Vancity members elect one returning candidate and two new faces to
Board of Directors

May 9, 2023, Territories of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations/Vancouver B.C. – Vancity Credit Union members have elected returning director Christie Stephenson, Opreet Kang and Heather O’Hara to the 2023 Board of Directors. The three elected directors will join current board members, Chair Rita Parikh and directors Bill Chan, Joel DeYoung, Maegen Giltrow, Patrick Nangle and Kristen Rivers in the governance of Vancity.

Christie Stephenson, Elected

Opreet Kang, Elected

Heather O’Hara, Elected

"We are excited to welcome new and returning directors, and eager to put their considerable talents to use ensuring Vancity continues to be a financial force for change,” said Rita Parikh, board chair.

During the election, which took place from April 11-28, a total of 26,008 valid ballots were cast. The three newly elected board members will serve a three-year term. Here are the full results from Vancity’s 2023 Board of Directors election:

• Christie Stephenson: 16,345 votes Elected
• Opreet Kang:  15,627 votes Elected
• Heather O’Hara: 14,769 votes Elected
• Juvarya Veltkamp:  9,434 votes
• Christine Arnold: 6,863 votes
• Seán Riley 瑞利山: 5,116 votes

“Vancity is a member-owned cooperative. This means our membership has a say in how our organization is run and in the makeup of our board,” said Lily Grewal, Chair of Vancity’s Nomination and Election Committee. “We’d like to thank all the Vancity members who voted and express our appreciation to the six dedicated members who campaigned to represent our members.”

To ensure there are strong candidates to provide oversight for large and complex financial institutions, the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) requires all credit unions use a recommendation process for board of directors' elections. The Vancity Nomination and Election Committee, complying with the provincial regulations, recommended four candidates who best demonstrated the attributes and experience to complement and strengthen the existing board. The Nomination and Election Committee is comprised of four Vancity members at large and two current board directors.

About Vancity

Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its more than 560,000 member-owners and their communities, with offices and more than 50 branches located in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, Squamish and Alert Bay, within the territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw people. With $34 billion in assets plus assets under administration, Vancity is Canada’s largest community credit union. Vancity uses its assets to help improve the financial well-being of its members while at the same time helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

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T: 778-837-0394