First West Credit Union

What does it mean to flourish? Click play and find out how our team members answer this question. In the words of Liz Bailey-Connor, Chief People and Culture Officer: “Our credit union’s purpose is to create a future where everyone can flourish, and our team members play a vital role in living out that purpose. When their physical and mental wellness is at the forefront, it has a positive impact on our members and communities.” Learn more about being part of a purpose-driven organization 👉 https://lnkd.in/gj54N8y7

Go Canucks Go! 🏒 We don't just share a passion for helping members and communities flourish, we also cheer really loudly for the home team, our Vancouver Canucks! Recently, our team members held a Canucks Game Day Lunch where they proudly showed off their vibrant Canucks jerseys as our heroes hit the ice. 🎉 Do you have a lot of team spirit too? Score a new opportunity as part of a culture that believes in collective strength. We strive to build trusting relationships within our teams that includes supporting and celebrating everyone's interests and passions. Our camaraderie inspires innovation and exceptional performance. Check out what it's like to work at First West 👉https://lnkd.in/gdv-uip3

Join us in saying, "welcome students!" 👋 We're filled with excitement this week as we welcome our new students to explore career opportunities and learn new skills! Every year, we welcome many post-secondary students into different teams  – from marketing to finance, IT and helping members in our branches. During the summer, they create new possibilities for their futures and experience culture at an award-winning organization. Working in a professional environment means students can develop career-building skills while making valuable contributions through their unique and incredible talents. We love to help students explore opportunities, so reach out to chat with us about being part of an organization that's creating a future where everyone can flourish. 👉 https://lnkd.in/ggfVArV7

Chief People & Culture Officer, Liz Bailey-Connor, accepting the award for First West Credit Union as one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures™ at the Waterstone Human Capital awards night last week in Toronto. ⭐ The award showcases First West's dedication in nurturing a workplace where everyone can flourish and elevate their potential, while being their authentic selves. If you want to elevate your career and be part of an organization that is purpose-driven, visit https://lnkd.in/gC9GPPJD

This week, we're enthusiastically applauding our team members who contribute to making First West worthy of winning a 2023 Waterstone Human Capital award for “Canada’s Most Admired™ Corporate Culture. In the words of chief people and culture officer, Liz Bailey-Connor (pictured, fourth from left): "This award reflects each and every one of our team members. They’re the ones that seize the organization's vision and then take the lead with ideas and plans for taking our culture to the next level, making it something extraordinary." If you'd like to learn more about how we rally around a purpose of creating a future where everyone can flourish, visit https://lnkd.in/g9UG9u_X #canadasmostadmiredculture #flourishtogether #topemployer Waterstone Human Capital Liz Bailey-Connor

The 2023 Annual Report of First West Credit Union is out now with the theme 'Fundamental Fortitude'. Handling today’s challenges while building for tomorrow’s: amid continued economic turbulence, First West's core financials performed well and we continued to create and add value for our members, communities, and team members. Some highlights: 💰 Advancing member financial wellbeing: we introduced new features, products, tools and experiences to improve members’ ability to bank when and where they want, and to better manage their finances and financial goals. 🥫 Making meaningful impact: we invested more than $3.6 million in our communities. First West team members also contributed 6,780 hours of community leadership to more than 242 non-profit and charitable organizations throughout B.C. 💼 Helping team members flourish in a complex world: First West was honoured to be recognized as one of BC's Top Employers by Mediacorp Canada and one of Canada’s Most Admired™ Corporate Cultures by Waterstone Human Capital. "Our most heartfelt thanks to our members, for their continued loyalty to First West as their trusted financial advisors. Your financial success and flourishing matters to us—we’re here to help make it happen." - Shawn Neumann, Board Chair and Launi Skinner, CEO. Read the full report 👉 https://lnkd.in/gDd3X_Vj

Tamara Hendsbee, President of Envision Financial, a division of First West Credit Union, walks us through her career journey, working for a people-centric credit union, and how she hopes to pass along some of her wisdom and learnings to the next generation of leaders. “Strategically, every day, I wake up and believe the day will be great. I choose optimism and visualize what will go well. I'm an advocate for building authentic relationships, surrounding myself with good people who I believe in and who believe in me” Tamara is the cover star of Drishti Magazine's March/April edition. Read her story in this inspiring interview 👉 https://lnkd.in/gz8EPQA8

When was your last big career step? We’re hiring a new Senior Commercial Banking Advisor to help our members who own and run businesses flourish.   Imagine creating strong ties within your central Vancouver Island community and with local commercial business owners. As part of our team, you’ll have a vast opportunity to use your experience and financial knowledge to make a difference for your members–and grow your career with us! This role manages a portfolio of high-value commercial banking members that will benefit from your lending and investment planning advice.   Our Commercial Banking team is a collaborative and supportive place to advance your career. From day one, you’ll receive welcoming hands-on training, mentorship and total rewards that will have you feeling confident and cared for as our team member. Check out the full job description today: https://lnkd.in/ez9XjK4W

We’re delighted to share that we are welcoming Aaron Bastien to our team in the role of Vice-President, Internal Audit. With more than 15 years of chief audit executive experience, including at least 10 years specializing in the banking industry, Aaron’s deep familiarity with regulatory banking environments will be tremendously important for our future. His extensive knowledge spans many areas, including governance, risk management and compliance. And as a collaborative leader, is looking forward to working with all his colleagues to meet assurance requirements, while guiding First West’s excellent Internal Audit team as they play a critical role in our systems, controls and processes. Before joining First West, Aaron was a Partner, Internal Audit and Risk Management at PRA Canada, a private business intelligence and internal audit firm that works with financial services organizations and government agencies across the country. In addition to holding his CPA-CGA accounting designation and a BBA from Simon Fraser University, Aaron is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) from the Institute of Internal Audit. Throughout his career, Aaron’s gained experience in many functional areas and industries that has helped him become a well-rounded auditor and leader. One piece of advice from his younger, eager auditor career still sticks out today: “Aaron, learn to listen. Ensure you understand the objective and hear what’s important to the people you’re working with. Base an approach on the situation and the inclusive needs of others. This guidance about value of emotional intelligence has always stuck with me.” Of course, Aaron does his best to be a leader in his favourite pastime as well and credits his grandmother for teaching him to golf as a kid. Now that he has extensive experience in this too, he regularly enjoys time on the course with friends—rain or shine—to unwind.

Wow, we're honoured to be among a group of terrific BC-based organizations recognized as Top Employers for 2024. Knowing that our team members feel confident and optimistic about their future with First West is the greatest reward. With an internal promotion rate of over 60 per cent, our colleagues have opportunities to expand their career in many directions, with networking, job shadowing and mentoring support to help them flourish.   We call our people-centric program "Live Well;" it's how we create a workplace where inclusion and physical and mental wellbeing are at the core of how we work. Our people are there for each other, for our members and everyone in our communities. From helping families develop a grocery budget to collecting food bank donations and planning retirement potlucks, First Westers are together in creating a future that uplifts everyone.   Being recognized as a Top Employer is not only a terrific vote of confidence in us, it's a reflection of our purpose to help everyone flourish. If you're curious about working at First West, start here! careers.firstwestcu.ca