The nearly 1,300 employees of First West Credit Union in BritishColumbia were among those who took advantage of Family Day, theprovince's inaugural holiday.

Observed on Feb. 11, the holiday was established in May 2012 inBritish Columbia to allow employees to spend time off with theirfamilies. The paid day off is currently practiced in five provincesin Canada.

In a survey of employees conducted days before Family Day byFirst West CU in Langley, B.C., which has $6.6 billion inassets under administration, 71% said they planned to spend timewith their families. Fifty-six percent of employees said they wereheading out of town for a quick family getaway.

Ten percent of First West employees said they planned to catchup on their to-do list of errands at home, and another 10% saidthey were getting active by hitting the ski slopes or going for arun.

More than 570 employees responded to the credit union'ssurvey.

“There is nothing more valuable to families than time together,”said Launi Skinner, CEO of First West. “That's why we recognize theimportance of Family Day and as our employee survey resultsindicate, 92% of our employees agree that having one extra day offis something they really appreciate.”

First West said it was the only company in British Columbia tooffer Family Day to its employees in 2012, one year before thestatutory holiday officially came into effect in the province. Theholiday is celebrated on the second Monday in February here.

“Our decision to offer Family Day as a paid holiday in 2012 wasour way of recognizing a team that regularly goes above and beyondto make a difference in the financial lives of our members and ourcommunities,” Skinner said. “Plus it was one more way for us tosay, our employees and their families matter.”

First West employees said they certainly welcomed the time off,the credit union said.

“I'm a father to three young children and I know that as aworking parent, it can be a challenge to find quality time withyour family,” said Jeff Knutson, branch manager at Envision Financial, a division of First West, who spent the daytubing down snow slopes at a local resort with his family.

Marion Henselwood, branch manager at Valley First, another division of First West, took in someskiing and eating out at a restaurant with her family.

“Not only do we get a much-needed break from the doldrums ofwinter, but we get to be with our loved ones,” Henselwood said.