B.C. credit unions rally financial support for Alberta flood relief and rebuilding efforts

Six credit unions donate $245,000 to the Canadian Red Cross Alberta Floods Fund on behalf of members

For immediate release -- June 28, 2013

Vancouver, B.C. - Six B.C. credit unions have joined forces to provide $245,000 through the Canadian Red Cross to assist with flood relief and rebuilding efforts in neighbouring Alberta.

The credit unions are Coast Capital Savings, Vancity, First West, Prospera, Westminster Savings and Interior Savings. The CEOs of the six financial institutions issued the following joint statement about the decision to come together to help:

“As credit unions, we share a common cooperative heritage and the difficult, heartbreaking events in Alberta call on us to come together in that cooperative spirit to help our fellow Canadians. Many of our sister credit unions in Alberta and other parts of the nation have also pitched in with financial assistance, affirming the longstanding commitment of the Canadian credit union family to not only invest in our communities, but to also help rebuild it, and assist individuals, families and businesses get back on their feet after a tragedy such as this.

“Given the significant damage caused by the floods, rebuilding and restoration will take some time, but we are confident that the courage and solidarity shown by Albertans will see them through. As ongoing support will be needed, we encourage our members to join us in assisting Albertans by making a financial contribution directly to the Red Cross.”

Tracy Redies, President & CEO, Coast Capital Savings Credit Union
Tamara Vrooman, President & CEO, Vancity Savings Credit Union
Launi Skinner, CEO, First West Credit Union
Bruce Howell, President & CEO, Prospera Credit Union
Gavin Toy, President & CEO, Westminster Savings Credit Union
Kathy Conway, President & CEO, Interior Savings Credit Union

Kimberley Nemrava, Director, B.C. & Yukon Red Cross, said the donation from the B.C. credit unions will assist in providing residents with immediate needs such as shelter, water and food, adding that the organization is also helping the people of Alberta with long-term needs such as clean-up efforts.

“Canadian Red Cross is encouraged by the ongoing support from the business community because our work on the ground in Alberta depends on the generosity of the public,” Nemrava said. “Given the significant devastation caused by the floods, the road to recovery will be long, but not impossible, and we continue to urge businesses across the country to join the Red Cross and the people of Alberta in this effort.””

Credit union members can donate to the Canadian Red Cross Alberta floods Fund by visiting http://bit.ly/13b9Pid, a dedicated page set up for that purpose.

About Vancity

Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its more than 492,000 member-owners and their communities through 57 branches in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria and Squamish. As Canada’s largest community credit union, Vancity uses its $17.1 billion in assets to help improve the financial wellbeing of its members while at the same time helping to develop healthy, sustainable communities. Member deposits enable the credit union to loan to other members, businesses and organizations that are creating positive economic, social and environmental impact in their communities. In addition, since 1994 Vancity has given more than $238 million to members through dividends and to communities through grants and community investment initiatives. Vancity is a Living Wage employer and a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, a network of the world’s leading sustainable banks sharing a commitment to achieving triple-bottom-line impact through responsible banking practices.

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