“Profit pursued at any cost is neither acceptable nor sustainable. A business that pursues profits while demonstrating social, environmental, and ethical leadership is putting long term sustainability before short term gain and helping to build a successful business model based on the premise that people and the planet matter.”
Priscilla Boucher joined ACU in 2006 as Vice-President Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the first such position for a Canadian credit union. She provides leadership in the credit union’s overall commitment to corporate social responsibility. She leads the integration of social, environmental and ethical leadership into all areas of the business and is directly accountable for CSR and community investment policies, programs and products that solidify ACU’s position as a respected community partner and financial co-operative.
Priscilla brings to her role a strong commitment to community-based approaches that advance social justice, economic self-reliance and ecological sustainability.
In her first year at ACU, she played a key role in the launch of the Community Financial Services Centre in Winnipeg’s North End, and introduced ACU’s new Sustainable Communities grant program. In the recent merger of ACU with Astra and Vantis Credit Unions she provided leadership to integrate CSR into the newly merged credit union, and worked closely with the board to establish a strong governance structure. Most recently, she led the development of ACU’s long-term CSR strategy to demonstrate leadership in community renewal, environmental sustainability and the co-operative principles.
Her rich and extensive experience bridges the academic, community, and business sectors and includes over 10 years providing management services to micro and small businesses, co-operatives, and non-profits and 15 years at Canada’s largest credit union, Vancity, in Vancouver.
At Vancity, Priscilla led many of the initiatives that earned the 410,000-member credit union an international reputation as a leader in corporate social responsibility. Among these are the credit union’s Climate Change strategy, Shared World and Shared Growth community investment products, and an externally verified Accountability Report that is recognized as one of the best in the world. In recognition of her achievements, Vancity created the CSR Leadership Fund in her honour to support projects contributing to a socially just and environmentally sustainable economy.
Priscilla holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University, a Masters in Environmental Studies from York University, and a PhD from the University of British Columbia.
You can contact Priscilla directly at 204.258.3482 or pboucher@assiniboine.mb.ca
