Vancity announces board chair and vice chair for 2009 - 2010 term

Vancouver, May 4, 2009 - Vancity's Board of Directors has re-elected Patrice Pratt as chair and elected Virginia Weiler as vice chair, both for a one-year term.

returns as chair of Vancity’s Board for a third consecutive year. She will also serve as the chair of the Human Resources Policy Committee and serve on the Financial Policy Committee, as well as the Governance and Conduct Review Committee.

Patrice retired from the British Columbia Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) in 2003, after 27 years on its executive team. Patrice has held numerous directorships over the years, including serving as chair of United Way of the Lower Mainland; she also chaired the Four Pillars Advisory Committee while serving on the board of the Vancouver Foundation. She is a member of the Disability Advisory Committee for the 2010 Winter Games and serves on the advisory board of the Columbia Institute’s Centre for Civic Governance. Patrice also chairs the Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion’s Sharing our Futures Foundation.

In 2008, Patrice received a Business in Vancouver “Influential Women in Business” award; that same year, she was a YWCA “Women of Distinction” nominee in the category of Community Building. The City of Burnaby named Patrice to its Local Heroes list for 2007.

“Last year, we created a new vision for the Vancity Group: redefining wealth,” says Patrice. “I’m honoured, as chair of the Board, to help guide the organization as we take the first steps towards that vision – and in the process, do even more to support our members and communities.”

currently serves on Vancity’s Human Resources Policy Committee and chairs the Community Leadership Committee. Virginia is also vice chair of Citizens Bank.

Virginia’s association with Vancity goes back more than a decade. In 1996, she was instrumental in introducing Vancity’s Peer Lending program, which offers microloans to non-traditional entrepreneurs.

A business development consultant, Virginia draws on her experience launching and managing non-profit programs and working with small businesses; she also spent four years in Africa, working with international development agencies.

Virginia sits on the SmartGrowth BC Board of Directors and recently achieved Director designation through the Institute of Corporate Directors.

“Vancity’s vision of redefining wealth celebrates our history while setting the stage for our future,” says Virginia. “I’m particularly energized by the opportunity presented by social finance, and look forward to engaging with staff as we build our social finance offer.”

In the recent Vancity Board of Directors’ election, Vancity members re-elected Lisa Barrett and Wendy Holm and elected new Board member Jan O’ Brien, all for three-year terms. They join current board members Doreen Braverman, Ian Gill, Catherine McCreary, Patrice Pratt, Virginia Weiler and Bob Williams.

About Vancouver City Savings Credit Union

Vancity is Canada's largest credit union, with $14.5 billion in assets, 407,000 members, and 61 branches throughout Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria and Squamish. Vancity owns Citizens Bank of Canada, serving members across the country by telephone, ATM, and the Internet. Both Vancity and Citizens Bank are guided by a commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities where they live and work.