Canadian credit unions win national award for merger communications

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Coast Capital Savings and Surrey Metro Savings credit unions and GPC International, a communications and public relations firm, were each awarded a Silver Leaf Award of Excellence for internal communications during the merger of Coast Capital Savings and Surry Metro Savings. Coast Capital Savings, the second largest credit union in Canada, also won an additional Silver Leaf Award of Merit for the CU's annual report. The Silver Leaf awards are granted by the International Association of Business Communications. They recognize best communications practices in Canada. The Award of Excellence of internal communications was given to Coast Capital Savings and Surrey Metro for their merger communication initiatives designed for the benefit of employees and members during the period leading up to and including the merger of the two CUs. Among the initiatives were printed materials, advertising, information sessions, and internal and external Web sites. A Web site - www.anevenbettercredit union.com - was set up to provide members and the public with a source for updated information on the merger. Coast Capital Saving's 2000 annual report, the first issued after the merger of Richmond Savings and Pacific Coast Savings, to form Coast Capital Savings, also won an award of merit. Coast Capital Savings has 42 branches, $6 billion in assets and 300,000 members.