Vancity introduces mobile voting to boost turnout in board election

Thirteen local candidates running for three available positions

March 29, 2016, Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, B.C. – Vancity is banking on its mobile app to encourage greater participation in its board election, especially among its younger members.

Vancity attracts close to 30,000 new members each year, most of whom are under the age of 40 and are more likely to interact with the credit union through technology such as the mobile app. The voting function, which goes live today, is the newest enhancement to Vancity’s award-winning banking application.

are running for three available positions. Candidates for election (in random order) this year are:

• Farrell Segall
• Niki Sharma (recommended)
• Hari Sharma
• Adrian Zator
• Yasin Amlani
• Neal Nicholson
• Rita Parikh (recommended)
• Rachel S. Forbes
• Virginia Weiler (recommended)
• Gary Steeves
• Bob Williams (recommended)
• Dara Parker (recommended)
• Lucette Wesley

Members can vote for up to three candidates using the Vancity mobile app, online or by mail from today until Friday, April 22. Voting in will take place from April 12-16.

B.C.’s Financial Institutions Commission requires credit unions to recommend a group of candidates among those standing for election. Vancity's Nominations and Election Committee conducted a rigorous interview and assessment with all prospective candidates and made its recommendations based on those who possess the skills, attributes and experience that:

• best complement and strengthen the existing board
• are most consistent with Vancity's values and
• meet the requirements established under the Financial Institution Commission’s Governance Guideline, Vancity Rules and governing legislation.

All eligible members will receive information about the election by mail and can visit www.vancity.com/election for detailed information about the candidates. Results of the election will be announced at Vancity’s Annual General Meeting on May 5.

Quote

“As a co-operative credit union it’s important for us to adapt to meet our members’ needs and mobile voting is a key step in this process. We hope this move will encourage more of our members to cast a ballot and help shape the future of our credit union.” Jan O’Brien, chair of Vancity’s board of directors

About Vancity

Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its more than 519,000 member-owners and their communities in the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw territories, with 59 branches in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, Squamish and Alert Bay. As Canada’s largest community credit union, Vancity uses its $19.8 billion in assets to help improve the financial well-being of its members while at the same time helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

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For more information:

Lorraine Wilson | Vancity
T: 778-837-0394
mediarelations@vancity.com