About Outlook
Governance
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors' commitment to good governance led to their winning the 2009 National Leadership in Co-operative Governance Award from the Canadian Co-operative Association. The Board provides oversight and direction to the activities of Outlook Financial, and along with our parent company, Assiniboine Credit Union, operates effectively, ethically and transparently.
Back row: Vera Goussaert, Dennis Anderson, Rhonda Forgues, Wilbur Coates, Nicole Ritchot.
Front row: Annitta Stenning, Garry Loewen – Chair, Craig Lee, Susan Deane – Vice Chair, Margaret Day.
Garry Loewen - Chair
Garry has worked as a business person, parish minister and economic development director. He holds both Bachelor of Commerce and Master of Divinity degrees, and is currently a self-employed community economic development consultant. Garry was the founding Executive Director of the North End Community Renewal Corporation, the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, and SEED Winnipeg. For 10 years, he was the Community Economic Development Director for the Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba. He also spent 15 years with Air Canada where he was General Manager of their operations at Toronto International Airport. Garry has extensive board experience as the founding President of Opportunities for Employment, Treasurer of the Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council, and Treasurer of the Marquis Project. A long-time credit union member, Garry has served as Chair of the ACU Board for the past three years, and is an active participant on the Human Resources Policy & Compensation Committee and the Governance & Ethics Committee.
Susan Deane - Vice Chair
Susan is the College Director and Principal of the International College of Manitoba, located on the Fort Garry Campus of the University of Manitoba. Previously she worked for the Province of Manitoba as a Special Advisor in Family Services & Housing, and more recently as the Senior Manager in Advanced Education & Literacy. Susan holds a Masters Degree in Social Work. She is a past Board Chair of Assiniboine Credit Union and has several years of other board and volunteer experience at the local, national and international level. A credit union member for several years, Susan is the Vice Chair of the Board, and an active member of the Audit & Risk Committee and the Human Resources Policy & Compensation Committee. She is past Chair of the Community & Member Relations Committee and the Nominating Committee, and is also a past member of the Governance & Ethics Committee.
Dennis Anderson
Dennis was President of Brandon University between 1990 and 2000, and has extensive experience as a management consultant and business educator. He holds a BSc, an MBA, and a PhD in business. He has served on a number of corporate and public sector boards, including Centra Gas (Manitoba); the Governing Council of the National Research Council of Canada; Canadian Aboriginal Business Council (Manitoba Region); Brandon Chamber of Commerce; and the University of Swaziland; as well as several national, regional, and provincial boards of university presidents. A long-time credit union member, Dennis has served on the Assiniboine Credit Union Board for two years. He is currently Chair of the Human Resources Policy & Compensation Committee and has been a member of the Nominating Committee.
Wilbur Coates
Wilbur retired in 2004 after a 35-year career with Manitoba Telecom Services where he held executive and senior management positions. These included General Manager Internet, General Manager Directory, General Manager Operations and Regional General Manager. He holds a Diploma in Civil Technology from Red River College and a Certificate in Management from the University of Manitoba. A long-time credit union member, Wilbur has served on the boards of Decibel, Vantis and Assiniboine Credit Unions since 1985. He has served as Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Human Resources Policy & Compensation Committee for the past two years, as well as participating on the Audit & Risk Committee. Currently, Wilbur is the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and an active member of the Community & Member Relations Committee.
Margaret Day
Margaret is a part time Appeal Commissioner with the Worker’s Compensation Board Appeal Commission. She has also worked as a Health & Safety Officer for the Manitoba Government Employees Union. Margaret holds a Certificate in Health & Safety from the University of Manitoba and has taken several courses in the HR Management Program at the U of M. She is the past Chair of the Board of Buffalo Credit Union, and had held executive positions on that board since 1986. She is a past United Way Campaign Cabinet member representing the government division (labour), and is the past Vice President of the Bed & Breakfast Marketing Co-op. A long-time credit union member, Margaret has served on the Assiniboine board for the past two years as an active member of the Governance & Ethics Committee and the Community & Member Relations Committee. In addition, Margaret is the District 2 Delegate to the Credit Union Central of Manitoba Board.
Rhonda Forgues
Rhonda works as a Community Resource Coordinator for Aboriginal Communities and is the Coordinator of the Aboriginal Youth Strategy in the City of Winnipeg’s Community Services Department. She holds diplomas in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship, and has extensive training in community economic development. Previously, she worked as a Senior Project Officer in Aboriginal and Northern Affairs with the Province of Manitoba, and as the Aboriginal Programs Manager with SEED Winnipeg. She is a past board member of the Manitoba Community Services Council, past Stewardship Committee Campaign Chair with Kildonan United Church, past board member of Huron Child Care Inc. and Fundraising Chair. Rhonda has served on the Assiniboine board for the past two years as an active member of the Community & Member Relations Committee and the Nominating Committee.
Vera Goussaert
Vera is currently the Executive Director of the Manitoba Cooperative Association, and has worked as a Co-op Development Advisor with the Province of Manitoba, and as a Youth Program Officer – CIDA Intern with the Canadian Co-operative Association & the Credit Union Association of Ghana. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba. She has volunteered with The International Centre, Amnesty International, the Cooperative Youth Leadership Program, and Astra Credit Union. In addition, Vera serves on the SEED Winnipeg Board. A long-time credit union member, Vera has served on the Assiniboine board for the past two years. She is currently the Chair of the Nominating Committee and an active member of the Governance & Ethics Committee, and is a past member of the Community & Member Relations Committee.
Craig Lee
Craig is a retired Agricultural Economist whose last position was Assistant Deputy Minister with Manitoba Agriculture & Food. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree and has extensive board experience having served as Chair of the Board of Astra Credit Union and Chair of their Audit Committee. He also served on Astra’s Nominating Committee. Craig is also Board Vice-Chair, and Member of both the Audit and the Nominating Committees of the University of Winnipeg. In addition, he was the Board Vice-Chair and Finance & Audit Committee Chair of Augustana University College, as well as Board Chair and Treasurer of Kirkfield-Westwood Community Centre. A long-time credit union member, Craig has served on the Assiniboine board for the past three years as Chair of the Governance & Ethics Committee and as an active member of the Audit & Risk Committee. He has also participated on the Nominating Committee. In addition, Craig is the District 2 Chair and an Alternate Delegate to Credit Union Central of Manitoba.
Nicole Ritchot
Nicole retired from her 38-year public service career in 2007. At retirement, Nicole was the Regional Director of the Canadian Human Rights Commission’s Prairie and Nunavut region. Nicole has since joined TLS Enterprises, a Winnipeg-based consulting firm. Nicole has a wealth of board and volunteer experience with a variety of organizations including the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, E-Quality Communication Centre of Excellence, St. Vital French Immersion Parents’ Committee, Ecole Marie Anne Gaboury Parents’ Committee, St. Vital School Division’s Community Consultation Committee, Co-Chair Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Committee (Manitoba), Jeunesse Manitoba, and the Norberry Community Club. A long-time credit union and caisse populaire member, Nicole is a past Chair of Assiniboine Credit Union. Nicole has been a member or Chair of many of the board committees, and is currently the Chair of the Community & Member Relations Committee, and a member of the Nominating Committee. In addition, Nicole is the District 2 Vice Chair and Alternate Delegate to Credit Union Central of Manitoba.
Annitta Stenning
Annitta is the Past President & CEO of CentreVenture Development Corporation and past Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the City of Winnipeg. She is currently the Executive Director of CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. During the mid 90’s she worked for a privately owned agriculture sector company, eventually becoming the CEO. During her tenure the company was named one of Canada’s Top 50 Best Managed private companies. Annitta has extensive board and volunteer experience with organizations including the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council, Burns Foundation, St. Amant Centre, United Way, Manitoba Parks & Recreation Association, and the Millennium Library Community Campaign. Annitta is an active member of the Audit & Risk Committee and the Human Resources Policy & Compensation Committee.