Coast Capital Savings Credit Union
“The business aspect of the program is important because the students learn how to work in a professional environment,” said Debi Dempsey. “After a year with this program, the students have skills that many of their peers haven’t had the opportunity to develop.” Coast Capital Savings is Canada's second largest credit union. It has 44 branches across the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island of British Columbia. It was the recipient of the 2004 Imagine Award for being the best corporate citizen in Canada’s financial services industry.
“Applying for the program was one of the best decisions of my life,” said Rob Davies, a former member of the Coast Community Youth Team. “This experience has made an incredible impact on my life both personally and professionally. My time as a Coast Community Youth Team member has given me the confidence and skills I need to succeed.”
Jemina Tolentino knows just what Rob is talking about. One of six Richmond students hired for the 2003/2004 Coast Community Youth Team, Jemina says the program also helped her to gain self-confidence and develop new skills.
“As part of the Coast Community Youth Team, I had the opportunity to become more involved in my community and to learn more about the financial services industry,” she said. “It’s a big commitment, but it’s a great job.”
Like Rob, Jemina chose to continue working for Coast Capital Savings after her one-year term ended.
“More than 165 students have gone through this program since 1993,” said Debi Dempsey, Community Relations Manager at Coast Capital Savings. “75 per cent of the students who join the Coast Community Youth Team continue to work for us after their term ends.”
Each year, Coast Capital Savings recruits 12 students on the Island, six in Richmond and six in Surrey for the program. These students are given countless hours of community relations training, which helps to prepare them for the more than 90 family-oriented events and parades that the Team attends across Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley every year.
The primary role of the students at these events is to interact with children through face painting, administering a child ID program and performing as the credit union’s mascot, Wally the Whale.
During their one-year term, the students are also required to complete a volunteer project. The 40 hours of volunteer time can be applied towards their graduation requirements.
The Island Coast Community Youth Team has participated in a cleanup of the Gorge Waterway in Victoria for a number of years. With the help of 100 volunteers, the Team pulled over two tonnes of waste from the Gorge Waterway in 2004, including lawn chairs, car parts and shopping carts.
The Team wrote a grant application to the city, canvassed local businesses for prizes, contacted past volunteers and organized the set up and clean up for the event.
For their volunteer project, the 2004/2005 Richmond Coast Community Youth Team chose to help landscape an undeveloped area for use as a community garden and park.
“It felt great to give something back to the community and when I visit in the future, I’ll know that I helped make that park possible,” said Martin Hui, a member of the 2004/2005 Richmond Coast Community Youth Team.
When the Team is not out at community events, the students work in the branches as Customer Service Representatives.
The Youth Advisory Committee was developed in 1993 by Pacific Coast Savings as a way for the credit union to get involved in local community events while providing a unique job opportunity to youth on Vancouver Island.
When Pacific Coast Savings became Coast Capital Savings in 2000, the program was expanded to include Richmond and Surrey and renamed The Coast Community Youth Team.
“The program has been a tremendous success,” said Debi Dempsey, Community Relations Manager, Coast Capital Savings. “It is truly a delight to mentor these young people and watch them grow and develop.”
For more information on the Coast Community Youth Team, visit www.coastcapitalsavings.com.
