Vancity

Cash vs. Digital Transactions: What’s Your Preference?   Vancity’s Christine Mayston sat down with CBC last night to discuss our new report which shows a 31% decline in cash withdrawals in the past 6 years.   Curious about how these trends impact our financial choices and the potential risks of a cashless society? Watch the full interview to learn more about the importance of maintaining diverse payment options and addressing financial exclusion.

Meet Rick Croteau, a Senior Administrator on the WIN team (Workplace Inclusion – a team of folks that identify as neurodiverse individuals). Rick’s job consists of supervising and assisting other administrators with their work, supporting multiple departments, and expanding the WIN team’s capabilities. He is also a Co-Chair for the Mental Health Employee Resource Group at Vancity. To learn more about Rick and his work, read on. Tell us about a typical day for you. My job consists of juggling multiple tasks, keeping things running smoothly, attending meetings, creating new opportunities for our team alongside my amazing colleagues, as well as coaching, training, and mentorship. What is your favorite part of your job? I would say the opportunity to learn and then coach others is a real privilege and joy. Helping our team build their skills and develop their leadership abilities is incredibly rewarding. Can you share a few things you’ve been able to achieve in your role? I was diagnosed with schizophrenia 4 years ago. It’s been an immense challenge to navigate managing this illness. I was scheduled to come back to work after my long-term disability leave and had this incredible opportunity to join the WIN team.  Through my role, I’ve been able to contribute to reshaping our team’s vision. We are in the process of creating a new foundation and framework for our team but also creating an opportunity for neuro diverse individuals to show what they are capable of and allow their voices to be heard. Can you briefly share how you ended up working at Vancity? Originally, I went to school to become a financial planner. I had an internship at Vancity’s Sustainable Wealth Management (SWM) department and really had an amazing experience. I loved Vancity’s values and what they stood for, so I applied for an entry level job to start my journey, hoping to become a financial planner one day. Unfortunately, with my late diagnosis of schizophrenia I had to change my career path but I’m very grateful for the opportunity and support that Vancity has provided. What do you love about working for Vancity? Where do I start! I appreciate Vancity’s focus on community and an all-inclusive environment. As mentioned, I found Vancity to be a supportive place to work, and a place that values my contributions and capabilities. Most of the world has been taught to look out for themselves and Vancity wants to change that so that everyone can thrive and be successful in their financial vision/goals in life. Do you have any advice for anyone looking to get into a similar role or career path to yours? I would say be flexible, patient and a team player. Vancity has done an amazing job at supporting me through my hardship and mental health. New opportunities are constantly coming my way and all throughout Vancity. I think that when you are flexible/open-minded to learn Vancity's values and get onboard with an equitable future, it will allow you to thrive in Vancity’s culture.

We mourn the loss of Bob Williams, a transformational leader in our history. Serving over 20 years on our board, including as Chair, Bob was a formidable advocate for his values. His influence is evident in Vancity's focus on community and social impact. Bob played a crucial role in initiatives like business loans for local enterprises, affordable housing support, and the enviroFund. His vision also led to the creation of the Vancity Community Foundation and the Bologna Summer Program for Co-operative Studies. Bob’s legacy of putting people and communities first continues to shape Vancity. We are grateful for his profound impact on British Columbia and beyond. Read more about Bob’s legacy:

We’re proud to once again be named one of the Corporate Knights’ Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada, and to top the list of financial institutions. Corporate Knights understands businesses must do more than minimize their environmental impact; they need to actively help build fairer and thriving communities. "Since our founding over 78 years ago, Vancity has used financial tools and community connections to boost economic opportunities, improve member wellbeing, and create cleaner and fairer communities. Banks and credit unions have a huge impact on both the economy and society. Vancity will keep using that influence to address the climate crisis and break down barriers to financial inclusion,” said Wellington Holbrook, CEO and President of Vancity. See the full list of the Best Corporate Citizens: https://lnkd.in/eF3MUW2y

Meet Sarah McKelvey, Senior Copywriter on Vancity’s Marketing team. She shapes the brand's voice and tone by writing copy for marketing materials or, as she sometimes tells her family, "I write a lot of words." Sarah enjoys working on creative concepts with her fellow Creative Services team members and loves it when they share ideas, tackle problems together, and offer different interpretations of a problem—and ultimately work towards solving that problem together. For more on Sarah, read on! What is your day-to-day like? On any given day, I'm likely writing collateral for one campaign, editing an email (or 10) for another, refreshing the copy on an eBrochure, and/or collaborating with my team on a creative concept. Can you share a few things you’ve been able to achieve in your role? What comes to mind isn't exactly tangible, but I've certainly gained much more confidence (as a copywriter and a team member), a greater understanding of cross-functional collaboration, and a lot of satisfaction in the work I get to do. Can you briefly share how you ended up working at Vancity? I spent a lot of time working in several different industries and several different marketing-related capacities. I wrote blog posts for real estate agents and HVAC companies, scripted YouTube videos and wrote courses for a video marketing agency, and - all the while - worked on refining what I truly wanted out of a career. Then I found Vancity and it ticked every box for me. What’s a benefit of working for Vancity? I've found it to be the most supportive, impact-driven, and friendly work environment. It's a place where I feel truly valued as an employee and as a person, where I feel I'm given space to grow and learn. Regardless of what's ahead for the day, I'm always excited to "come to work" (I work remotely in my home office, so this is a figure of speech, I suppose). I feel so fortunate for all of the above. Do you have any advice for anyone looking to get into a similar role or career path to yours? If you're able to, lean towards the things you're interested in—even if you don't know how they'll end up amalgamating together into a career. I wrote little books in my free time and came up with ideas for commercials in my head as a young kid, and yet I didn't even know the word "copywriter" until I'd graduated university. (A lot of people think "copywriting" is related to copyright law… It is not!) I'm really glad I explored different disciplines, even when I didn't know where I'd end up—and I'm really glad I ended up here.

We’re seeking new members for Vancity’s Nominations and Election Committee, and Director Remuneration Committee. For more details, visit https://bit.ly/3VApRk3

For too long, Indigenous peoples have faced financial barriers rooted in systemic exclusion and inequality. We are committed to removing these barriers, forming authentic connections with Indigenous communities, and supporting their journey to financial health, resilience, and empowerment — not just during Indigenous Peoples Day, but every day. Pictured: Our Cormorant Island Community Branch - a three-way partnership with both the ‘Namgis First Nation and the Village of Alert Bay to build a sustainable local economy by keeping money in the community and providing financial literacy to its members. #IndigenousPeoplesDay #Reconciliation #IPD2024 #NIHM #NIHM2024 #NIPD2024

We are proud to be named the #1 sustainable bank. The climate crisis requires immediate action and financial institutions have a critical role to play in addressing it. Being recognized alongside other inspiring organizations is a huge honour for us. Congratulations all, we love that together we're building a clean and fair world. Thank you, Sustainability Magazine! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gE-7825j

Exciting news! We're thrilled to be a sponsor for Season 2 of Bears’ Lair Television – the TV reality series showcasing Indigenous entrepreneurs! Starting today, tune in every Tuesday to follow the journeys of 18 inspiring entrepreneurs competing for a $100K grand prize! Indigenous economies existed before there was Canada. Indigenous entrepreneurship is — and will continue to be — a driving force of the country’s economy. When you bank with Vancity, you’re putting your money where it advances Reconciliation. Tune in to Bears' Lair Season 2 every Tuesday on Aboriginal People's Television Network (APTN) 📺🎬. https://lnkd.in/gTHEnApm

Looking for ways to integrate equity, diversity, and inclusion principles into your workplace culture? Embedding Project is leading the way with their new EDI Leading Practices Guide, which includes guidance, case studies, and resources to help your organization better understand and act against inequities and power imbalances. We’re proud to have supported the creation of the EDI Leading Practices Guide and participated in three related sessions with Embedding Project to ensure we’re adhering to EDI best practices.   Ayesha Howitt, CHRP, Director of Learning and DEIR at Vancity called this “our way to really enact co-operative principle 6 to share our knowledge and experience with other organizations for the greater good.” To download your own EDI Leading Practices Guide, click here: https://lnkd.in/gg9gfZWq #Equity #Diversity #Inclusion #Cooperative