Dec 14 Media Release

Vancouver, BC, December 14, 2005 – Vancity is supporting the most number of environmental projects ever, valued at a record $250,230 in grants to non-profit organizations through its 2005 enviroFundTM program.

This year’s recipients include A Rocha Canada to restore the Campbell Watershed; the BC Sustainable Energy Association for its school-based climate change learning program; EcoTrust Canada to work with the Tsleil Waututh Band to monitor the marine habitat of Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm; Evergreen for its nursery & landscaper education program aimed at reducing the sale and use of invasive species; the Galiano Conservancy Association for its innovative habitat restoration program designed to restore forest diversity in areas impacted by logging; the Gorge Waterway Action Society for shoreline restoration and habitat preservation in Greater Victoria; the Rivershed Society of BC to run a pilot project to reduce the human impact on riversheds in the Coquitlam area; the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation to promote sustainable transportation in the GVRD; the Stanley Park Ecology Society to help preserve wildlife within the park; and the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition to create a commuter cycling skills program.

The enviroFund is funded by Vancity VISA, which donates five per cent of its annual profits from its suite of VISA card products to the program. The increase in this year’s grants, which ranged from $12,000 to $40,000 each, was due to Vancity VISA’s strong financial performance.

"We have a longstanding commitment to share our profits with our communities. We are pleased that our financial success has allowed us to give the most ever to support important environmental work that will benefit our region for generations to come," says Vancity Board Chair Elain Duvall.

Since the program started in 1990, more than $1.45 million has gone to environmental projects. For more information, go to or call 604-877-7620.

Vancity is Canada’s largest credit union, with $10.5 billion in assets, more than 315,000 members, and 47 branches throughout Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Victoria. 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 corporate social responsibility, and to improve the quality of life in the communities where we live and work.

^TMenviroFund is a registered trademark of Vancity Savings Credit Union.