News

CCUA Celebrates Credit Unions’ Female Leaders on this International Women’s Day

Published Date: Mar 7, 2023

On International Women’s Day (IWD) we celebrate the social, cultural, economic, and political achievements of women. As a values-based organization, supporting gender equality is deeply rooted within the fabric of CCUA and the credit union identity. To date, approximately 8% of all Fortune 500 companies are led by women. Within Canada’s financial sector, credit unions have been leaders in advancing gender parity, with 34% of Board of Directors and 30% of CEO/GM positions currently held by women.

At their core, credit unions across Canada have always been committed to fostering inclusion and empowering Canadians in the communities they serve. In 1961, credit unions became the first Canadian financial institutions to offer women loans without the need for a male co-signer, allowing them to take charge of their financial futures. Today, credit unions across Canada continue to uplift women in their professional journeys.

CCUA’s National Mentorship Program offers a women-focused stream to provide female employees and directors with additional support from industry leaders to take that next step in their professional careers.

Credit unions across Canada are also getting involved, with Vancity creating the Unity Women Entrepreneurs Program to offer loans to support women entrepreneurs. Similarly, Cape Breton Credit Union and Sydney Credit Union partnered to create a micro-lending program designed to help female entrepreneurs fund their business ventures.

Today, and every day, CCUA celebrates the remarkable achievements of women in leadership across the financial sector. However, as we continue to move forward on the road to true equality, we recognize that there is still more work to be done. Canada’s credit unions remain committed to eliminating the existing barriers that stand in the way of achieving true gender parity for all generations across Canada.

Below is a list of the female CEOs represented within Canada’s credit union system: