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EKCCU celebrates Elkford's 20th anniversary with AGM

Growth and change was the theme of the East Kootenay Community Credit Union's 64th Annual General Meeting.

Growth and change was the theme of the East Kootenay Community Credit Union's (EKCCU) 64th Annual General Meeting held in Elkford on Saturday, April 26. EKCCU released financial results for 2013 and celebrated Elkford’s 20th anniversary.

The dinner and dance were held at the Elkford Community Centre. Over 140 people, many who had been bussed from other East Kootenay communities, enjoyed an evening of good food, interesting conversation, and the band Cross Fire. CEO Jody Burk reviewed the year followed by the nights’ highlight, which was a $5,000 donation to the Wapiti Ski Hill in Elkford.

Carmen Murray of Elkford was thrilled and stated, “On behalf of the Wapiti Ski Club Board of Directors, I would like to thank East Kootenay Community Credit Union for its generous donation to Elkford’s community ski hill. Each year the Board is faced with the task of offering downhill alpine skiing to both the community of Elkford and surrounding area while keeping prices affordable.

“With rising operating expenses, aging infrastructure and fewer volunteers this is becoming more and more difficult to do.  It is wonderful organizations such as EKCCU that allows Elkford to have this amazing facility. Thank you!”

The 20th anniversary of bringing the financial service cooperative to Elkford brought back a lot of memories. In 1994, Elkford was in trouble as one of the mines had gone bankrupt. The only bank in town was closing its doors. The Elkford community asked EKCCU to open a branch. Residents needed a place to cash cheques, get mortgages and rebuild their credit. The credit union understood that being part of a community is more than offering financial products and services and the decision to open the branch was based on common sense. Twenty years later, EKCCU has grown with Elkford, grown with the East Kootenay and grown because of its members.