Vancity announces Board Chair and Vice Chair

Vancouver, June 6, 2011 - Vancity's Board of Directors has elected Virginia Weiler as Chair and Jan O'Brien as Vice Chair, each for a one-year term. Patrice Pratt steps down as Chair after four years in the role.

Virginia Weiler has been elected chair of Vancity's Board of Directors. She previously served as the vice chair for two consecutive years and is in her second term with Vancity. She will also serve on the Governance and Conduct Review Committee , Vancity's Human Resources Policy Committee and Market and Credit Risk Committee. Virginia recently served for three years as the vice chair of Citizens Bank which is wholly owned by Vancity.

Virginia's background is mission-based finance. Her association with Vancity began in 1996 when she sold to Vancity a micro-loan fund (known as peer lending) that invested in youth, new immigrant and other emerging entrepreneurs. She later helped to create Vancity Capital which invests in growing businesses, non-profits and social enterprises. She was the founding director of economic development for Ecotrust Canada where she launched a partnership with Shorebank Cascadia to introduce conservation-based financing to small businesses in coastal BC communities.

Virginia then spent five years in East Africa working with international development agencies to help structure innovative financing programs to support the fight against HIV/AIDs, as well as various small business, trade development and governance initiatives to strengthen regional economies and local communities.

Virginia achieved certified director designation (ICD.D) through the Institute of Corporate Directors in 2008 and completed her MBA at University of Victoria in 1995.

"At Vancity, our vision is 'Redefining Wealth' which means we are deeply interested in the overall well-being of our members, and are committed to using our financial services to generate financial, social and environmental returns for our members and the communities in which we all live," says Virginia.

Jan O'Brien has been elected as vice chair. Jan has been on the Vancity board since 2009 and currently serves on the Governance and Conduct Review Committee as well as on the Human Resources Policy Committee.

A member of Vancity since 1977, Jan brings leadership and experience in financial management, governance, employee relations and advocacy in the community and non- profit sectors to Vancity.

Jan is the Provincial Secretary for the BC NDP and has worked as a labour relations specialist with the BC Government and Service Employees' Union and the BC Labour Relations Board. She also spent 14 years as a reporter covering many issues including municipal politics and health care. She received her MBA from Simon Fraser University in 2001.

"I am guided by the co-operative philosophy that great things happen when ordinary people work together," says Jan. "I truly believe that we can work together to help people build the organizational and financial resources they need to be successful."

In the recent Vancity Board of Directors' election, Vancity members re-elected Patrice Pratt and David Wong and elected new Board member, Anita Braha, all for three-year terms. They join current board members Lisa Barrett, Allen Garr, Wendy Holm, Jan O'Brien, Virginia Weiler and Bob Williams.

About Vancouver City Savings Credit Union

You're part of something greater when you do business with Vancity. We're committed to making a positive impact on the quality of life where we live and work and beyond. Since 1994, we have invested over $194 million of our profits back to members and into the communities we serve. Vancity is a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, a network of the world's leading sustainable banks sharing the commitment to achieving triple bottom-line impact through responsible banking practices. Vancity is Canada's largest credit union, with $15 billion in assets, more than 417,000 members and 59 branches throughout Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria and Squamish. More information about Vancity is available at www.vancity.com.

Media Contact

• Vancity Media Relations
  Lorraine Wilson
  mediarelations@vancity.com
  778-837-0394