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.
- April 28, 2011: The results of Outlook Financial's parent company, Assiniboine Credit Union's annual elections were announced at the Annual General Meeting held April 27, 2011 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Members elected Dennis Anderson (incumbent), Vera Goussaert (incumbent), and Crystal Laborero to fill the three three-year terms.
If you have any questions for the board about the governance of Outlook Financial's parent company, Assiniboine Credit Union, you can contact the Board Chair by email at BoardChair@acugovernance.ca or any director at board@acugovernance.ca.
2011-2012 Board of Directors
Garry Loewen – Chair
Susan Deane – Vice Chair
Dennis Anderson
Wilbur Coates
Margaret Day
Vera Goussaert
Crystal Laborero
Craig Lee
Brendan Reimer
Nicole Ritchot
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 four 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. Prior to her current position, she worked for the Province of Manitoba as a Special Advisor in Family Services & Housing, and later 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 Human Resources Policy & Compensation Committee. She is a past Chair of the Community & Member Relations Committee and the Nominating Committee, and is also a past member of the Governance & Ethics Committee, the Audit & Risk Committee and the Community & Member Relations 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 is currently the Chair of the Human Resources Policy & Compensation Committee and an active member of the Audit & Risk Committee. He has also participated on 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, as well as participating on the Audit & Risk Committee, the Community & Member Relations Committee and the Nominating Committee. Currently, Wilbur is the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and an active member of the Governance & Ethics 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 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 three years. She is currently an active member of the Audit & Risk Committee and the Nominating Committee. She has also participated on 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. In 2011, Margaret graduated from the Institute of Corporate Directors governance program.
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 is currently a Board member for SEED Winnipeg. A long-time credit union member, Vera has served on the Assiniboine board for the past three years. She is currently the Chair of the Nominating Committee and an active member of the Governance & Ethics Committee. She is a past Chair of the Community & Member Relations Committee and the Nominating Committee. In addition, Vera is the District 2 Vice Chair and Alternate Delegate to Credit Union Central of Manitoba.
Crystal Laborero
Crystal is currently Director, Human Resources with Tribal Wi-Chi-Way-Win Capital Corporation. She has worked ten years with the Royal Bank, including opening the first on-reserve branch in Manitoba. Crystal was also the Founding CEO of Aski Financial and Director of Aboriginal Relations for the United Way of Winnipeg. She has worked with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and Business Council of Manitoba, and is the first Aboriginal woman in Manitoba history to be appointed Chair of the Manitoba Women's Advisory Council. Newly elected to the Board, Crystal is currently an active member of the Community & Member Relations Committee and the Nominating 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, Chair of their Audit Committee. He also served on Astra’s Nominating Committee. Craig is also Board Chair, Member of 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 four years and is currently the Chair of the Governance & Ethics Committee and an active member of the Community & Member Relations Committee. He has also participated on the Nominating Committee and the Audit & Risk Committee. In addition, Craig is the District 2 Chair and an Alternate Delegate to Credit Union Central of Manitoba.
Brendan Reimer
Brendan is currently the Regional Co-ordinator (Prairies & Northern Territories) for the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, a position he has held for the past eight years. He has worked for the Mennonite Central Committee – Manitoba, taught a “Management of Non-Profits” course at the University of Winnipeg’s School of Business and Administration, and was a manager/owner of a sporting goods and collectables business. He is a past board member of the Manitoba Federation of Non-Profit Organizations and a past Chair and board member of L.I.T.E. (Local Investment Toward Employment). He is currently active with Make Poverty History Manitoba and the Social Enterprise Council of Canada. Brendan, a long time ACU member, was recently appointed to the ACU Board and is currently an active member of the Community & Member Relations Committee and the Human Resources Policy & Compensation Committee.
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 is currently the Chair of the Community & Member Relations Committee, and a member of the Audit & Risk Committee. She has also participated on the Nominating Committee and the Human Resources Policy & Compensation Committee.