UCU Presence in Ottawa Elevated to Service Centre in OWCU

By John Pidkowich

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The Official Opening of the new Ottawa Service Centre of Ukrainian Credit Union Limited (UCU) was an auspicious occasion that drew a diverse and dynamic crowd of guests, held on April 25, 2013. The event heralds the importance of a new relationship with the Ottawa Women’s Credit Union (OWCU), within whose branch premises the new UCU service point is co-located at 271 Bank Street at Somerset Street West. This accessible and busy downtown location is just around the corner from the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada.

The UCU provides financial services to an already existing base of approximately 140 UCU members of the Ukrainian and general community in the Ottawa Area.

Among those present at the celebration were credit union members and supporters of the Ukrainian community, including members of the Ottawa-Gatineau Ukrainian National Federation, Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association, church parishes and other groups within the umbrella of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Ottawa Branch.

Earlier in the day, the UCU held an information session for invited local real estate agents about the UCU’s Agent Referral Program and Residential and Commercial Mortgage Services with speakers from UCU, including: Taras Pidzamecky, CEO; Diane Comtois, Credit Manager; Lana Rudenko, Acting Retail Credit Manager.

Nearing the completion of day’s banking hours around 4 pm., invited guests gathered around the foyer of the OWCU Branch, when an interdenominational moleben (traditional Eastern Christian prayer service) was jointly celebrated by Ottawa Area priests - the Very Rev. Dr. Peter Galadza (Ukrainian Greco-Catholic), Father Aleksandar Gujanicic (Serbian Orthodox), and Fr. Ihor Okhrimtchouk (Ukrainian Orthodox), who extended a generous Holy Water Blessing of the branch premises including its ATM and sprinkled all who gathered for the occasion.

Holly Hughes, OWCU General Manager, then cordially welcomed everyone and introduced representatives of the OWCU and staff. Candace Fedoruk, Vice Chair of OWCU and who is of Ukrainian heritage originally from Edmonton, took a more personal interest in UCU sharing a location with OWCU. Ms. Fedoruk said the UCU’s commitment to supporting and building the community is in line with the OWCU’s over 30 years’ support of women and the diverse Ottawa community who require financial services. The OWCU got its start providing financial services and loans not necessarily available to women elsewhere at that time and has evolved to embrace a broader commitment to social justice and local community engagement. Along with the ATM services, the OWCU has also grown stronger providing members with an extended network of support.

On the heels of the energy and enthusiasm espoused by Ms. Fedoruk, Taras Pidzamecky, UCU CEO, graciously thanked the OWCU to host the UCU Service Centre providing financial services to UCU members, and looking forward to a successful business relationship, one that is mutually beneficial to both credit unions and in the spirit of the cooperative movement. He gave a brief overview of negotiations leading to the agreement between the UCU and OWCU that entered discussions starting about one year ago. The OWCU branch location’s ATM service has provided access to UCU accounts since Fall 2012 and available through The Exchange banking system. Without delay, the anticipated moment arrived to open the UCU’s Ottawa Service Centre with the cutting of a “Blue and Yellow” ribbon officiated by OWCU and UCU executive representatives and board members.  Mr. Pidzamecky then introduced Kateryna Vyatkina, the new UCU Member Services Officer who will provide a personal UCU presence in Ottawa, operating on the UCU banking system from a dedicated counter space provided by OWCU.

To ride further on the momentum of an already charged opening, the occasion was given added vigour with a generous show of Ottawa community support by the UCU. The Pokrova Ukrainian Arts Network received a UCU donation of $2,500, accepted on behalf of Pokrova by Ksenia Bilaniuk and Ruslan Matthews, and presented by UCU Board Secretary Jerry Pryshlak from St. Catharines, Ont. and Board Member Greg Adamowich (Toronto).

Guests were welcomed to stay still a while longer after normal banking hours, when the branch “operated” as an event venue, allowing for more group shots and opportunity for visiting UCU members to try out their banking cards in the ATM! 

PHOTO

L. to R.: Holly Hughes, Candace Fedoruk, Jerry Pryshlak, Greg Adamowich, Taras Pidzamecky