Our History

In February, 2008 the membership of our five credit unions, Cypress River, Hartney, Tiger Hills, Turtle Mountain and Virden, voted overwhelmingly to amalgamate, which started a busy year, leading up to the October 1, 2008 official merger into this single entity—SunRise Credit Union Ltd.

Directors have been working with Management on developing operating policies and establishing the credit union officers and board committees for SunRise. At the Strategic Planning Session, the Directors established the Mission, Vision and Values for SunRise Credit Union.

As mentioned the official merger date was October 1, 2008 and by the second weekend in December the 5 banking system data bases had been merged into one, which gave our members access to their accounts at any of the twelve branches of SunRise Credit Union.

Thanks to our membership for their faith in approving the merger of our five credit unions into SunRise Credit Union and for your patience and continued support. Also, we want to assure you that - As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, we shall remain committed to our communities, our members and our staff.

CEO REPORT

What a year of change, thanks to the efforts of all our management and staff working together we have successfully merged five credit unions into one. Since our merger we are seeing transactions happening that we would have never been able to do individually.

2008 and 2009 have been exciting years; we not only experienced a successful merger but impressive growth as well. To us it is a testament of the confidence our members have in supporting the move to a larger organization and strengthening our position in all of our communities.

We look forward to continuing to build on established relationships and are excited about the opportunities to forge new relationships with our colleagues, members and communities.

In closing, I would like to thank the board of directors for their leadership and
co-operation, and the management and staff for their dedication and hard work over the last year.

History of Virden Credit Union Ltd

The Virden Credit Union was incorporated on June 26, 1940. In 1971, Virden Credit Union merged with Melita Credit Union. Virden Credit Union opened a branch in Reston in 1977 and Waskada in 1993.

In 2000, Virden Credit Union purchased the Bank of Montreal branch and business in Reston.

Past General Managers:

Melita Branch

Reston Branch

Waskada Branch

History of Cypress River Branch

Cypress River Credit Union was charted on May 5, 1960 with the original ten members being Milton Young Sr., Arthur Knisley, Walter Young, John Hyde, Irene (Bloomfield) Wiggett, Ann Margaret, Elinor Richmond, Alvin Anderson, Louise christie, Stanley Berry, and Arthur Mawby.

Managers over the years:

• Vi Knisley
• Jim Gardiner
• eorge Taggart
• Art Diehl
• Larry Barr
• Brian Gable
• Bev Ruston
• Bob Mitchell
• Barry Burkitt
  
• George Epp
• Lloyd Pierce
• Tim Klassen
• Present manager Bill Coder

In the early spring of 1997, the Baldur Economic Development committee approached the Board of Directors with a request to provide a credit union branch following the closure of the Royal Bank in Baldur. Plans for branching to Baldur were in full swing after approval from Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation, Credit union Central of Manitoba Orderly Development and acceptance by the members in November 1997. The branch opened for business two days a week on January 6, 1998 with the official opening on April 7, 1998.

Cypress River Branch

Baldur Branch

History of Hartney Credit Union

The Deleau Credit Union Society Ltd was formed in the spring of 1942 and until 1952 it was operated out of the home of Mr. & Mrs. R. G. Jasper with Mrs. Jasper (Naomi) acting as secretary-manager. In 1946 an auxiliary office was set up in Hartney at the Hartney Consumers Co-operative.

Past General Managers:

In 1965 the name was changed to Hartney Credit Union Society Ltd. and the office was moved to the site of the old post office building on Poplar Street. In Feb 1974 there was a fire in the Atkinson Equipment building next door and the credit union building sustained considerable damage. It was decided to renovate and enlarge the premises and build a vault at the back.

In June of 1988 the credit union took a major step going from a manual posting system to an on-line computer system. The credit union continued to grow and with the addition of new staff members soon outgrew its’ 900 square foot premises. After much discussion and deliberation the Board decided to build a new building. The lot at the corner of Poplar and Spencer beside the Post Office was purchased and construction began in the spring of 1997. The credit union opened for business in their new 2500 square foot premises on Feb. 21, 1998.

In January 2000 the Board was presented with the opportunity to purchase the assets of the Bank of Montreal in Hartney. It was felt that doing so would benefit the community, not only preserving jobs and business, but ensuring that Hartney would continue to have a financial institution in town. The credit union was closed for the conversion and transferring of the accounts on July 14, 2000 and reopened the following day having grown 150% in assets.

The credit union continued to grow and add products and services for our membership. At the request of our members an ATM was installed in August 2007. After numerous meetings in the fall of 2007 and early 2008 the Board decided it was in the best interests of our credit union to amalgamate with 4 other credit unions. A membership meeting was held on Feb. 25, 2008 and the members voted to proceed.

On October 1, 2008, after 66 years of operation, Hartney Credit Union became part of a new entity, SunRise Credit Union.

The history of Tiger Hills Credit Union

Tiger Hills Credit Union first opened August, 1943 with name Treherne & District Credit Union name changed in 1975 to Tiger Hills Credit Union Limited. Holland Branch opened October 21, 1974.

Past General Managers in Treherne:

• Ed Thiessen
• Marlene Down (appointed acting manager 5 months)
• Alvin Rempel
• Herman Devries
• Mike Gushulak
• Harry Bowler

Past Branch Managers in Holland:

• Larry Barr
• Don Patterson
• Herman Devries
• Tony Hutlet
• Neal Boyce
• James Knockaert

Treherne Branch

Holland Branch

Boissevain Branch

Early in 1940, residents of Wassewa and nearby school districts were meeting to study the operations of Credit Unions. On April 29, 1941 the Wassewa Credit Union was incorporated and held their first annual meeting on May 26, 1941.

Past General Managers:

On March 28, 1964 the name was changed to Boissevain Credit Union Society Ltd. In March 1980, a new office was officially completed and occupied. In 1989 after the closer of the bank, the Boissevain Credit Union opened a branch in Minto to provide services in our neighboring community. In October 2001 an amalgamation with the Turtle Mountain Credit Union at Deloraine was completed.

The “little acaorn” which was planted at Wassewa in 1941 has grown into a “great oak”. In 2006 the local Credit Union continues to be “a mutual help society”. Through the past years it has returned thousands of dollars to local people who, in turn, have invested in their local community. The Credit Union in all three communities continues as group of “people helping people”.

Minto Branch

Deloraine Branch