2013 Order of Merit
Al Morin
Nominated by Assiniboine Credit Union
Al Morin, former CEO of Assiniboine Credit Union, joined the provincial credit union system in 1974, starting as a development coordinator with Credit Union Central of Manitoba (CUCM). He left in 1980 to take the position of chief operating officer with Assiniboine Credit Union (ACU), which had five branches and $90 million in assets. When he was appointed CEO in 1997, ACU had eight branches and $350 million in assets. Today, Assiniboine is Canada’s eighth-largest credit union, with $3.5 billion in assets, 550 staff, 24 branches and a network that includes dealer financing, virtual banking, wealth management and insurance.
Under Morin’s leadership, ACU has been an agent for change. It was the first credit union in Canada to hire a community economic development manager, and later, a VP of Corporate Social Responsibility and a Socially Responsible Investment Specialist. It established community loans funds, proactively supported a range of co-ops and neighbourhood revitalization and affordable housing efforts, made taxation service available to low-income families, opened branches in areas deemed unviable by banks, built green branches and won dozens of industry and community awards from myriad organizations. In 2012, ACU was the second financial institution in Canada invited to join the prestigious Global Alliance for Banking on Values.
Morin got behind projects, large or small, in which he saw benefit. He led the consortium of 10 credit unions that funded the MTS Centre, now home to the Winnipeg Jets. He was also Winnipeg’s first CEO to sign onto Winnipeg Transit’s EcoPass program.
He served the wider provincial and national systems with distinction. He was a CUCM director for 11-plus years, serving on most of its committees. He sat on the boards of Concentra, Credential, Ethical Funds and Northwest & Ethical Investments (chair). He currently chairs the Civil Service Superannuation Fund, served seven years on Red River College’s board (three as chair), and donated personal time and effort to launching the Jubilee Fund, which provides loan guarantees or bridge financing to worthy projects that don’t qualify for traditional financing.
Al has asked that the bursary attached to his award go to a student from Argyle Alternative School in Point Douglas.
Don Farr
Nominated by Minnedosa Credit Union
Don Farr, former general manager of Minnedosa Credit Union, joined the provincial system in 1990 after spending the first half of his career with the Bank of Nova Scotia. While a fairly late convert, he made up for lost time by quickly embracing Minnedosa Credit Union’s motto, “Community Owned, Community Minded.”
Farr excelled at community involvement, putting the face of the credit union on numerous community projects through sponsorship and personal involvement. A great supporter of chamber of commerce initiatives, he took on a leadership role on “Shop Local,” “Minnedosa Merchant Bucks,” “Christmas Cheque Program” and “Jeans for Charity” programs, the Terry Fox Run and Family Bonfire Night in the park. Farr served as fundraising chair for Minnedosa’s 125th Anniversary Homecoming in 2008 and was the parade marshall for over a decade. He was responsible for keeping Fun Fest, a treasured community event, alive. Under his personal direction and leadership, Minnedosa benefited from the credit union’s support of the Minnedosa Foundation, Community Conference Centre, library expansion, Community Child Care Co-op, golf course expansion, Expressions Concert Series and Rockin’ the Fields of Minnedosa.
Farr served alongside fellow town leaders with the Kinsmen, Elks and Rotary Club, and was vice-present and president of the chamber of commerce. Through his efforts, several public buildings including the arena, golf-curling complex and the 50-plus centre are all home to lifesaving defibrillator equipment.
He also served the wider credit union system with distinction. From 1996 to 2011 he coordinated the marketing committee of District 7, and served as district vice-chair from 2002 to 2009, when he was elected to represent District 7 on the CUCM board. For three years, until he was sidelined by health issues in 2012, Farr served on the investment committee, the system credit committee (alternate) and represented the board on the Manitoba Co-operative Association’s awards committee.
“Mentor, leader, colleague, friend; the name Don Farr is synonymous with community support and the Minnedosa Credit Union,” the credit union board stated in its nomination of Don for the Order or Merit award.
Don has asked that the bursary attached to his award go to a graduate of Minnedosa Collegiate Institute who is planning to pursue a career in health care.