Credit Union Central of Canada (CUCC) announced the recipients of the 2017 National Credit Union Awards Program on May 10. The National Credit Union Awards highlight fresh and effective programs that emphasize local economic initiatives, innovative solutions that improve the effectiveness of the credit union, and the ambitions of tomorrow’s young leaders.

Among the winners were two members of the Canadian CED Network: Assiniboine Credit Union in Manitoba and Vancity Credit Union in British Columbia.

Assiniboine Credit Union

Assiniboine Credit Union won the Social Responsibility Award for their Eco-Excellence Program which achieved positive environmental results, as well as growth for the credit union. The Social Responsibility Award award recognizes the leadership, innovation and advancement that credit unions are demonstrating in their social and environmental performance. Celebrating the ways credit unions are leading in defining strategic approaches to social responsibility that will encourage and inspire the system as a whole.

Sara Rusak, Manager, Business Integration at Assiniboine Credit Union, also received the Young Leaders Award. The Award helps identify the best and brightest young employees, motivate them, and publicize their accomplishments to inspire others. In creating this Award, CCUA’s Board of Directors helps national leaders demonstrate strong support for young leadership. 

Vancity Credit Union

Vancity won the Community Economic Development Award for their Refugee Settlement Assistance Program developed in close partnership with Immigrant Services Society of BC and other settlement service groups. Together, they created a scalable and sharable program comprising outreach activities, product developments, process enhancements, educational reports, and tools. The Community Economic Development Award recognizes and honours the outstanding contribution credit unions make to the economic development of the communities they serve. Since its inception, this prestigious award has focused national attention on the leadership role credit unions play in inspiring others to shape promising futures within their communities.

Vancity also won the first-ever Learning Leader Award for the strategic development, instructional design, delivery, and evaluation of training for over 2,000 employees for the recent renewal of their core banking system. The Learning Leader Award acknowledges the role that skilled employees play in the success of their credit union, and the leader who ensures that employees are as prepared as possible to serve the needs of their members. Ongoing development of credit union employees is critical at a time when multiple factors are reshaping or industry and our workforce.

Source: National Credit Union Awards