Sept 17, 2025 | Territories of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations/Vancouver B.C. – Vancity is proud to celebrate bronze-level certification in the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) program from the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB).
“At Vancity, we’ve learned that meaningful change comes from honouring Indigenous knowledge and lived experiences, listening to the priorities of communities, and following their leadership in shaping the path forward,” said Wellington Holbrook, President and CEO of Vancity. “This certification reflects an important milestone in our journey towards meaningful Reconciliation, and we are determined to carry this work forward with respect, accountability, and ongoing action.”
Reconciliation is a core value for Vancity, and achieving PAIR certification marks an important step in the credit union’s ongoing work to advance meaningful Reconciliation. This includes being a founding partner of Reconciliation Canada, adopting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call to action for businesses, and adopting the UN declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Achieving PAIR certification involves a rigorous, multi-year process that examines all of an organization’s operations. It requires setting measurable targets and showing progress across key areas including staff education, leadership actions that reinforce Indigenous relations, equitable Indigenous employment, business partnerships with Indigenous-owned enterprises, and meaningful community engagement.
“Going through the PAIR certification process has helped us build a framework to embed Reconciliation into everything we do,” says Michelle Laviolette, Director of Indigenous Banking Strategy at Vancity. “It has helped us become more strategic and deliberate about how we apply our tools and expertise to deliver the greatest impact, ensuring our commitments translate into measurable progress.”
Building on this framework, an analysis was conducted where three recurring needs were identified by Indigenous communities: financial inclusion and empowerment, affordable climate-ready housing, and support for entrepreneurs. Our Indigenous Banking Strategy is focused on advancing these priorities, and progress will be measured through indicators such as Indigenous members’ financial confidence, the number of affordable housing units funded, and the size and reach of Indigenous business loans.