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Online voting takes place January 19 - March 6, 2018.

2018

As a credit union member, you have a voice. One of the many benefits of credit union membership is your ability

to vote for the Connect First Credit Union Board of Directors. As

a member-owned, member-led institution, our Board is comprised

of your fellow members; members you choose through an annual

voting process.

DIRECTOR ELECTION GUIDE FOR MEMBERS

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About Connect First Credit Union As a credit union, we’re different than a bank – and we like it that way.

At Connect First Credit Union, we spend our days helping our members

achieve their financial aspirations through three trusted local brands

– First Calgary Financial, Chinook Financial and Legacy Financial –

and a community-focused approach to banking that’s true to our

co-operative principles.

Over 75 years ago, we started from humble beginnings. Through

the years, we’ve grown to become one of Alberta’s leading financial

institutions through a desire to connect the dots between members’

dreams, goals, communities, and their financial wellness. We believe

that banking is about more than money − it’s a cornerstone of every

vibrant community and our members expect us to positively impact

the financial success and viability of the places we call home.

A Little More On Our Business • Connect First Credit Union is the tenth largest credit union in

Canada and second largest in Alberta, with over $4.5 billion in

assets under administration.

• We serve over 104,000 members at 29 locations in 14 communities

across southern Alberta. Members aren’t numbers. They’re our

neighbours, and our partners. And their needs always come first.

• We invest meaningfully in the potential and well-being of our

communities. We have honest conversations, about real things,

as real people.

• Our members are owners and they have a say in how we operate,

they earn dividends on common shares and investment shares,

and they have access to an extensive array of financial products

and services.

Connect First Credit Union Has Been Named: • One of Canada’s Best Managed Companies (every year since 1996)

• A Top Employer in Alberta (since 2006)

• One of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures (2013-2016)

• 2016 Credit Union of the Year

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MISSIONTO MAKE MONEY MAKE A DIFFERENCEWe deliver a meaningful impact to our members and communities

in the ways that makes sense to them.

VISION TO BE ALBERTA’S NEIGHBOURHOOD CREDIT UNIONWe’re growing, and focused on making our members’ financial dreams and goals come true.

Connect First Credit Union’s Board Of DirectorsThe Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of Connect

First Credit Union, as well as establishing policy and direction in

accordance with our bylaws and the Alberta Credit Union Act.

Every Board member has a fiduciary responsibility to act honestly

and in good faith in the best interests of Connect First Credit Union,

and to exercise the due care, diligence, and skill that a prudent

person would exercise in similar circumstances.

Election Of Directors The Board follows a rigorous endorsement process to determine

candidate eligibility, including in-person interviews with each

candidate. We use an endorsement process to help members visibly

identify which candidates possess the published skills, qualifications

and diversity the Board is looking for. This year the Nominations

Committee endorsed all 10 candidates.

In our 2018 Director Elections, there will be five (5) positions available;

four (4) three-year term positions and one (1) one-year term position.

The Board candidate who receives the fifth greatest number of votes

will be allocated the one-year term position.

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Desired Skills/ExpertiseAnnually, the Board reviews the skills and experience set represented

on the Board to determine its future and ongoing needs. This year,

we are looking for individuals who can contribute to the governance

of the credit union through the following professional skills, expertise,

or background.

Regional Representation The unique perspectives and experiences individuals bring from living

in rural southern Alberta, or outside a major urban centre.

Finance A background in overseeing the financial operations of a complex

organization, or demonstrated ability to understand and interpret

financial statements, knowledge of audit practices, accounting

background, or equivalent educational experience.

Governance Knowledge and experience in governance gleaned from participating

on other Boards either as a senior leader or Board member.

An understanding of the types of decisions made by Boards, fluency

in appropriate Board conversations and fiduciary duties of Boards.

Information Technology (IT) Governance Oversight Knowledge and experience in the strategic use of IT. Breadth of

oversight would extend to major IT investments/opportunities and

understanding of the major risk areas of IT to which a financial

institution is exposed.

Get To Know The Candidates Better…

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Ossie SheddyENDORSED

To view Ossie’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection

My name is Ossie Sheddy, and I am asking for your support in the

upcoming 2018 Connect First Credit Union Director Election.

With 48 years in the newspaper industry and 42 years of marriage

to a nice girl who grew up on the same street I did, supporting local

businesses that care about their community holds a special interest in my

heart. As a good corporate citizen, Connect First Credit Union embraces

ongoing advances in technology, with a desire to remain local in scope,

recognizing how important it is to meet the needs of members and I have

the necessary experience, dedication and time to offer a very dynamic

organization such as this one.

Connect First Credit Union is unique as it serves over 104,000 members

from both urban and rural locations, and is the second largest credit union

in Alberta. My exposure to Chinook Financial is through the Drumheller

location, and it is great to watch it evolve in today’s financial framework,

providing their services to members in a professional manner, dependent

upon their individual needs.

I want to contribute to their momentum and offer what I can professionally

while learning from the many teachings the organization can offer. I hope

my contribution to my town and to my province with over 43 years in

volunteer capacities covers the spectrum of qualifications that Connect

First Credit Union is seeking. As part of your Board, I will have your best

interests in mind at all levels, and will give back to a province and a

country that I have often called the best in the world.

“Supporting local businesses that care about their community

holds a special interest in my heart.”

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Kevin Van KoughnettENDORSEDTo view Kevin’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection

I’ve been a Connect First Credit Union Director since 2011, serving

on all Board committees including chairing Audit and Finance for

3 years. My promise to you is to ensure that decisions the Board

makes are in the best interests of our members, our employees

and our local communities.

Overall, my educational and professional background combined with long

term credit union experience provides a solid basis for being a Director.

I retired in 2012 after a 37 year career as a professional engineer and in

senior business development positions in the electricity industry. I was

responsible for corporate, project, and regulatory finance and economics

including investment monitoring and analysis as well as executive

support, strategic planning, Board reporting, regulatory evidence

preparation, and special projects. My education is a Bachelor of Science

in electrical engineering from Queen’s University and a Masters of Business

Administration from the University of Calgary.

As Board Member of the Southwest Alberta Sustainable Communities

Initiative, I have a unique understanding of how urban and rural community

needs come together. In 2012, I was on the Board of the Animal Rescue

Foundation of Alberta to improve their governance while giving back to

a worthy cause.

I’ve been a credit union member for 33 years and a Director on two credit

union Boards totaling 28 years. I am passionate about and understand credit

unions, and bring extensive experience and expertise to being a Director.

Thank you for your consideration.

To Learn More About Kevin Visittransalta.com/about-us/history/100-years-100-people/2000-2009/

sasci.squarespace.com/renewable-energy-kevin-van-kou/

glenbow.org/collections/stories/eckersley-diary/index.cfm

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Ross Goldsworthy ENDORSED

To view Ross’ candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection

I have been involved with the credit union system since 2008 and am

a strong believer in the credit union principles. Connect First Credit

Union is a great credit union with strong leadership, which is why

I’ve decided to run for their Board of Directors.

As the former Vice Chair of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee

Corporation (CUDGC, the Alberta Government Regulator), Chair

Governance and Human Resources Committee, and member of the

Audit and Risk Management Committees, I bring a strong background

in regulatory governance to the Board.

My nine years with CUDGC allowed me to regularly interact with urban

and rural credit unions and understand the incredible impact credit unions

have in their communities. As a Chartered Professional Accountant with

experience in Information Technology, cybersecurity governance and

oversight, I have a unique insight to the intricacies of this continuously

evolving industry.

The last 10 of my 25+ years with CN Rail were at the executive level

and since 2007 I have operated my own business advisory services firm.

I will bring my extensive Board experience, work history and education in

helping Connect First Credit Union achieve its vision of becoming Alberta’s

neighbourhood credit union. I ask you for your support when you vote

between January 19 - March 6, 2018.

Thank you for your consideration.

“I will bring my extensive Board experience, work history and

education in helping Connect First Credit Union achieve its vision.“

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Louis Grenier ENDORSED

To view Louis’ candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection

As a proud and satisfied member of First Calgary Financial and

other credit unions since the 1960s, I would be honoured to serve

and devote my time, energy, skills and expertise to Connect First

Credit Union’s Board.

I believe that the cooperative and credit union business models offer the

best means to enrich members’ lives, meet their needs, and care for the

community. I wish to ensure that they continue to grow in order to serve

the members and our communities. That is why I obtained an MSc in the

Management and Development of Cooperatives.

As a former Alberta Board Development Program (BDP) Instructor,

I understand Board Member roles, and their legal and ethical

responsibilities. I have served on Boards dealing with economic,

community economic and community development on the national,

provincial, regional, and local levels. I understand the importance of being

prepared ahead of Board and Committee meetings in order to fully and

effectively serve our member’s needs.

Most of the last 34 years of my work life have been spent with

organizations seeking to enrich people’s lives. I would like to serve as

a member of Connect First Credit Union’s Board of Directors to help

ensure that our credit union will continue helping families like mine,

establish roots and stability in our communities.

Thank you for your support.

Connect with Louis

Louis Grenier @LouisGrenier

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Carey Taubert, CPA, CCD, B.Comm ENDORSED

To view Carey’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection

I have a passion for the health of our “neighbourhood” credit union.

It’s at the core of my community of Hussar and it has been my

sincere pleasure to serve as a Director for the past 11 years with

constant dedication to ensure our rural members have a voice

at the Board table.

In the past, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the Board as

the Board Secretary, Chair of the Audit & Finance Committee and

member of the Governance and Nominations committees.

I am a self-employed Chartered Professional Accountant, who recently

completed the Certified Credit Union Director Program to show my

commitment to serving this thriving organization. I am proud that Connect

First Credit Union was announced as “Credit Union of the Year” for 2016

and honored to be a part of it.

As a seasoned Director of Connect First Credit Union, I have a strong

understanding of the governance structure and openly advocate for

the credit union system as a whole. I annually attend the Alberta Central

Conference to strengthen my relationships within the credit union

system and advocate for our members.

Connect First Credit Union’s vision to be “Alberta’s neighbourhood credit

union” strongly resonates with my personal values as I volunteer extensively

for the betterment of our community. I strongly believe in our values-based

way of caring about our members and our rural and urban communities.

I am committed to representing you, our members.

“I strongly believe in our values-based way of caring about our members and our

rural and urban communities.”

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Bas Wheeler ENDORSED

To view Bas’ candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection

I’m running for the Board of Directors because I believe in our

credit union. I have the education, experience, time and energy

to be a strong contributor to the Board.

With 20 years experience in the credit union system as Vice President,

Chief Information Officer, Executive Vice President, and Chief Executive

Officer, I had many responsibilities in Information Technology, Marketing,

Human Resources, and Communications. I spent 12 years as a consultant

to credit unions, to regional and national financial institutions as well as

to other industries. I was responsible for up 350 staff, annual operating

budgets up to $60 million and capital budgets up to $100 million.

I collaborated with Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions,

Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation, and other external audits

as a senior executive and served on a number of for-profit and not-for-

profit Boards, including as Governance Committee Chair.

Additionally, I was a consultant to a number of organizations on Board/

management governance issues, and carried out ‘Value for Money’ IT

audits for credit unions, other FIs, and other industries as well as an

executive responsible for several multi-million dollar IT projects. My

experience in IT oversight and governance as a CIO, CEO and consultant

was strengthened by my undergraduate degree in Economics and

Commerce, and Master’s degree in Business Administration.

My community involvement includes volunteer service with the

United Way, the Prostate Cancer Centre and the Calgary Food Bank,

among others. As a credit union member for the past 30 years, I look

forward to serving you as your representative on the Board of Directors.

Thank you for your consideration.

“I’m running for the Board of Directors because I believe in

our credit union.”

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Doug van SpronsenENDORSEDTo view Doug’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection

I’ve had the pleasure of serving on the Board of Directors for

Connect First Credit Union since 2013 and it’s been an honour to serve

our credit union and our members. Growing up in a small town, I have

witnessed firsthand the amazing impact a credit union can have on

the local community.

As a local business owner, I understand the dynamic nature of our

business and how it impacts our communities and I’m committed

to ensuring the credit union continues to serve its local community

members and organizations.

During my time as a Connect First Credit Union Board Director, I acted

as Chair of the Human Resources Committee, Chair of the Nominations

Committee, Vice-Chair of the Risk Committee and Vice-Chair of the

Governance Committee. Looking forward to the years ahead, as a

credit union we face stiff competition, increased regulation and a host

of other challenges. My diverse committee experience has enabled me

to understand our credit union from the inside out and help us navigate

the next three years.

My background in the technology industry provides me with firsthand

experience of the risks and complexities of IT environments and the

impact the constantly shifting technology landscape has on Connect First

Credit Union. I will continue to work hard to ensure our members’ voices

are being represented in all aspects of our business, especially as they

relate to member experience, growth and information technology.

Thank you for taking part in the director election process, I appreciate your

time and consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to represent our

members as we continue to build our credit union.

“I will continue to work hard to ensure that our members’ voices

are being represented.”

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Cindy Skrukwa ENDORSED

To view Cindy’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection

Thank you for considering me for Connect First Credit Union’s Board

of Directors. I offer a record of business success, strong credit union

sector experience, and a passion for helping others.

In 1991, I graduated as the top MBA student from the Ivey School of

Business. Ever since, I have created and led successful business strategies

for many organizations. My clients have included international Fortune 500

financial institutions and, closer to home: ATB Financial, North Peace Credit

Union, Bridgewater Bank and Celero Solutions – a banking technology

provider for credit unions. I help organizations understand and adapt to

rapidly changing environments. My expertise in understanding banking

product and technology trends will be a key strength for the Connect First

Credit Union Board.

My personal values match credit union values. In my 30’s, I wrote “She

Laughed all The Way to the Bank,” as a labour of love, to inspire young

Canadian women to make good financial decisions. I volunteer extensively.

I’ve been a Big Sister, Boy Scouts treasurer, organizer of over 15 silent

auction fundraisers, and Board member of Peer Support Services for

Abused Women. I also founded a private refugee sponsorship group

in 2015, raising over $27,000 and taking the lead in welcoming a refugee

family to Canada.

I care about people, I’m passionate about business, and I hope, with

your vote, to be able to contribute to Connect First Credit Union’s

continued success.

My name is Cindy Skrukwa and I hope you’ll vote for me. Thank you.

Connect with Cindy

Cindy Skrukwa @strategyhouseca

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Andrew Eberl ENDORSED

To view Andrew’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection

It’s been an honour and pleasure to serve as the Board Chair for

Connect First Credit Union’s Board of Directors for the past 2 years.

I was first elected to the Board of Macleod Savings & Credit Union

(2003), leading the credit union through future mergers with Chinook

Financial (2010), First Calgary Financial (2015) and Legacy Financial

(2017) as Board Chair.

I’ve gained valuable experience serving as a member of the Governance,

Risk and Human Resources committees and Board Chair. This experience,

my education in agriculture and business, the many credit union courses

I have taken and the governance designations I have received, have

equipped me to effectively serve as a Director of the credit union.

My family and I have been proud to call the Claresholm area home for

60 years. The credit union has always played an important role in the

success of our family farm and for many others just like us.

I’m proud to have been part of Connect First Credit Union’s past

successes and am eager to be part of its future success. With strong

leadership, I believe we can continue to “Make Money Make a Difference”

in the lives of southern Albertans.

I’m hopeful for your support. Thank you for your consideration.

“With strong leadership, I believe we can continue to “Make Money Make a Difference” in the lives of

southern Albertans.”

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John Lindsay ENDORSED

To view John’s candidate video please visit connectfirstcu.com/directorelection

It’s my pleasure to be running for a Connect First Credit Union

Board position and I’m grateful for endorsement by the

Nomination Committee.

I’ve been a proud credit union member for 35-years, the last 9 years

have been spent as a Board member of Legacy Savings & Credit Union

(which recently merged with Connect First Credit Union). During my

service to Legacy Savings, I sat on every Board committee, chairing

many committees.

My employment background includes over thirty-four years in municipal

management with a focus on property appraisal. As well as, over

twenty-five years of service on professional Boards and committees

in Canada and the United States. Through my career, Board and

committee activities, I have garnered the skills and experience sought

by Connect First Credit Union including; strategic planning, technology

project oversight, risk analysis and mitigation.

I’ve enjoyed the past few months serving our members on the

Connect First Credit Union Board and, with your support would like

to continue to represent the best interests of our 104,000 members

across southern Alberta. Thank you for your consideration.

“During my service to Legacy Savings, I sat on every

Board committee, chairing many committees.”

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How To VoteStart by visiting ConnectFirstCU.com/DirectorElection. From here,

you can enter our voting site where you’ll be prompted to provide your

member number and postal code to cast your vote. While you’re here,

you can view each candidate’s personalized video before making

your selection.

Note If you have any difficulties logging on, please contact the

Member Care Centre.

Chinook Financial Member Care Centre 1.844.685.6225

First Calgary Member Care Centre 1.866.923.4778

Legacy Financial Member Care Centre 1.844.753.7900

For every vote cast, a donation will be made to a local charity!

EligibilityTo cast a vote, members must meet the eligibility requirements

as of October 31, 2017:

1 Be 18 years of age or older

2 Be a member in good standing as of the voting cut-off date

3 Must have $1.00 in common shares

4 The signer on a business account is able to submit a vote on

their personal membership as well as on the business membership

Election results will be shared at the Annual General Meeting at TELUS Spark

on March 14, 2018.

Think Big.We embrace new ideas to create the greatest possible value for our members.

Act Local.We actively seek out local ways to positively impact the communities we live, work and thrive in.

Make It Easy.We listen, seeking to understand and find every opportunity to make your experiences with us helpful and easy.

Take Charge.We succeed when you succeed. We’re accountable, and take ownership over situations to deliver results.

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