2013 Board of Directors' Election

By voting, members have a voice in future course of Canada’s largest community credit union

April 2, 2013, Vancouver, BC—Vancity today announced the list of candidates who are running to fill three positions, each a three-year term, on its board of directors.

Patrice Pratt, a board director and chair of Vancity’s nominations and election committee, emphasizes the importance of the election process for members, who can vote from April 2 to April 26.

“The directors serve as our members’ voices,” says Pratt. “They provide members with a say in how Vancity will continue to take care of their financial needs and contribute to the economic, social and environmental well-being of the communities in which they live.”

Pratt urges members to take the time to cast a ballot so they play a role in the future direction of Vancity, Canada’s largest community credit union with more than $17 billion in assets. “It takes just a few minutes to choose people with the right skills and experience to represent our members’ values and influence the direction Vancity takes.”

She adds that voting has an impact on where members’ money goes. “Vancity gives back to members and their communities, through vehicles such as the enviroFund granting program for environmental initiatives, the Shared Success program, and through a variety of loan products that help businesses and members prosper in our communities.”

All prospective candidates participate in a rigourous application and interview process conducted by Vancity’s nominations and election committee. The committee then provides to the board its assessment as to which five candidates the board should recommend to the members as best demonstrating the skills and experience in specific areas that complement and strengthen the existing board, and possessing attributes consistent with the values of Vancity.

Candidates running for election in 2013 are:

Virginia Weiler*
Bob Williams*
Leo Valdes*
James Wright*
Allen Garr*
Nao Fernando
Bill Brooks
Michael DuBelko
Lisa Barrett
Gil Yaron
Keith Horne

(* denotes candidates recommended by the Vancity’s nomination and election committee and the Vancity board of directors.)

Pratt says, “We want members to exercise their democratic right as a member. It’s a core Vancity value. The board sets the direction for Vancity and affirms our guiding principles and co-operative values.”

Members will receive information on all candidates by mail and can visit https://www.vancity.com/Election/ directly to help them make an informed choice when voting. Members are able to vote online, by mail and in select branches.

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.

Visit our website at www.vancity.com. Tweet us @vancity and connect with us on Facebook.com/Vancity.

Contact: mediarelations@vancity.com
778-837-0394