The Stories Behind Vancity Responsibility

With the vision to transform the economy to protect the earth and guarantee equity for all,  Vancity won’t make people choose either their wallet or the world. 

Taking action on climate change 

We understand that protecting and preserving our planet is everyone’s priority. To hand-in-hand with the government, we have five climate commitments for a clean and fair world. We aim for net zero by 2040 across mortgages and loans. It means that we attempt to decrease and eliminate carbon emissions from our operations by net zero. We also assist people to invest for the future by suggesting responsible investment options, which can represent the integrity of their Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) screening and stewardship process. Additionally, we focus on equitable climate transition to help people who are affected by the climate emergency, as well as support for cleaner and more sustainable living. Being transparent and accountable is one of our commitments. We accurately measure and report on how our actions positively impact the community.  Moreover, we use values as our guideline in taking actions.

Enhance financial inclusivity

As a financial institution that embraces equity and inclusivity, we are the first ever bank in Canada to allow women to lend money without their men. At Vancity, women can borrow money by themselves instead of having a man cosign a loan. Additionally, we are also the first company that working class and immigrant families could borrow mortgages from. In addition, we commit to helping our members to overcome hard situations, such as unexpected expenses, avoiding eviction or recovering from financial challenges.  

Building affordable housing 

To build a better community, we have assisted many residents in having their own homes. At Vancity, we cooperate with organizations for low-cost pre-construction loans by using your deposits to build affordable housing. By working with our community partners and gaining support from over 570,000 Vancity members, we are successful in increasing the supply of affordable rental and owned housing. Since 2011, our program has achieved significant financed goals, which are 5,658 units of affordable rental homes, 96 loans to community organizations and $39 million to develop affordable housing. 

Reconciliation commitment 

We aim to support the Indigenous community and ensure equal access for everyone at Vancity. As a first financial institution working close with First Nations government, we have designed particular banking solutions and unique needs for their members. Since reconciliation became our core organizational value, we committed to the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) program, which marks a new phase for Vancity’s journey. Additionally, we are also the founding partner of Reconciliation Canada and adopting the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We have been trying our best to provide equal access to everyone since day one. 

Equity and Anti-Racism Embracement

We can not provide equal access to our financial institution with the appearance of inequality and racism. We welcome everyone to be our employees and customers, no matter who you are or where you come from, at Vancity. With the BlackNorth Pledge Commitment in 2020, we have been continuing on it, and we need to use at least 3.0% of our grants for economic opportunities in Black communities. Besides, we also commit to leadership diversity. Our goal is to achieve 40% identifying as Indigenous, Black, people of colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, gender or sexually diverse, and people living with a disability in our board of directors and managers by the end of 2025. 

We could not provide the world without the cooperation of our members. Join us in being a part of world transformation. We always believe that your small actions could make a big difference to the world.

Key message

As an organization focused on environmental initiatives and enhancing community equality, Vancity has two projects called the Share Success Program and the Vancity Grant Programs working on climate change, reconciliation, financial inclusion, affordable housing, and equity and anti-racism projects. In the Share Success Program, Vancity decided to share 30% of the net profits of each year, over 440,000,000 CAD, with its members and community initiative projects since 1994. When it comes to the Vancity Grant Programs, there are numerous grant programs for non-profit organizations, businesses, or even Indigenous organizations and First Nations government. For example, Community Branch Partnerships works on climate action, reconciliation, social and financial inclusion, and anti-racism, and the Non-profit Housing Retrofit Program focuses on climate-friendly renovations and net-zero and climate-resilience building.

Target audience

We focus on businesses, investors and individual customers aged from 25 to 45 years old in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They need to care about bank services, financial support and environmental & community support. Also, they need to have demand for borrowing money, investing, banking services and foreign exchange. 

Channels and tactics to promote the initiative

We will produce a press release and send it to local media outlets, such as CBC Business News, BC Business, and BNN Bloomberg. These are news company that focuses on finance and economy, which is suitable for our financial organization. When it comes to social media, we can promote our programs or other initiatives by producing short videos, uploading stories or posting images. On Instagram and TikTok, the content should promote the organization’s initiatives in interesting and simple ways to encourage people to choose Vancity because most of the young-aged audience use these platforms. We can upload stories daily or three to four times a week, creating polls or live Q&A sessions for better audience engagement. On Facebook and LinkedIn, we focus on posting formal information, such as initiatives information or success highlighting of the projects because these platforms are used most by middle-aged group audience. We can also cooperate with influencers or any famous person in the financial field and environmental protection to promote our initiatives, activities, and projects. 

Not only promote the initiative in Vancouver, but we will also promote it around British Columbia and Canada on local media outlets to reach the wider community and target audiences. Because it will help to raise brand awareness and also enhance positive brand image. CBC Business News is one of the largest media companies in Canada. If we can promote the initiatives on CBC, we’ll reach the wider community, not only in Vancouver, BC, but also around Canada.  BC Business covers business and finance topics, so we can reach the wider community who are also interested in these fields. Not only posting our press release on its website, we can also ask them for content creation on their social media platforms to reach the young-aged group audience. Another media outlet that focuses on finance news is BNN Bloomberg. It’s an effective way to promote the company and its initiatives to the community through the BNN Bloomberg website. 

We can build a positive image if we promote the initiatives on these organizations’ websites and social media platforms. People could acknowledge that we are not only focused on economic development but also on both environment and community support. David Suzuki Foundation is a national, bilingual, non-profit organization established in 1990. With its headquarter in Vancouver and offices in Toronto and Montreal. Additionally, Family Services of Greater Vancouver is also a non-profit organizations which assist in creating a better community. They also support anti-racism, justice and equity, and reconciliation. 

Proposed evaluation methods to measure campaign success.

To evaluate the success of the campaign, we need to set the KPIs for it and follow the progress. We need to check the engagements of people to our posts on both social media to know whether our content could interest them, such as positive comments, likes and shares on the post. In addition, ensure to follow-up with the customers for post-services for further information and improvements. We can also analyze the website visits and clicks or new followers on social media for the campaign success evaluation. The most important element is that the number of new customers increases in our programs compared to the previous times. If we reach out to our target audience with the right message and content, we will have more chances to gain more customers. 

Vancity – The Champion of Corporate Social Responsibility Financial Organization

From green initiatives to social equity, Vancity creates a better world.

March 16th, 2025

In an attempt for sustainable and equity future, Vancity has introduced two projects, Share Success Program and Vancity Grant Programs. These programs are working on climate change, reconciliation, financial inclusion, affordable housing, and equity and anti-racism projects for a better future world. The Share Success Program started in 1994, and it has been sharing 30% of the net profits of each year to the members and community initiative projects until now. Vancity Grant Programs include distinct funds related to the community and environmental responsibility, with the first fund started in 1986. 

Vancity believes that our actions can make a difference in the world. From Kelly Hirsch, Vancity Investment Management’s Head of ESG: “When we invest for our clients…we actively engage with companies to enhance their practices, advocate for responsible environmental stewardship, and ensure social responsibility.” In cooperation with the climate action in the programs, Vancity is on its journey to net-zero emissions by 2040. The carbon emission from their finance activities will be significantly reduced to achieve net zero. Since inclusion is its cornerstone, it was the first financial institution in Canada to allow women to lend money by themselves. After years of working on the affordable housing area in the programs, it has impressive help in the finance. With 5,658 affordable rental units, 96 loans to community organizations, and $39 million to develop affordable housing. Regarding the reconciliation commitment, Vancity has been working closely with the First Nations government and provides equitable access to financial services. Racism and inequality don’t occur in Vancity because it is committed to bringing an equitable environment to everyone.  The commitment to continue the BlackNorth pledge since 2020 and also a commitment to leadership diversity.

Vancity is a financial cooperative that prioritizes value in Vancouver. It assists in building sustainable residences, communities, and businesses, as well as reducing the negative environmental effect of its operation. With a history of supporting people and protecting the earth, Vancity has been continuing the work with the guidance of its value and mission. Reconciliation has become the core value at Vancity, where it commits to enhancing equity and access and building meaningful relationships with Indigenous partners. Its mission is to use financial tools for social and environmental improvement. This financial institution serves as a place beneficial to both people and the planet.

To achieve a sustainable and equitable future, we should cooperate with Vancity to support these projects, Share Success Program and Vancity Grant Programs, as soon as possible. Don’t forget to choose Vancity as a corporate social responsibility financial institution. We promise to bring benefits to both your wallet and our planet. Join us now on our website, www.vancity.com, and social media platforms, Vancity, for the latest update. 

Le Nguyen Thao Do

Public relations student

637 229 318

LeDo12@gmail.com

1. Reid Maisonneuve—Digital marketing and business development manager: He manages TRU’s social media account called “truworld” on different platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. By contacting him, we can promote our event to staff, faculty, and students, especially international students. Also, social media ambassadors are under his management, so they can help us create content to promote this event. 

Contact information: rmaisonneuve@tru.ca 

2. Social media ambassadors (SMA) team: They can help us to do content for event promotion, including before and during the event, which can help us to update the event image frequently for the TRU community. 

Contact information: rmaisonneuve@tru.ca or njawa@tru.ca (Co-op coordinator international marketing and leader of the SMA team)

3. TRU Future Students Page: They have an Instagram to share information about the life of domestic students at TRU. They also have future student ambassadors to run social media accounts and create content. We can contact them for pre-event promotion and also invite them to the event to update event images for domestic students.

Contact information: trufuturestudents

4. Steve Marlow—Program coordinator at CFBX campus/community radio: He could assist us in creating a public service announcement so that the show hosts at the radio station can promote it on their show. We can promote our event to both TRU students and the community. 

Contact information: smarlow@thex.ca 

5. TRU Journalism and Communication Club: They can promote our event on the Journalism and Communication Club’s Instagram. It could be a story post, photo post, or reel of the event. We need to do promotions on this club because it will be beneficial to both students in this field and The Omega. 

Contact information: trusujourcommclub 

6. TRU newsroom: They can help us to distribute our press release to the students, faculty and staff. Because it’s a newsroom to report and post what’s happening at TRU.

Contact information: 250-828-5361 or newsroom@tru.ca 

7. Media Information Centre (Mic): They have an Instagram and a website to post events and information related to communication, art and journalism. We can contact them for the press release distribution and also event notice post. 

Contact information: mediainformationcentre 

8. TRU Faculty of Art: They have social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and X or Twitter. They usually promote events or information related to the Art program so we can reach more students, faculty and staff in the Art program for this event. 

Contact information: truartsfaculty  

9. Bulletin board: We can reach the wider TRU community because everyone can see it on the bulletin board. We mostly distribute in Old Main, Art and Education, Olara and HOL because a lot of people here.  
10. Nathan Lane— Executive director of TRU Students’ Union: They post and announce information related to the TRU community so we can reach more TRU students through them. 

Contact information: n.lane@trusu.ca  

11. Marina Radushynska—Digital account manager of Castanet Kamloops: For the community promotion, we need to contact a local news company to have a wider promotion. Marina could help to do event promotion on their social media, including Instagram and Facebook. 

Contact information: marina@castanetkamloops.net  or 250-572-6561

12. Shannon Mitchell—General Manager of Castanet Kamloops: Contacting Shannon to ask for permission to upload our press releases on Castanet Kamloops, which also raises more awareness for the wider community about our event. 

Contact information: shannon@castanetkamloops.net or 250-574-1195 

13. Kamloops Now: It can help us post press releases on their website and also do promotions on their social media accounts, Facebook, Instagram, and X or Twitter. As the local news company in Kamloops, they can promote our event to the wider community, especially the middle-aged age group. 

Contact information: Promotions@KamloopsBCNow.com 

14. James Peter – News director at CFJC: He can help us distribute our press release on the CFJC website, radio and also television. 

Contact information: james.peters@pattisonmedia.com 

15. Dylana Kneeshaw – Reporter at CFJC: We can invite her to our event so she can help us do a live interview or report what is happening during the event. 

Contact information: dylana.kneeshaw@pattisonmedia.com  

16. Emily Pearson – Events and Promotions Director at Radio NL: She can help us do an event promotion at the radio shows. 

Contact information: epearson@stingray.com 

To maximize the outreach of this relaunch event, we aim to promote it in different places, both inside and outside TRU. It includes local media outlets, TRU platforms, and social media. In addition, they also assist us in creating content to promote our event, updating what is happening during and after the event. When it comes to TRU reaching out to TRU stakeholders, we will cooperate with different clubs, students’ unions, newsrooms, and faculty for the promotion. For instance, social media ambassadors and people from the Future Student page will help us to create content and approach both international and domestic students. Moreover, we also distribute our press release or poster on the bulletin board in TRU by ourselves. Moreover, local media outlets, such as CFJC, Kamloops Now, Castanet Kamloops, and Radio NL, could distribute our press releases and promote the event on their social media platforms. Because we desire to have a wide outreach regarding demographics, we choose both newspaper and radio for this promotion campaign. Besides, they can even help us to update during and after the event. In particular, they can do a live interview at the event or write stories about the relaunch event after that. 

Bold New Era of The Omega

The Omega Relaunch Marks Its Resurgence

April 10th, 2025

The relaunch event of The Omega will take place at The Den restaurant from 9 to 12 am on April 10th, 2025. This event marks a new chapter for the publication, showcasing its significance to the TRU student body and the wider community. The manager, Sean Brady, and the editor-in-chief, Robert McAlaster, will give speeches about The Omega’s legacy, its current role, and its vision for the future at the event. There will be interactive booths and gifts for guests to immerse in the exciting atmosphere of the event. 

This event welcomes everyone in the community and TRU students to attend. From editor-in-chief Rober McAlster: “A relaunch started September 2023 because we were shuttered for about two and a half to three years during the pandemic we didn’t publish anything.” Although there was a relaunch in 2023, The Omega hadn’t had any official relaunch event. Therefore, this event will be the first relaunch ever of The Omega to mark its new chapter begins. There will be interactive booths, such as a live newsroom experience, photography, timeline and behind-the-scenes display booths. A live newsroom experience booth is a place where guests can have a journalist or writer experience. It will be a photography booth with a photographer to capture photos for people at the event. We also have the timeline and behind-the-scenes display booths so participants could have a better understanding of the history of Omega, and the process of publishing a newspaper. There is a site called readers’ opinion wall, where we will receive feedback, ideas or improvements for The Omega from participants. In addition, all the guests will have a chance to receive special gifts and have a food menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, which is unique burger flavours from The Den.  

The Omega is TRU’s independent student newspaper and a non-profit society with a mandate to publish news and information about TRU and its various communities. Additionally, TRU students produce all of the content. Moreover, The Omega serves as a record of what happens on campus. It attempts to capture the essence of the people here, including how they think, their concerns, their priorities and their visions. Furthermore, it also serves as a place for journalism students and other student writers to publish their work and build a portfolio to gain future employment. 

This is the first relaunch event of The Omega as it turns on a new page and moves to the next chapter. We promise to fulfill your experiences and knowledge in the most fascinating ways. Don’t miss The Omega relaunch event because it’s a great opportunity for students and the community to come closer. Join us now because your voices, trust and engagements matter to us, and don’t forget to check out our website, theomega.news, for the latest update. 

Le Nguyen Thao Do

LeDo12@gmail.com

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