VANCOUVER – Three B.C. credit union leaders were honoured with Distinguished Service Awards during the Credit Union Foundation of B.C.’s Annual General Meeting on Friday, April 28.
The recipients are Gene Blishen, General Manager of Mount Lehman Credit Union, Dave Craigen, CEO of First Credit Union, and Terry Enns, former chair of Central 1 Credit Union’s Board of Directors.
The B.C. Distinguished Service Award is awarded to an individual in recognition of outstanding service in the B.C. credit union system.
Nominees must meet the following criteria to be eligible for an award:
- An extensive background and practical experience in the development and operation of credit unions,
- demonstrated leadership in the preservation and extension of the philosophy of “people helping people”,
- awareness of the role of credit unions as co-operatively developed socio-economic institutions and the ability, and
- willingness to speak forthrightly on credit union challenges and opportunities.
For his part, award recipient Terry Enns has actively championed the credit union system since being elected to First Heritage Savings Credit Union’s board of directors in 1980. Most recently, he participated in advocacy events in both B.C. and Ontario during the recent reviews of credit union legislation.
Award recipient Dave Craigen has worked in the credit union system for 34 years and has announced his retirement date for February 2018. Geraldine Way, First Credit Union Board Chair, says, “As a small to mid-size credit union in the BC system, sustainability has been no easy feat. Under Dave’s pioneering and courageous leadership, First Credit Union has evolved to be a diversified and vibrant organization.”
Due to his keen interest in technology, award recipient Gene Blishen helped implement several key innovations for the benefit of credit union members since his first credit union role in 1978. One such innovation is MemberNote, a software application developed to help combat member card skimming.
The Credit Union Foundation of B.C. would like to offer both congratulations and thanks to the award recipients who have helped to shape B.C.’s thriving credit union system through their passion and service.
About the Credit Union Foundation of B.C.
Founded in 1958, The Credit Union Foundation of British Columbia is the provincial wide philanthropic organization of the credit union system founded and funded by British Columbia credit union members. The Foundation’s primary purpose is to provide education awards to British Columbia resident post-secondary students in need of financial assistance for academic, technological, or vocational training at accredited schools within the province. The Foundation also provides international support for cooperative programs and oversees the Distinguished Service Award given to those industry leaders who have furthered the Credit Union movement in BC.
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