , , , , , , and .

Vancity is Canada's largest credit union, with $14.1 billion in assets, 392,000 members, and 59 branches throughout Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria and Squamish. 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 and to improving the quality of life in the communities where they live and work.