Financial institution offered Christmas surprise

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Tears of disbelief and excitement flowed at the end of last year, after several Strathmore residents received an unexpected act of kindness at the Strathmore Chinook Financial, relieving some financial burden and ensuring an enjoyable holiday season.
A total of 81 members in 13 Alberta communities had their bills paid through the Connect First Credit Union’s Make Money Make a Difference initiative just before December. The $40,000 Alberta-wide spending spree provided peace of mind to three Strathmore-based individuals by settling phone, mortgage, rent, credit card, vision care, and utility bills.
“It really makes you happy and proud to work for a company who cares about their members and their people in that way,” said Kimberley Sharkey-Thompson, regional branch manager for Chinook Financial. “They came into the branch, depending on the day, and we chose three people that we knew could use a hand. We mostly paid their phone bills, electric bills, Town of Strathmore bill, those kind of things that would really be a lot more impactful.”
Chinook Financial experienced a year of firsts, when Chinook Credit Union and First Calgary amalgamated on Nov. 1, 2014 as divisions under Connect First Credit Union. Since then, the branches have adjusted to a year full of learning curves and changes to administration strategies. Part of the new experiences included Strathmore’s introduction of the new initiative, which ran from Nov. 23 to Nov. 27 – not unfamiliar to the Strathmore branch whose mandate promotes giving back to the community.
“Albertans are hurting right now, we know in our branches they are feeling the financial pinch, the economic downturn, we’re feeling it in Calgary and out in rural Alberta as well,” said Scot Hadden, president of the Chinook Financial division. “Our mission of our new credit union is Making Money Make a Difference and we thought that was pretty timely this year… and we want to do the right thing in our communities with our members.”
Hadden recalled one instance in particular where a woman – a former victim of domestic abuse – came in from the women’s shelter. After finding out that $600 would pay off some of her bills, the branch ensured her less financial stress over the holiday season. While it was emotional for the individual, it was also emotional for the staff, he said.
The video recording of residents’ reactions to the unexpected surprise has already received nearly 18,000 views on YouTube. While Hadden said no formal plans have yet been created to continue with the program for the coming year, the message of the mission, Making Money Make a Difference, will remain ongoing.