February 22, 2023 - Keeping your information safe with Mimecast
Keeping our member’s information safe is a top priority at Conexus and we are always looking for ways to increase security. Email is one of the most attacked platforms by hackers and fraudsters therefore it demands the strongest possible protection. That’s why Conexus is launching a new way to send privileged information to members through Mimecast.What is Mimecast?
Mimecast is a secure messaging portal that provides email protection, keeping your information safe from any potential threats. These are just a few of the things that using Mimecast helps us protect your information from:
- Phishing & Ransomware
- Social Engineering
- Payment fraud; and
- Impersonation
How does it work?
When receiving a message through this secure messaging portal you are only allowed to a read and/or respond to the message by logging in with an email address and password. Messages can’t be accessed until these steps take place. When a secure message is sent, the recipient will receive an email notification that they have a new message in the portal and can access it by logging in.
How does it impact me?
If you’re receiving sensitive communications and/or files from us by email it will now be through this new secure technology. Which means you will be redirected to the portal and be required to login before accessing the message.
For more information on this new secure messaging portal (Mimecast) and how to use it visit the Support Page on our website or reach out to our Member Contact Centre at 1-800-667-7477.
February 19, 2023 - Conexus Financial Sponsor of Saskatchewan Winter Games
Conexus is proud to be the financial sponsor of the 2023 Saskatchewan Winter Games (SWG), which includes providing on site merchant services. Aside from cheering on the athletes, we will also be testing the financial knowledge of the athletes, officials, volunteers, and spectators with an interactive game called “How FinLit Are You?” with the chance to win a $1,000 RESP. We are happy to support and build competent youth in our communities alongside the SWG by providing financial literacy resources and we are committed to investing in community initiatives that build our future leaders of Saskatchewan.
Located in Regina this year from February 19-25, 2023, the Saskatchewan Winter Games provides opportunity for the province's developing athletes, coaches, and officials to participate in a multi-sport event in preparation for higher levels of competition. Learn more about how they are building SK’s future leaders at https://saskgames.ca/winter.
Can't make it out to watch? Cheer from the comfort of your home with HomeTeam Live (a Cultivator GROW company) streaming the Games live for free. Grab your snacks and watch here: https://app.hometeamlive.com/#/home
February 15, 2023 - New Funding Opportunity for Non-Profits!
The Government of Canada has announced a new program called the Community Services Recovery Fund (CSRF). This new program will provide funding to support non-profit organizations and Indigenous Governing Bodies as they adapt and modernize their operations for a post-COVID world.
The approved uses of funding are centered around “one-time projects” that include investing in systems and processes, investing in people, and investing in program/service innovation and redesign.
If your organization has a strategic project or initiative that you’ve wanted to undertake but couldn’t because of the pandemic or other barriers, this new program might be for you!
For more information on the program, eligibility, and how to apply, visit this site: Community Services Recovery Fund.
February 13, 2023 – Let’s Celebrate Canada’s Agricultural Day on February 15!
Canada’s Ag Day is a day to celebrate the food we love and the people who produce it. It’s an opportunity to engage in authentic conversations about food and agriculture. Our ag members continue to make our province a place for growth and innovation so we would like to share our appreciation and say thank you. Not only for choosing us to support them with their financial goals but for the delicious food they put on our tables every day.
At Conexus we’re proud to help our ag members succeed because when they succeed so do we! On Feb. 8, 2023 it was announced that, for the third year in a row, Saskatchewan has broken the record for agri-food exports in Canada, with a total value of $18.4 billion in 2022. Go Sask!
Check out our social channels for some Canadian Ag Day celebrations or see how others across the province are celebrating by searching the hashtag #CdnAgDay!
Fun fact! Saskatchewan was the lead in 2022 for exporting canola oil, non-durum wheat, canola seed, lentils, durum, and dry peas.
To see how Saskatchewan contributed to Canadian Agriculture in 2021 check out this Agriculture Sector Overview from Saskatchewan.ca – we think you’ll be impressed!
February 7, 2023 - Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation and Conexus Credit Union Announce New Partnership
Conexus Credit Union and the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation are proud to announce a new partnership, making Conexus the presenting sponsor for the Game Changers Playbook and Win With Wellness player presentation series.Unveiled in October of 2022, the Game Changers Playbook presented by Conexus is a collection of Ministry of Education approved mental health resources. With a goal of empowering and equipping youth to look after their mental wellness, the Foundation works collaboratively with leading mental health wellness organizations to provide the resources at no cost.
The Win With Wellness presentation series, brings trained player ambassadors into Saskatchewan classrooms to present on and promote the discussion of mental wellness in youth. These presentations are designed to break the stigma of talking about mental health and show students that anyone can face these struggles – even a Saskatchewan Roughrider.
If you think that a school in your area could benefit from the Game Changers Playbook or Win With Wellness player presentations, let them know that all tools in the playbook are available for scheduling immediately. They are able to learn more here.
January 30, 2023 – Conexus wins 2023 Best Banking Service Level Experience Award by Surviscor
For the third year in a row, Conexus is the proud recipient of the award for Best Banking Service Level Experience by Surviscor. Ranking #1, Conexus provides the best member service experience amongst Canadian digital banking firms. Surviscor is a North American leader in the analysis and ranking of Canadian digital customer experiences. Now in its 18th year, the review by Surviscor analyzes digital service interaction methods and availability including both desktop and mobile platforms.
Receiving this recognition highlights the difference we’re making with our members and communities in improving their financial well-being. We’re honoured and proud to receive this award as it reflects our commitment to continually enhancing the member experience with Conexus. To learn more about Conexus’ award recognitions, visit https://www.conexus.ca/AboutConexus/WhoWeAre/.
January 17, 2023 - The Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan and Conexus Credit Union Announce Partnership to Create the Dementia Friendly Communities Project
The Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan (ASOS) and Conexus Credit Union (Conexus) are excited to announce a new three-year partnership focused on increasing supports for Saskatchewan residents living with dementia. As part of the partnership, Conexus will be investing a total of $120,000 towards the creation of the Dementia Friendly Communities Project, an initiative aiming to offer educational activities and resources to individuals and families in Saskatchewan who are living with dementia. Conexus will also be sponsoring ASOS’ annual Understanding Dementia community presentation, which takes place during Alzheimer's Awareness Month each January.
In Saskatchewan, there are over 20,000 people who are currently impacted by dementia, with this number expected to increase in the next several years as the province’s population continues to age. According to ASOS, by 2038 the overall economic burden of dementia will be more than $152 billion nationally.
“Research shows us that roughly 60 percent of people with dementia live in their communities and want to remain connected and involved in the places they call home. The Dementia Friendly Communities Project is about making that aspiration of staying connected to community an everyday reality for those living with dementia,” said Celina Philpot, CEO of Conexus. “We know that it’s far more challenging to enhance the financial wellness of our members when they’re struggling to meet their basic human needs. This new partnership offers the potential to positively impact the lives of people living with dementia and their families in communities across Saskatchewan through education and support.”
“The Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan is extremely excited about our new partnership with Conexus Credit Union. We believe this partnership between Conexus and ourselves will positively impact the lives of people living with dementia and their care partners in communities throughout Saskatchewan,” said Joanne Bracken, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan. “We are appreciative of their sponsorship of our Understanding Dementia community presentation on January 24 with Dr. Kirk, a renowned neurologist from the University of Saskatchewan. This annual online event is our largest and most significant public awareness event, and we are very pleased to welcome Conexus as our presenting sponsor.”
Together, ASOS and Conexus hope to further cultivate a support network around people living with dementia and their families, to ensure everyone can live well in our communities. We recognize there is strength in numbers, and that the stronger the support network, the better job we can all do to help a person living with dementia live their best life.
If you’d like to learn more about dementia, you can sign up for ASOS’ free Understanding Dementia webinar, taking place on Tuesday, January 24 at 7 p.m.
December 30 - Apply for our Conexus board
We're looking for you, a qualified candidate to run for your Conexus board of directors! It's your chance to contribute to the future of one of the largest credit unions in Saskatchewan and be the voice of our members. Banking is essential |
 It's a leadership opportunity |
 Get involved in your local community |
We are looking for candidates that have been a member with us for a minimum of three years with the following competencies and experiences, to complement the skills of the current board of directors:
- Behavioural Finance
- Board Governance
- Financial Industry Experience
- Transformational Strategic Leadership
As we strive to build equity in our organization and the communities we serve, the Board wishes to share some areas where it feels additional representation would be welcome to provide perspectives that are important to shape the future of Conexus, such as:
- Indigenous members
- Visible minority members
- Members who live in rural communities
- Members with disabilities
Ready to run?
Everything you’ll need to apply for this opportunity can be found here.
Applications will be accepted until 4:00p.m. on January 20, 2023.
Questions?
For further information contact Alex Kostenko, Vice President, Governance at Alex.Kostenko@conexus.ca
November 28 - Conexus partners with and invests $1M with the YWCA Regina
Today, we’re excited to announce a ten-year partnership with the YWCA Regina, and acontribution of $1 Million towards the new YWCA Regina Centre for Women and Families’
Conexus Community Outreach Centre. We actively empower our members and communities
through our multiple community support programs and are proud to partner with the YWCA
Regina to help us deliver on our purpose of improving our member’s financial well-being.
“Conexus is absolutely pleased to be a part of this project that is set to help women and families
in our province realize their full potential, emotionally, socially, and financially. Investing in lifeimpacting initiatives that contribute to the community for generations to come tells a story of
support, care for our community and innovation; a direct reflection of our purpose, values and
brand as an organization,” says Celina Philpot, CEO Conexus Credit Union.
YWCA Regina and Conexus have had a valued partnership spanning 25 years and look forward
to continuing this long-term relationship into the future with the opening of the new Centre for
Women and Families in 2023. Conexus’ $1 Million contribution will be leveraged to directly
ensure the successful creation and operation of the Conexus Community Outreach Centre,
which aims to assist women and families escaping domestic violence by providing essential
education on violence prevention, health services, legal advice, and integrated crisis services
that will help make significant strides towards decreasing homelessness today and into the
future in Regina.
To learn more and stay updated on this community initiative, visit
www.ywcaregina.com/capitalcampaign.
November 3 - Enter to win a Rider Fan Package!
There is a celebration in Rider Nation!As a long-standing partner and supporter of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, we want to showcase our Rider Pride during the upcoming action-packed week in our own backyard! What better way to show off our provincial spirit than to celebrate in our green and white. We can help you there! We are giving away a Rider Fan Package that includes: a $100 gift card to the Rider Store, two Saskatchewan Roughrider jerseys, and four tickets to a home game during the 2023 season!
Interested? Here is how you enter:
Visit your local branch during the week of November 7-10 to fill out your entry form. You can enter once per day, and the winner will be chosen and contacted the following week. Can't make it to your branch? Follow us online, we will be giving away a second Rider Fan Package on our Conexus social channels!
Let the celebration begin!
October 17 - Celebrating Credit Union Day Thursday, October 20!
Empower your Financial Future with a Credit UnionCredit Union Day is a special day that we get to celebrate with YOU, our members. A day to pause and promote the Credit Union difference. For Conexus, our members are our difference. It’s through you that we can impact communities and the economic well-being of Saskatchewan.
This year, Credit Union Day will celebrate "Empower your financial future with a credit union.”
What’s International Credit Union Day?
International Credit Union Day brings people from credit unions worldwide to celebrate their cooperative history and achievements while celebrating the spirit of the global credit union movement. October 20 will mark the 74th anniversary of International Credit Union Day. Since 1948, this day has been celebrated annually by thousands of credit unions across the globe. Conexus is just one of more than 86,000 credit unions in 118 countries serving 375 million+ members.
How is Conexus celebrating this year?
Sip, snack and share! Conexus exists for one purpose – to improve the financial well-being of our members and communities, so we want to hear from you. Join us in celebrating at your local branch and share your experience with Conexus while enjoying a treat on us, purchased from a business in your neighbourhood. We want to hear how you've empowered your financial future by banking with a credit union and what we can do to better your experience.
We look forward to connecting with you on Thursday!
Learn more about how we deliver the #ConexusDifference here.
September 28 - Conexus and Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan Celebrate an Impactful Partnership
Yesterday, Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan announced that they will be naming the park in Haultain Crossing in Regina, their largest build site in Saskatchewan and one of the biggest builds in Habitat Canada’s history, the “Conexus Credit Union Family Greenspace”. This honour recognizes the $1 million, four-year partnership that Conexus and Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan established in 2020 and the tremendous impact it has had on the province.Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan’s vision for a world where everyone has a decent place to live is one Conexus shares. By the end of this partnership, 80 safe and affordable homes will be built for those in need across the province. So far, 57 mortgages have been signed by families in Regina, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Estevan, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Melfort and Yorkton and another 23 homes are projected to be built in 2023. Offering safe and affordable housing to those in need has helped create the necessary environment for children to do better in school, lessen stress as they transition into adulthood and leads to a financially stronger future for us all. For every $1 spent on a Habitat for Humanity build, approximately $4 is returned into the local economy through increased wages, income taxes, consumption tax, and opportunities for more education and better health.
”This contribution is not taken lightly, and we are so grateful that an organization such as Conexus Credit Union can offer us such a transformational gift to help people in need of housing,” said Denis Perrault, Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Shelter is a necessity, and we know that when someone’s basic human needs are met, they can become financially well. We are honoured to work with such an impactful organization that’s helping to improve the financial well-being of our community, and celebrate the families, sponsors, donors, suppliers, surrounding community members and volunteers who all play a critical role in making a meaningful difference for these families,” said Mark Borgares, Conexus Credit Union Board Chair.
To learn more about this impactful partnership and the recognition celebration, visit here.
September 26 - Our ongoing commitment to truth and reconciliation
Conexus Credit Union understands and is committed to truth and reconciliation.On September 30, our branches will be closed to honour our commitment to advancing truth and reconciliation in our community and recognize National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Our Member Contact Centre will remain open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be contacted at 1-800-667-7477.
Our commitment to truth and reconciliation
We recognize the harmful legacy of residential schools and the colonization of Indigenous people in Canada and the impact it has had on our members, employees and community partners, while also embracing this opportunity for education and reparation. As part of our response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action, we are committed to doing our part by providing workplace inclusion and opportunities, education and training, community investments and partnerships, and relationship building with the Indigenous community and leaders.
This includes:
- Requiring all employees to take time to learn and grow as individuals by participating in “The 4 Seasons of Reconciliation” course offered by the First Nations University of Canada
- Teaming up with local, Indigenous-owned Saskatchewan businesses to design and provide orange shirts to our employees
- Support of several Indigenous organizations that provide education on Indigenous history and culture, including but not limited to:
- Wanuskewin summer camps
- NVSSN Project of Heart delivered through Luther College
- Miyo-wîcîwitowin Day at Mosaic Stadium in Regina
September 20 - Conexus announces new CEO
To our Conexus members,Over the last several months, our Board of Directors has been working through a diligent search process for our credit union’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). I’m excited to share with our membership that we have completed this process and would like to welcome Celina Philpot as Conexus Credit Union’s newest and first female CEO. Philpot will begin September 26, 2022.
Philpot brings over 25 years of experience in the credit union system, with her most recent role as the former Chief Retail and Brand Officer at SCU (Steinbach Credit Union) in Manitoba, where she was responsible for delivering business results and managing organizational risk through the development of strategies for retail sales, wealth management, member services, marketing, and corporate programs. Her other previous roles at SCU included Vice President, Corporate Development; Executive Vice President, Operations; and Executive Vice President, Member Engagement and Brand. She holds a Master of Business Administration (Royal Roads University), a Master of Project Management (University of Winnipeg) and is a certified Project Management Professional (Project Management International).
“On behalf of the Conexus Board of Directors, I’m excited to welcome Celina Philpot to the Conexus family and to Saskatchewan,” said Mark Borgares, Conexus Credit Union Board Chair. “Celina’s extensive experience in the credit union system, vision for success, community focus, action orientation, commitment to credit union values, and her passion for leadership and innovation align with Conexus' priorities and strategy and will be key to leading Conexus into the future and helping us improve the financial well-being of our members and community. Hopefully, with time, we will be able to convert her into a Saskatchewan Roughriders fan.”
“As a first-generation Canadian, I understand the importance of commitment, hard work, drive, and community. I integrate these qualities into my work and leadership style by challenging and empowering leaders at all levels to think differently, approach challenges creatively, and inspire collective action that achieves positive results for members, the organization, and the community at large”, said Celina Philpot, Conexus’ new CEO. “I am so grateful and humbled by the opportunity to work with Conexus Credit Union which has a solid reputation throughout Canada for being progressive, innovative and member-centric. Conexus has demonstrated its ability to create value and improve the financial well-being of its members and community and I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, Executive Management Team and employees to serve our members and live out our purpose.”
As we embark on this new leadership journey, our members can have confidence that Conexus Credit Union is in a strong position to continue delivering its purpose of improving the financial well-being of its members and communities. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Celina as she joins Team Conexus and we introduce the first female CEO in Conexus’ history.
On behalf of the Conexus Board of Directors,
Mark Borgares
Board Chair
September 16 – Conexus Announces New Provincial Partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters Saskatchewan
Today, we announced a new three-year partnership with Big Brother Big Sister Saskatchewan that will enable it to provide 100 new mentees with impactful mentoring relationship.This partnership is integral to our community investment goal of addressing basic human needs in the area of education, work skills programs, and literacy and it drives us further in the direction of achieving our purpose to improve the financial wellbeing of those within our communities.
Through this partnership, we’re proud to provide the meaningful support needed to assist Big Brothers Big Sisters SK in achieving its mission of enabling life-changing mentoring relationships that ignite the power and potential in young people in our province.
For every $1 invested in Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs, $23 comes back into the society in the future. This impactful work is one Conexus is proud to support because everyone is capable of being a leader when provided with enriching opportunities and equipped with a sound support system.
We know everyone is capable of being a leader and that’s why we’re dedicated to supporting young people to building their life skills at an early age.
“At Conexus, we believe leadership is rooted in developing other leaders. Mentorship is a key part of that and something we're actively promoting not only with Conexus employees, but also through our community partnerships like Big Brothers Big Sisters that offer meaningful opportunities for education, work skills programs, and literacy" said Nicole Westerlund VP, Member and Community Engagement. "We know that everyone is capable of being a leader and our communities are stronger for it, and that's why we're proud to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters as they help develop life-changing mentoring relationship that invest in the future leaders of Saskatchewan.”
Learn more about our community support programs and our partnerships here.
September 8 - Support for Families in James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon
Our hearts go out to our neighbours in James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon. As our first step to show our support to the victims and families, we are donating supplies requested and collected by local community centres. These supplies will be delivered for upcoming wakes, funerals and community gatherings. It is our hope that these donated items help ease the financial burden of the families who are planning the gatherings during this difficult time. We will continue to watch for meaningful opportunities to support the grieving families and communities as they navigate through their healing journey.We encourage those who are able to consider showing your support by donating supplies that have been requested such as paper plates, napkins, utensils, paper towels, Kleenex, hand soap, bottled water, potatoes, carrots, dry noodles, salt and pepper, coffee, powdered cream, sugar cubes, stir sticks, tea, cups, juice drinks and individually wrapped snack items.
Donations can be dropped off at one of the following community centres across Saskatchewan who will be delivering the supplies to James Smith Cree Nation this weekend:
- Bernard Constant Community School gymnasium on the James Smith Cree Nation
- Bernice Sayese Centre in Prince Albert
- Nēwo Yōtina Friendship Centre in Regina
- White Buffalo Youth Lodge in Saskatoon
If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to, the following local support lines are available:
Hope for Wellness Helpline
1-855-242-3310
Available to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. This helpline provides 24 hours a day, seven days a week service by phone or online chat to those in need. Services are available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.
Prince Albert and Area Mental Health and Addictions Centralized Intake
306-765-6055 / 1-888-765-6055
North East SK (Melfort – Nipawin – Rosthern – Tisdale – Area) Mental Health and Addictions Centralized Intake
1-833-274-4060
North-East 24-Hour Crisis Line (Melfort)
306-752-9455 / 1-800-611-6349
Wellness Together Canada
1-866-0445 or text WELLNESS to 686868 for youth or 741741 for adults. This service is free and confidential.
July 8 - New Rider fan perks available for Conexus members
Conexus Credit Union is a proud partner of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and of its Rider Rewards Program, and this year we have an exclusive offer just for Conexus members.Here are a few things you need to know:
What is the Rider Rewards Program?
The Rider Reward Program offers Rider fans the opportunity to collect points that can be redeemed year-round on Rider merchandise and experiences. Points are earned by shopping at the Rider Store, redeeming points through email codes, heading to point earning locations including all Conexus branches, and more.
Signing up is easy! Just visit rewards.riderville.com to create your free account.
What’s the offer for Conexus members?
As part of our member perks, Conexus members have an unique opportunity to earn Rider Rewards Points. You can do this by booking an appointment with your Financial Advisor at any of our Conexus branches across the province. When your appointment is complete, your Financial Advisor will provide you with a QR code that you can scan to redeem your 1,500 Rider Rewards Points!
This opportunity to earn points is available until the end of 2022 and it can only be redeemed once per member per year.
We’ll see you in the stands this season. Go Riders!
June 8 - Introducing the 2022 Youth Leadership Award winners!
Across Saskatchewan, young people are trying to make their corner of the world a better place and make a difference in their communities. The 2022 Youth Leadership Award winners are making their mark, through everyday leadership and community engagement. Ten winners were selected, representing nine Conexus branch communities across Saskatchewan. Conexus received 38 applications from across Saskatchewan communities
The Conexus Youth Leadership Award recognizes graduating high school students who recognize that they are the future of Saskatchewan, show leadership in everything they do and are guided by cooperative principles.
The total value of the award prize is $1,500. Each winner will receive a $500 cash prize, and $1,000 deposited into a Conexus one-year term deposit account.
Conexus believes in improving the financial well-being of our members and communities and giving students a savings account allows them to think about their financial goals and how they can use that money to achieve those goals. Whether it is exploring other countries, post-secondary tuition, a down payment for a home, or a rainy day, having money in a savings account helps improve members financial well-being.
Congratulations to our 2022 Youth leadership Award winners! We wish them all the best in the future.
Learn more about the winners and their plans for the future here.
June 2 - Bringing agtech innovation to Canada’s Farm Show
Canada’s Farm Show runs June 21-23. We’re heading the show to host several agtech events and want you to join us.- June 20-21: Cultivator powered by Conexus (Cultivator) is hosting an agtech edition of its 24 Hour Startup, bringing together ag experts, tech developers, and more to build an agtech minimum viable product in just 24 hours. If you have an idea for what could be Canada’s next big agtech startup, here’s your chance to bring it to life. Learn more and register here.
- June 21 at 3 PM: Our 24 Hour Startup | Agtech teams will be hitting the Launch Pad Stage for the event Pitch Finale. Teams will pitch their ideas to a panel of judges for a change to win up to $7,000 in prizes.
- June 22 at 2 PM: Emmertech, an agtech focused venture capital fund managed and operated by Conexus Venture Capital, will be hosting an Investor’s Panel on the Launch Pad Stage. Hear from some of North America’s top investors about why they’re excited to be investing into the next wave of agtech companies.
- June 22 at 2:45 PM: Cultivator, Emmertech and Economic Development partnered together to accelerate the growth of agtech through an Agtech Accelerator program. The inaugural cohort (11 companies from Canada and 5 companies from the United Kingdom) will pitch their innovations at Demo Day on the Launch Pad Stage in hopes of securing a deal with investors in the audience.
To learn more about cultivator or the Agtech Accelerator, visit Cultivator.ca. To learn more about Emmertech, visit Emmertech.ca.
May 11 – Exclusive Opportunity for members to win a $500 shopping spree!
As part of its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs in the province, Conexus Credit Union, in partnership with the What Women Want Tradeshow, will host over a 100 female business owners and thousands of shoppers at the Prairieland Park, Saskatoon on Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14, 2022.
The first What Women Want tradeshow of 2022 was held in Regina in March and had around 109 female owned businesses in attendance to exhibit and interact with shoppers from around the city. The Saskatoon event, which will usher in the Women Entrepreneurs Week, is one of the many ways Conexus continues to show its support for women business owners in Saskatchewan.
At both events, as a special way to further appreciate Conexus members, those who show their member cards at the entrance will be entered into a draw to win a $500 shopping spree at What Women Want. This draw will be held at 1pm on Saturday May 14, the second and final day of the Tradeshow, and the winner will be announced at the same time. All Conexus members who show their cards at the entrance from Friday May 13th up until the time the winner is announced will stand a chance to win the cash prize.
Members also can apply for their Conexus credit cards at the venue and get approved on the spot with a chance to win up to $250 worth of reward points on their cards.
Hope to see you there!
May 6: Supporting the financial well-being of our members and communities
Being a part of the community is fundamental to who we are – it's part of our fabric and our cooperative principles. In 2021, Conexus re-invested over $1.9 million back into Saskatchewan through our Community Investment Program. In the last five years, this re-investment totals more than $9.5 million.“Identifying new ways to spark connections and improving the financial well-being in our communities is our core purpose at Conexus. It’s part of our fabric and we are committed to investing in the communities we serve that help us deliver on our purpose,” said Nicole Westerlund, VP of Member and Community Engagement Conexus. “We know that when someone’s basic human needs are met, they can become financially well. We are proud to partner with community and non-profit organizations that are making a meaningful difference in people's lives right here in our own backyard.“
Learn more about our support for community including stories of our community partners here.
April 22 – The Curtain Rises on Darke Hall’s Grand Re-Opening
On Thursday, April 21, Darke Hall re-opened its doors – a day that has been years in the making for the University of Regina, Conexus Credit Union and the community as a whole.Back in 2016, when the University of Regina issued a Request for Proposal to help with its renewal project of Darke Hall and College Avenue Campus – Conexus knew this was an opportunity to not only solve a community need but help foster collaboration, culture, innovation and entertainment in our city. As a credit union, being connected to our communities across Saskatchewan is a commitment we have upheld for the last 80+ years as a credit union as it is truly part of our fabric. Conexus and our members gave $8.25 million to the University to support their plans to save the historic campus. In addition, by building our Head Office next to Darke Hall, Conexus helped save the University an additional $10 million on infrastructure, maintenance, and utilities. This includes shared heating/cooling infrastructure and the construction of a shared link.
Through our partnership, we’re not only helping to save College Avenue Campus and restoring Darke Hall to a prestigious performing arts centre, but we’ve also created new public amenities for our community to enjoy for many more years to come. Our partnership with the University is an example of what’s possible when the community comes together to collaborate and solve problems.
Whether it is enjoying a concert performed by world class musicians or a recital by our loved ones – Darke Hall will empower incredible moments of community and connectivity in our province. It's been an honour to partner with the University of Regina and truly invest in our community’s past, present and future.
For more information or to inquire about booking Darke Hall, please click here.
April 14 - Letter to Our Members: Alleged Misappropriation of Funds
Conexus members,
An investigation took place related to allegations of misappropriation of funds which has resulted in criminal charges. Conexus worked diligently with investigators, auditors, and the RCMP and those impacted have been contacted, informed and made whole.
We sincerely regret that this has happened. Members can take comfort and have confidence this is an isolated incident linked to one former employee. We are here to reassure you, our members, that your hard-earned funds and assets are safe. We are constantly improving and evolving safeguards and best practices to do all that can be done to prevent these sorts of unfortunate incidents.
This matter is not a reflection of who Conexus is, nor the values we demonstrate. Conexus is committed to the principle of transparency and keeping our members and the community informed as and when we are able to, in alignment with our privacy policy, to protect our members’ and employees’ personal information.
True to our values, personalized assistance is available to you – our employees are here to help members with any questions or concerns. Please contact us by:
- Calling our Member Contact Centre - 1-800-667-7477
- Utilizing our secure online form at Report an Incident
- Following the steps listed here: Our promise to you
March 31 - Waived Conexus Fees for Member Wire Transfers to Ukraine - Expanded
Our hearts and minds continue to be with the people of Ukraine as they face unimaginable conflict and violence.
On March 14, as a demonstration of our concern and to show support to the vast Ukrainian community here in Saskatchewan, we have taken the following actions:
- Temporarily lifted Conexus fees on wire transfers for members who are sending funds to support those in Ukraine. This change is effective immediately with no end date determined at this time.
- Conexus and Thrive Wealth Management have made a $10,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal for emergency relief for those in Ukraine.
As of March 31, we have now expanded the waiving of Conexus fees on wire transfers to include Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. This temporary changes takes effect immediately.
If you are looking for a way to help, we encourage you to donate as well. Here are a few options:
Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal
March 23 - Announcing the Conexus Credit Union Family Amenities Fund
Saskatchewan families who are coping with sick or injured children at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon now have an extra source of much- needed support. Conexus Credit Union has generously committed $750,000 to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation to create the “Conexus Credit Union Family Amenities Fund”. This fund will provide families with limited resources the opportunity to receive support towards unexpected stressors for when facing lengthy hospital stays.
“Improving the financial well-being of our members and our communities is at the heart of what we do. Life sometimes throws us curve balls causing unexpected expenses which can have long-term impacts on our families,” says Neil Cooper, Interim CEO, Conexus Credit Union. “It is more important than ever for us to be there for those whose lives may be already financially strained due to the repercussions of the pandemic and now emotionally strained from dealing with a sick child. By partnering with the Children's Hospital to provide this new program, we hope to alleviate some of the unexpected financial pressures faced by families so they can focus on what matters most.”
This application-based program will be administered in conjunction with the Social Work Department at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, and will provide funding for areas such as parking, gift cards for gas or groceries, and meal vouchers to name a few items. The program is aimed at easing the financial burden on Saskatchewan families at an already stressful time in their lives, as they focus on the healing of a hospitalized child.
Learn more about the Conexus Credit Union Family Amenities Fund here.
To learn more about this announcement click here.
March 8 - Happy International Women's Day!
Today, and every day, we celebrate all the incredible women across our organization and in our communities.Credit unions have a long history of empowering women through mentorship, development opportunities, business financing, program resourcing, and community investment initiatives. They are known for many firsts, including being the first financial institutions to lend money to women in their name.
Conexus has taken an innovative approach to advancing and empowering women; including:
- Signing the Saskatchewan Women Entrepreneurship Charter, an initiative launched by Women Entrepreneurs Saskatchewan (WESK) to address the entrepreneurship gap in our province
- Supporting female founders via Cultivator powered By Conexus, which has incubated 29 female-founded tech startups right here in Saskatchewan.
- By financing female startups via Conexus Venture Capital Inc., which has invested in six companies with a female founder; each of which is performing with an 80-90% IRR.
- Establishing and maintaining gender equality on its Board of Directors and its Executive Leadership Team
- Contributing funding to women-focused community partners such as Amakon Women Empowerment, Dress for Success Regina + Saskatoon, SOFIA House, YWCA Regina’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes Initiative, and more.
- Sponsoring the WESK Gala & Summit, University of Regina’s Inspiring Leadership Forum, and YWCA Women of Distinction Awards
While we’ve started to move the needle towards a more gender equal province, there's still more work to be done, and we're committed to continuing to lead this change for future generations.
Visit the links below to learn more about how you can support women in our community:
- Contribute to SK women-focused non-profit organizations
- Support local female-owned businesses
- Learn more about International Women’s Day and how you can support women year-round
February 15 - Departure of Eric Dillon, Conexus CEO
To our Conexus members,I am writing today to advise our membership that Conexus Credit Union’s Chief Executive Officer, Eric Dillon, has announced his departure from his role. The Conexus Board of Directors has appointed Neil Cooper (CFO) as interim CEO, effective February 21.
Eric’s visionary leadership successfully repositioned the organization for the future, and we are incredibly grateful to him for his tremendous contributions to Conexus over the past 10 years. Eric devoted a decade of his career as our CEO and in that time redefined what it means to be a financial co-operative, pioneering several innovative and incredibly successful projects, propelling Conexus to its position as the award-winning credit union it is today. Some of those accomplishments include:
- Introduced the first “no-fee” account for members in 2013, the first of its kind in Saskatchewan for a full-service financial institution.
- Launched the first credit union backed business incubator, Cultivator, powered by Conexus, which just celebrated its third birthday, and over 80 businesses incubated to-date.
- Built the first Social Impact Bond in Canada, winning a Governor General’s Award for Innovation in Social Impact Financing.
- Launched the first venture capital fund established by a credit union in Canada.
- Led the credit union to international recognition as #1 in Banking Service for two back-to-back years, through a global pandemic.
- Donated branch buildings to community organizations to repurpose public spaces for community use.
- Successfully advocated for financial literacy education to be permanently added to curriculums in Saskatchewan schools in 2019.
- Introduced a new way to understand members' financial health, aligning our performance and compensation to improved financial wellness of our members.
Members can have confidence that the credit union is in a strong position to continue to deliver on its purpose and provide excellent service as the Board of Directors engage in a diligent search process to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. As a leading credit union in Canada, we are financially strong, have a sound strategy in place, and an incredible team of over 800 talented employees across the province. We are in a prime position to attract excellent talent, and while this process is underway, we have every confidence in Neil’s ability to perform the role of interim CEO.
On behalf of the Conexus Board of Directors,
Joel Mowchenko
Board Chair
February 15 - Cultivator Turns 3!
As a forward-thinking credit union, we’re continually looking for new ways to support our members and communities. Looking back at Saskatchewan’s entrepreneurial landscape just a few years ago, there weren’t many resources, funding, or space to help local startups launch, grow, and scale their businesses globally, causing many founders to leave the province. We created Cultivator to reduce the barriers founders were facing, and create a hub to accelerate the growth of startups right here at home. Since launching in 2019, Cultivator has incubated over 80 companies through its START, GROW, SCALE and Agtech (BETA) programming.
It’s been three years since we began this journey, and are Cultivator companies are seeing incredible growth:
- Generated over $14 million in revenue
- Raised $22.8 million in private capital
- Obtained $23.1 million in government funding
- Created over 300 jobs
The results and growth we are seeing from the past three years prove that when you provide local founders with the space, mentorship, programming and access to capital, they’re able to grow globally successful companies from right here in Saskatchewan. We’re so proud to be supporting our founders through this journey and look forward to seeing all that is to come over the next several years.
To learn more about our tech incubator, visit Cultivator.ca.
January 18 - Emmertech closes $60M fund to help fuel Canadian agtech
Today, Emmertech, an agtech focused venture capital fund managed and operated by Conexus Venture Capital Inc., announced the final close of $60 million, and was headlined by The Mosaic Company (Mosaic) and Viterra who both joined prior to the final close on Dec. 31, 2021.
Emmertech brings together investors from across Canada that are predominately agriculture stakeholders including farmers, agribusiness owners, and ag-focused insurance companies. It also is supported by Innovation Saskatchewan with a $15 million contribution, as well as several credit unions in New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC including Innovation Credit Union, Libro Credit Union, and Prospera Credit Union.
Emmertech will invest in Canadian agtech companies from “farm to fork” with a special focus on “where technology meets farm”, and has already closed two investments – Lucent BioSciences and Ukko Agro.
To learn more, visit Emmertech.ca.
January 13 - Join us in celebrating three years of Cultivator!
Our tech incubator, Cultivator powered by Conexus, is turning three and is celebrating by doing what they do best… cultivating the #SKtech ecosystem.Our province is full of talented entrepreneurs, business leaders, developers, technical experts, designers and marketing gurus, yet there are very few events that allow these groups to come together and build something. We’re here to change that and on Feb. 4 + 5 will be bringing the community together virtually for a 24 Hour Startup and 3RD Birthday Bash. Mark your calendars - this is an event you don’t want to miss!
What is a 24 Hour Startup? It’s a two-day event that connects the best and brightest entrepreneurs, developers, lead designers, and makers from across the province to pitch ideas, form teams and build a minimum viable product in 24 hours. After 24 hours, teams will pitch to a panel of judges for a chance to win up to $7,000 in cash prizes!
There’s two ways to join in on the fun:
- Have an idea for the next big tech startup or are interested in seeing what it’s like to be a part of a startup? Register to be a 24 Hour Startup participant.
- Hear pitches from our 24 Hour Startup and celebrate all that’s been happening over the last few years in #SKtech at our #3rd Birthday Bash.
December 20 – Member Contact Centre holiday hours update
We know that our members need us to be there for them, even over the holidays. That’s why our Member Contact Centre will be extending its regular holiday hours in 2021. Here is breakdown of the new holiday hours:
December 25 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
December 26 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
January 1 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Please note that our branches will remain closed on these days. If you need us, call 1-800-667-7477 and we’ll be there to help you with your financial needs.
Happy holidays!
December 7 - Cultivator’s START Cohort 6 applications now open!
Have a tech startup that you’re looking to take to the next level? Here’s your chance. Applications for Cultivator’s START Cohort 6 are now open.
START is a three-month, pre-revenue tech accelerator program designed to help founders take their minimum viable product to the next level. This program is geared towards early stage tech founders with diverse backgrounds + experience from all across Saskatchewan. Throughout the program, those selected to be a part of the cohort will have access to coaching and mentorship, product development, customer discovery, team building support, investor readiness + raising capital, and much more.
Why Cultivator?
- To-date Cultivator has incubated over 70 companies including memoryKPR, myComply, Precision AI, SolusGuard, Prairie Robotics, Beautiful Mood, and more.
- It has connections to 100s of mentors, industry experts and investors, all looking to help you succeed in growing your company.
- Cultivator companies to-date have generated a combined total of $12.9 million and created over 300 jobs.
Apply to be a Cultivator START company today: https://www.cultivator.ca/programs/start
Applications close January 14, 2022.
November 26 – Agtech Accelerator wins a 2021 Saskatchewan Economic Development Award of Excellence
The Agtech Accelerator is the winner of a 2021 Saskatchewan Economic Development Award of Excellence!
The Agtech Accelerator was founded earlier this year by our business incubator, Cultivator powered by Conexus, Economic Development Regina, and Emmertech, a new agtech venture capital fund managed and operated by Conexus Venture Capital Inc. The Agtech Accelerator helps early-stage agtech companies grow and scale their companies from its headquarters in Regina, Saskatchewan. Through its key community partnerships and programming, the Agtech Accelerator aims to create unrivaled experiences and value-add to founders, investors, and partners while solidifying Saskatchewan as a global agtech hub.
This award recognizes the impact and contribution the Agtech Accelerator will have on the agriculture sector not only here in Saskatchewan but across Canada and around the world. To learn more about the Agtech Accelerator, visit www.cultivator.ca/agtech.
November 10 - Agtech Accelerator Cohort 1 applications now open
Launched earlier this year by Cultivator powered by Conexus, Economic Development Regina, and Emmertech, the Agtech Accelerator brings both agriculture and technology together to accelerate the growth of Canadian agtech startups built to solve global problems.We’re currently looking for our first cohort. Companies selected to be a part of the yearly cohort will have access to programming, connections and mentorship needed to help them scale. And to top it all off, Canadian companies selected to participate will also have the opportunity to receive an equity investment at intake!
If you are a Canadian agtech or foodtech company looking to scale, this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss. For more details on the Agtech Accelerator or to learn how to apply, visit www.cultivator.ca/agtech.
November 1 - November is Financial Literacy Month
Did you know that over 70% of Saskatchewan people say that worrying about money has affected their sleep, relationships or health? Here at Conexus we’re committed to making a meaningful difference to the financial well-being of our members and our communities. Financial literacy education is one way we deliver on this promise, which is why we’re happy to promote that November is Financial Literacy Month in Canada.
Financial literacy is a critical life skill and is the foundation to navigating the financial world; having the tools, knowledge, confidence and resources to help guide you through difficult decisions and situations. To actively promote financial literacy across the province, we’re involved in a wide range of programs, initiatives and partnerships, including:
- Partnering with WHL and SJHL hockey teams to deliver financial literacy presentations with youth across the province
- Partnering with food banks across the province to provide healthy eating programs and financial literacy education
- Partnering with READ Saskatoon, who host a number of activities and events throughout Financial Literacy Month including a Family Financial Bingo Card and hosting several financial literacy workshops across the province
- Each One, Teach One, which is a program through which Conexus employees deliver presentations across Saskatchewan with the purpose of increasing the financial well-being of participants
We also have a number of free tools and resources that help support our financial literacy goals, including our #MONEYTALK blog and the What Connects Us Podcast.
Being financially literate helps you feel confident and enables you to make smart, responsible decisions with your money. If you want to talk to someone about improving your financial literacy, our Financial Advisors are here to help. You can book an appointment with one here. Or you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter throughout the next month as we’ll be sharing tips, tools and resources as part of Financial Literacy Month.
October 26 - Show your Conexus card for FREE admission to the Canadian Western Agribition!
The Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) is back from November 22-27 in Regina. The largest livestock show in Canada is anchored by beef cattle and features horses, bison, sheep, goats and an extensive agribusiness trade show. It’s a blend of agriculture, Indigenous culture, and festive entertainment, featuring live music, shopping, food, and evening pro rodeo performances!
We’re excited to announce that this year, Conexus Members can show their Conexus card to get FREE admission as well as a 20% discount to the November 25 and/or November 26 Maple Leaf Finals Rodeo performance when buying tickets directly at the CWA office.
Conexus will also have a presence at the trade show, with booths at the International Trade Centre as well as the Grain Expo. Come see us to have a chat about your financial needs, and enter to win one of two great door prizes.
At Conexus, ag business is our business. We know that when it comes to farming operations, there is no one size fits all approach. Many of our ag Advisors are within the ag industry themselves, helping to understand your wants and needs better. We offer a wide-range of services including financing, operation planning, succession planning and more to our ag members. Your well-being drives everything we do, and our team is here to walk with you every step of the way.
October 15 - Phishing Scam Targeting Conexus Members
IMPORTANT SCAM ALERTWithin the last week, Conexus has discovered multiple phishing websites directly targeting our members. These sites are designed to look like the Conexus website and are likely being used to collect member authentication information. We have already initiated the takedown of three sites, as well as a malicious advertisement that was being run on Google.
Even though the websites in question have been taken down, we would still advise that our members exhibit caution. One thing to keep in mind is that a phishing website or email may look real at first glance, but that upon further investigation there is usually something wrong. Look for things such as spelling mistakes, bad grammar, altered logos or weird website addresses. Always remember that Conexus’ actual website is Conexus.ca.
Here are a few other things you should look for when you are trying to spot fraudsters and keep your information safe:
- Fraud and phishing scams happen through a variety of methods including the internet, your computer and your phone. Common tactics include fake emails, fake websites, phone calls or text messages from scammers pretending to be someone else.
- Fraudsters will often use scare tactics to make you panic and give up your account information, such as telling you that your account is being closed. Don’t give in.
- Conexus will never ask you for personal information by email or phone. If you’ve received a call or email, and are unsure, contact us directly.
- Remember, anyone can become a victim of a scam. Please share this information with your friends and family so that they can watch out for fraud as well.
- Protect Yourself Videos
- Internet Scam Videos
- Alerts
- Conexus #MONEYTALK Blogs
October 7 - Celebrating Credit Union Day Thursday, October 21!
Building financial health for a brighter tomorrow.
Credit Union Day is a special day that we get to celebrate with YOU, our members. A day to pause and promote the Credit Union difference. For Conexus, our members are our difference. It’s through you that we can impact communities and the economic well-being of Saskatchewan.This year, Credit Union Day will celebrate "Building Financial Health for a Brighter Tomorrow.”
What’s International Credit Union Day?
International Credit Union Day brings people from credit unions worldwide to celebrate their cooperative history and achievements while celebrating the spirit of the global credit union movement. October 21st will mark the 73rd anniversary of International Credit Union Day. Since 1948, this day has been celebrated annually by thousands of credit unions across the globe. Conexus is just one of more than 68,000 credit unions in the world serving 235 million+ members.
How is Conexus celebrating this year?
We invite you to celebrate with us virtually, again this year to ensure the health and safety of you, our members and our employees.
Conexus exists for one purpose – to improve the financial well-being of our members and communities, so this year’s theme couldn’t be more fitting. We believe a brighter tomorrow is the result of a well-equipped financial toolbox.
Follow our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram & Twitter) for tips and advice on tools for building financial health.
As a bonus, we’re also doing a member ticket giveaway to the Saskatchewan Roughrider’s home game on November 13th.
Contest Details:
We’re giving away TWO Saskatchewan Roughrider prize packages where each winner will receive:
- 2 Platinum Seat Tickets
- 1 $200 Rider Store Gift Card
- 2 Rain Ponchos
- Other Rider x Conexus branded swag
There are many ways to get involved! It can be something as simple as starting a financial health conversation with friends and family or booking a financial health conversation.
September 16 - Conexus Wins Two National CCUA Awards for Social Responsibility & Innovation
Conexus has been recognized by its national credit union partners as the winner of two Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA) Awards.
The first award is for Social Responsibility and recognizes the Conexus Kindness Capital Fund (CKCF) – an initiative launched during COVID-19. Conexus re-invested the administration revenue generated from the CEBA federal loan program back into the province by recognizing 42 individuals/businesses with $5,000 each ($210,000 total) to continue their acts of kindness during the pandemic. For more information on CKCF, please visit https://www.kindnesscapital.ca/.
Conexus has also won the Innovation award for Cultivator: Canada’s first credit union-led business incubator. Cultivator is an innovation hub for Saskatchewan startups to launch, grow and scale their companies by giving them access to both capital and business resources such as workspaces, coaching, mentorship, product development, customer discovery, hiring support, investor readiness, venture capital and more. For more information on Cultivator, please visit https://www.cultivator.ca/.
Conexus shares these awards with the kindness champions, nominators and the founders of startups who are making impactful differences in Saskatchewan. This recognition showcases how Conexus is progressive and thinking differently about how we support our members, communities and the province in unique and meaningful ways. This is a victory for Saskatchewan as these nationally recognized initiatives would truly not be possible without the authentic kindness and innovation that exists within our province.
WATCH THIS:
To showcase the meaningful, game-changing impacts Kindness Capital and Cultivator has made on the province, we’ve created two videos that can be viewed here:
Conexus Kindness Capital Fund
Cultivator
September 9 - Conexus locations closed on Sept. 30 in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
As an organization we are focused on learning and understanding how we can become stronger allies and contribute to positive change through diversity and inclusion across Saskatchewan and the communities we serve.To honour our Indigenous community members, we will be closing all Conexus locations on September 30 for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
Please note: Our Member Contact Centre will remain open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to serve our members on Thursday, September 30, and can be contacted at 1-800-667-7477.
How are we reflecting and participating
The meaning and intention behind this new federal day is to provide Canadians with the opportunity to recognize and commemorate the legacy of residential schools. By closing our locations for the day, this will allow our employees to take time to pause to reflect and participate in education and community events that recognize the residential school system, and honour its survivors, their families and communities.
As part of our commitment, and to support the truth and reconciliation journey of our employees, members and communities, we are providing all Conexus employees the opportunity to learn and visually show their support for truth and reconciliation. This includes:
- Pre-registered all of our employees for the 4 Seasons of Reconciliation course offered by the First Nations University.
- We’ve teamed up with two local, Indigenous, female-owned Saskatchewan businesses, Four Fawns and SheNative, and have purchased orange shirts for our entire organization. Proceeds from these t-shirts will go towards educational books on Indigenous culture, the Indian Residential School Survivor Society, and the Orange Shirt Society.
On September 30, we encourage our members and partners to also take the time to learn and reflect and participate in a community event near you. For more information, visit:
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action
- National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education
August 30 - Conexus presented with READ Saskatoon’s Community Builder Award
Today, at the READ Saskatoon Golf Tournament for Literacy, Conexus Credit Union was presented with the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon’s Community Builder Award. The award honours local partnerships that are working to promote and support literacy in Saskatoon and the province.“Strong partnerships between community organizations and businesses make our city a great place to live and work,” said Sheryl Harrow-Yurach, Executive Director for READ Saskatoon. “There is no greater example of this than the partnership between READ Saskatoon and Conexus Credit Union. Conexus provides the support we need to take our financial literacy programming and training throughout the province.”
Conexus was nominated for their commitment, the near decade of financial sponsorship, as well as their staff’s personal commitment through volunteerism and donations. All of this ensures community literacy programs are accessible to everyone. Most importantly noted was Conexus’s commitment to READ’s financial literacy work and how this collaboration will continue to shape opportunity and hope for many families as they financially recover from the pandemic.
To learn more about this announcement click here.
August 26 - Cultivator’s Sask Startup Summit Is Back!
ask Startup Summit is back, September 9 + 10, and bringing the heat in 2021!Each year, Cultivator hosts Sask Startup Summit to connect founders, mentors + investors through curated 1:1 sessions, keynote speakers, and panel discussions, providing founders with tactical takeaways they can use to grow + scale their startups.
This year the event will be hybrid, meaning attendees will have the opportunity to join in person at Cultivator’s World HQ in Regina, SK, or virtually and connect to others from across North America.
This event is centered around bringing the tech community together, and wouldn’t be possible without the support of the community. Cultivator is proud to welcome Innovation Saskatchewan to Sask Startup Summit as the main event partner.
Big things are happening in #SKtech and we want YOU to be a part of it! While some sessions are exclusive to Cultivator founders and partners, there are a number of opportunities open to the public. To learn more and secure your tickets, click here.
August 23 – Conexus Venture Capital Inc. Launches Agtech Focused Venture Capital Fund, Emmertech
Today, Conexus Venture Capital Inc. (CVC) announced the launch of a second venture capital fund, Emmertech, focused on Canadian agtech and agribusiness innovation. Emmertech reached an initial close of $45 million CAD, and expects to cross $60 million by the final close at the end of the year. Emmertech is a new fund that’s built from an industry-first approach, with investors being some of Canada’s most innovative farmers, agribusiness owners, and agriculturally centered financial institutions. The Fund includes a $15 million investment from Innovation Saskatchewan, of which will be invested specifically in Saskatchewan-based agtech companies.Canada is a country of innovators, yet the majority of our agricultural products are shipped as raw materials, and almost 70% of the machinery on Canadian farms comes from other countries. One of the biggest challenges in Canadian agtech is the lack of private capital that flows into the space, with Canada’s share of global agtech investments being only 3.4%. Additionally, only 11% of Canadian agriculture research and development comes from privately funded sources.
The team at Emmertech is confident that Canada can utilize its status as a country of innovators, combined with the seventh most arable land in the world, to catalyze the agtech ecosystem. Over the next 10 years, Emmertech will invest in a diversified portfolio of Canadian-based agtech companies, including those accepted into the recently announced Agtech Accelerator.
To learn more about the fund, and for a full list of investors, visit: www.emmertech.ca.
June 22 - Congratulations to the 2021 Conexus Youth Leadership Award winners!
Now, more than ever, leadership matters. That’s why we continue to support young people that show everyday leadership, early in life.For the 2021 Conexus Youth Leadership Award, ten high school graduates were selected, representing seven Conexus branch communities across Saskatchewan.
These young leaders are making their corner of the world a better place by working towards their community’s well-being. Each winner receives a $500 cash prize and $1,000 deposited into a Conexus one-year term deposit for a total of $1,500.
Celebrating their future!
The Financial well-being of our members and communities drives everything we do, and providing students with a savings account allows them to not only think about their financial goals, but also how they can use that money to achieve those goals.
We applaud each of the winners for their spirit and wish them good luck for the future.
- Ashley Packet – Assiniboia Composite High School – LaFleche, SK
- Brenna Metz – Dr. Martin LeBoldus High School – Regina, SK
- Ella Forrest – Miller Comprehensive Catholic High School – Regina, SK
- Emily Zbaraschuk – Meath Park School – Meath Park, SK
- Kathryn Bartlam – Whitewood School – Whitewood, SK
- Leah Piluk – Miller Comprehensive Catholic High School – Regina, SK
- Lorenne Rutko – Mossbank School – Mossbank, SK
- Noah Stasuik – Luther College High School – Regina, SK
- Ren Hubick – Robert Southey School – Southey, SK
- Spencer Dmytruk - Ecole St.Mary High School – Prince Albert,SK
To learn more about each winner and what their individual goals are visit the Leadership Award page.
June 18 - Accelerating the Cultivation of Canadian Agtech
We’re excited to announce that Economic Development Regina (EDR) has teamed up with our business incubator, Cultivator, and the soon-to-be-launched venture capital fund, Emmertech, to launch an Agtech Accelerator.The Agtech Accelerator will provide Canada’s world-leading agtech and foodtech companies with the mentorship, resources, programming, and funding needed to help them take their startup to the next level. Making this accelerator unique is that it is venture-capital backed. Companies selected to participate will receive an equity investment at intake via Emmertech - a first for an accelerator in Saskatchewan and Canada.
Saskatchewan has always been a leader in agriculture and ag is a continued focus for us here at Conexus. Being a local credit union, and many of our ag business advisors being within the ag industry themselves, we understand there is no one-size-fits all approach when it comes to your farming operations. We’re committed to learning more about our ag members to help find ways for them to grow and being a part of the Agtech Accelerator will allow us to continue growing and leading our ag members into the future. To learn more, visit Cultivator.ca/agtech-accelerator.
June 7 - Conexus Venture Capital Inc. selected as fund manager for Government’s $15 million agtech venture capital investment
Today, the Government of Saskatchewan announced it has selected Conexus Venture Capital Inc. (CVC) as the fund manager for its agtech venture capital investment. Through this partnership, CVC will manage the government’s agtech investment of $15 million over five years. This investment will accelerate the province’s economic recovery from COVID-19 and build upon an already strong agricultural sector.“Agriculture is a long-standing Canadian success story and the technology sector is quickly following suit; however, one of the biggest challenges in Canadian agtech is the lack of private capital,” said Eric Dillon, Chief Executive Officer, Conexus Credit Union. “We know that with proper access to early stage venture capital, Canada can become a global leader in agriculture innovation. We’re excited to be the chosen partner with Innovation Saskatchewan and launch our newest fund, focusing on harnessing the momentum in Canadian agtech and supporting our brightest early stage entrepreneurs.”
This investment will be part of CVC’s Emmertech fund (to go live very soon) investing in agtech startups across Canada. Learn more about this announcement here.
May 27 – Cultivator’s 24 Hour Startup AgTech is back!
Cultivator, with Canada’s Farm Show, is proud to present the virtual edition of 24 Hour Startup AgTech.
On June 16 + 17, Cultivator is bringing together the best and brightest in agriculture, technology, and business from across Canada to connect, ideate, build and pitch a minimal viable product (MVP) in just 24 hours. This AgTech edition of 24 Hour Startup will collide agriculture and technology to focus on creating innovative solutions to real ag problems being experienced today!
Do you have what it takes to launch the next big AgTech startup? Join us June 16 + 17 as we connect the agtech startup dream team! Register here.
Don’t want to participate in 24 Hour Startup AgTech, but looking for a front-row seat? Join us June 17 from 3 - 5 PM for the pitch finale where we’re giving away up to $7,000 in prizes!
To learn more about the 24 Hour Startup event or other things Cultivator is working on, visit Cultivator.ca.
May 18 - Empowering. Celebrating. Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan is home to many remarkable women in business, tech, and leadership, each with their own story on where they came from and how they became who they are today.This week, and every week, we celebrate the social, economic, and cultural achievements of women past, present, future.
Happy #WomenEntrepreneursWeek
March 2 - Cultivating Saskatchewan’s Startup Ecosystem
Cultivator is celebrating two years of impressive growth and economic impact.Two years ago, Conexus embarked on a journey to grow Saskatchewan’s startup ecosystem and launched Canada’s first credit union led business incubator, Cultivator. Our goal was and still is, to have a positive impact on our economy. Since launching, Cultivator has incubated and provided programming, resources, mentorship and space to over 50 startups, resulting in tremendous growth:
- 172 jobs created;
- $8.4 million in revenue generated;
- $17.8 million in public funding obtained; and
- $13.4 million in private capital raised.
Why Cultivator?
As a local credit union, community is at our core. When our members and their businesses are financially strong, this adds strength to our communities. Contribution to community is a commitment we have upheld for the last 80+ years - it's part of our fabric. Cultivator is just one of the ways in which we deliver on this commitment improving the economic well-being of Saskatchewan through job creation, technological advancements, new businesses, revenue, investment in capital, and economic growth.
What’s the key behind this success?
The people. All this wouldn’t be possible without the support the community, founders, partners, investors and mentors have given over the last two years to help one another succeed – when the community comes together, we all thrive.
What’s Next?
We continue to be committed as ever in Cultivators endeavours to help launch, grow and scale innovative, high-growth tech companies in Saskatchewan. The momentum is here, and we’ve got a bold vision for Cultivator, and the tech ecosystem. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements in 2021!
Follow Along!
To learn more about Cultivator, including stories on the milestones its companies have hit, visit Cultivator.ca.
We are so proud to be a part of cultivating Saskatchewan’s tech ecosystem and share this in celebration with you!
March 1 - Apply for the 2021 Youth Leadership Award
We’re turning to our members and our communities to help us recognize and celebrate young leaders. Those who are helping to improve the wellbeing of our communities. Applications for the 2021 Conexus Youth Leadership Award are now open. Pass it along!The Conexus Youth Leadership recognizes graduating high school students across Saskatchewan who show leadership in everything they do. They try to make their corner of the world a better place and make a difference in their communities.
Conexus will award ten grade 12 students across Saskatchewan with $1,500 and recognize them through our social media channels. Each winner will receive a $500 cash prize and $1,000 deposited into a Conexus term account, which can be withdrawn after one year, starting June 1, 2022.
Share this opportunity with the young leaders in your community to apply.
Visit Youth Leadership Award to view the award eligibility criteria and submit the application.
Applications will be accepted until Friday, April 16, 2021.
February 11 - Conexus Credit Union Donates $1 Million to newly formed Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan
It is only when someone's basic human needs are met, that one can become financially well.As a long-term supporter of the habitat for humanity affiliates, Conexus is honored to partner and contribute $1M to a provincial youth work experience program in which 80 families will benefit from home ownership.
The Conexus Youth Experience Program,set to begin in 2021, will engage youth to learn construction trade skills right in their very own community where a habitat home is being built. Each year 220 students, 16+ year of age, will be given the opportunity to attain work experience in the construction trade.
Working alongside our community investment partner enables us to deliver on our purpose of improving the financial well-being of our members and our communities. Conexus employees will participate in building homes, directly contributing to the impact across the province. To foster success, our employees will also provide financial literacy lunch and learns with youth participants and H4H volunteers and be an educational partner teaching homeownership classes to successful new Habitat home applicants.
On behalf of Conexus Credit Union and our members we want to congratulate Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan on their newly announced merger and sincerely thank them for their commitment to making a difference for families and communities across Saskatchewan.
For more information on Habitat Saskatchewan and it’s Habitat ReStore operations, visit www.habitatsaskatchewan.ca/
Media Release February 11, 2021
January 20 - Celebrating 2 years of Cultivator by doing what we do best - from home!
We’re celebrating Cultivator’s 2nd birthday by doing what they do best… launching new high growth startups in Saskatchewan. Mark your calendars for February 5 & 6 because this virtual edition of 24 Hour Startup is one event you don’t want to miss!But what is a 24 Hour Startup? Great question. This event brings together the best and brightest entrepreneurs, developers, lead designers, and makers from across the province to pitch ideas, form teams and build a minimum viable product (MVP) in 24 hours. This diverse group will converge virtually and build something new and innovative. After 24 hours, teams will pitch to a panel of judges for a chance to win up to $7,000 in cash prizes!
Due to COVID-19 and current health measures, for the first time ever, 24 Hour Startup will be held as a virtual event. Don’t let this discourage you - our team is busy behind the scenes ensuring you’ll be able to connect, ideate, build, and pitch from whatever location you’re in.
Do you have an idea you’ve been keeping on the sidelines and want to bring it to life? Here’s your chance! To learn more about how to participate and register.
Don’t want to participate in the 24 Hour Startup event, but want to see what it’s all about? Join us on February 6 for the pitch finale and birthday bash! Click here to learn more and register.
December 7 - Updated Personal and Business Electronic Services Agreements
We have updated our Personal and Business Electronic Services Agreements for online banking to reflect changes we have made to our online services. For more information and to view the agreements, please see below.December 2 - COVID-19, we can all do our part – change to branch operations.
Conexus is committed to doing our very best to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 while serving you safely. We are continually monitoring the situation and with the recent guidelines and recommendations of public health and government officials, we are making changes to our branch operations.Doing our part by serving you differently:
Our branches across Saskatchewan are open for your day-to-day banking. However, all advice-based conversations such as investments, retirement, loan applications, etc. have moved to appointment only, and we encourage these meetings be done virtually.
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, we encourage you to limit your visits to the branch and explore the different ways you can bank. If you’re unsure if you need an appointment or not, please contact us at 1-800-667-7477 and we'd be happy to help you out.
Any COVID-19 related branch updates will be posted to https://www.conexus.ca/AboutConexus/News/COVID/BranchUpdates/
November 18 - Masks Required in all Conexus Branches and Corporate Services Locations
Following the guidelines set by the Saskatchewan Health Authority, as of Thursday, November 19, masks will be mandatory in all public spaces of all Conexus branches and corporate service locations across Saskatchewan.If visiting a branch, we ask you to wear a mask. If you cannot wear a mask for any reason, please call us first. We are able to deliver banking services remotely and our Member Contact Centre is available to help you manage your finances
We’re committed to safely serving you.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we have followed the advice of the Government of Saskatchewan to ensure we are able to maintain access for our members, while doing our part to reduce the spread. We thank you for your flexibility as we evolved and continue to evolve our services to protect the health and financial well-being of our members and communities.
We’re committed to safely serving you.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we have followed the advice of the Government of Saskatchewan to ensure we are able to maintain access for our members, while doing our part to reduce the spread. We thank you for your flexibility as we evolved and continue to evolve our services to protect the health and financial well-being of our members and communities.
Bank Differently:
With the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Saskatchewan, it’s more important than ever to take precautions with your day-to-day banking. There are a variety of ways to do your banking differently, including online or mobile banking, or by calling our Member Contact Centre at 1-800-667-7477. To learn more about the different ways to bank, click here.
If you are sick, have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive with COVID-19, you or someone in your household is waiting on test results, or you have travelled internationally, including the United States, in the past 14 days, please do not visit a branch until it is safe to do so.
November 10 - Removal of the Personal Financial Management Tool in Online Banking
As digital banking continues to evolve, so do we. It is our commitment to provide our members with the best solutions available to make your banking life easier and more convenient. When deciding how to best serve our members there are times when we need to take a step back and review, and this is the case with our current Personal Financial Management (PFM) Tool in Online Banking.
Effective Wednesday, November 25, the PFM tool will be removed from your online banking.
What does this change mean?
This means the following functionalities will no longer be available:
- Accounts linked under “External Accounts” such as credit cards from other financial institutions or pension accounts Adding assets and liabilities
- Viewing transaction categories, spending and trends analysis
- Using the manage budget and groups tab
All other features within our online banking and mobile apps will remain the same, including accounts linked under "Partner Accounts". This includes Conexus Mastercard (Collabria), Credential Asset Management Inc., Credential Qtrade Securities Inc., and Qtrade Investor accounts.
It is important to us to offer digital banking tools and features that enhance your experience and help manage your finances even more safely and securely. We are exploring other options to implement in the future to bring value to our members.
If you have any questions about these changes, please review our FAQ below or contact our Member Contact Centre at 1-800-667-7477 and we would be happy to chat with you!
Team ConexusFrequency Asked Questions:
Q1: Why is the Performance Financial Management (PFM) tool being removed?
We are glad you liked this tool! We often take the time to evaluate the solutions and tools we are offering our members as we want to provide the best options possible to make your banking life easier, safer and more convenient. Unfortunately, this tool was not a commonly used feature by most of our members and was not providing the value we strive to offer. We understand how this might feel and we can assure you that we are focusing on bringing you even better tools and features in the future.
Q2: What will happen to some of my favorite features? Will my accounts still be linked?
Accounts linked under ‘Partner accounts’ (Conexus Mastercard, Credential Asset Management Inc., Credendtial Qtrade Securities Inc., and Qtrade Investor accounts) will remain linked. Accounts under ‘External Accounts’ will no longer be available. Information added under ‘Assets and Liabilities’ will also be removed. Other features that will no longer be available include:
- Spending and Trends
- Spending Analysis
- Categories
- Budgets Groups
To view what these changes to your account may look like, click here.
If you are looking for a replacement budgeting tool, you can use our Conexus Budgeting Calculator.
Q3: Is there any action I have to take on my end?
No, you will not have to make any changes to your existing online banking or mobile app. Your online banking might look a little different when the PFM tool is removed. To view what these changes to your account may look like, click here. In the mobile app, the spending tile and the external linked accounts will be removed.
Q4: How can I capture my budget or any additional information that I have entered such as assets and liabilities?
You will have to manually capture your information prior to November 25. You can do this by taking a screenshot of the webpage, or by copy and pasting your information into a word document or excel spreadsheet. If you require assistance, give us a call and we can walk you through it!
November 3 - Conexus investing $165,000 for the delivery of financial literacy to Saskatchewan families
We’re excited to announce we’ve extended our partnership with READ Saskatoon and what perfect timing with November being Financial Literacy Month.Today more than ever, literacy skill development is imperative to families’ financial recovery. Earlier this year, Conexus surveyed Saskatchewan residents to understand their feelings and perceptions on money. Here’s what we learned:
- 62% of Saskatchewanians say money is a main source of stress.
- 70% of Saskatchewanians have financial worries, and 46% say their sleep has been impacted by these financial worries.
- 2/3 of Saskatchewanians say they would not be able to meet their living expenses if someone in their household were out of work for an extended period of time.
- 63% of Saskatchewanians say they are not comfortable talking about money with family, friends and co-workers.
- 29% of Saskatchewanians say they find it embarrassing to ask for help with their finances.
As part of our partnership, throughout November, Read Saskatoon and Conexus will be cooperating to provide fun, creative learning opportunities. One of these initiatives is a chance for families to play Right on the Money; a financial literacy bingo game designed to support the conversation about money management with your child(ren).
For more information on READ Saskatoon or to find different ways to help you continue the financial literacy conversations and learnings with your family, visit READsaskatoon.com.
November 2 - November is Financial Literacy Month!
If one thing is for certain, it’s uncertainty.This year marks the 10th anniversary of Financial Literacy Month. The theme is Understanding You Finances – focused around helping Canadians gain financial confidence and make informed financial decisions relevant to their circumstances by equipping them with practical tips and tools.
What is Conexus doing?
For Conexus, communicating the importance of financial literacy extends far beyond the month of November - it’s something we are passionate about and drives what we do every day.
During the month of November, we will be promoting a series of financial literacy initiatives, to create awareness around the importance of financial literacy and help our members and communities navigate financial uncertainty. Channels and topics include:
- Community Investment Partnership launch
- #MONEYTALK blogs
- What Connects Us Podcast episodes
- Sharing perceptions of financial well-being
- Morning news show appearance – talking about budgeting
Financial literacy is a critical life skill and it’s never too early or too late to improve your financial literacy knowledge. Our purpose is to improve the financial well-being of our members and community. It’s not about selling you a product you don’t need, but about providing you the advice, knowledge and skills to help you feel confident and make smart, responsible decisions with your money.
To follow along and learn tips and advice on how you can improve your financial well-being, follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram & Twitter), and subscribe to the What Connects us Podcast.
Let’s navigate together!
Celebrating Credit Union Day Thursday, October 15!
Credit Union Day is a special day that we get to celebrate with YOU, our members. A day to pause and promote the Credit Union difference. For Conexus, our members are our difference. It’s through you that we can impact communities and the economic well-being of Saskatchewan.
This year the Credit Union Day celebration is focused around "Inspiring Hope for a Global Community".
What’s International Credit Union Day?
International Credit Union Day brings people from credit unions worldwide to celebrate their cooperative history and achievements while celebrating the spirit of the global credit union movement. October 15th will mark the 72nd anniversary of International Credit Union Day. Since 1948, this day has been celebrated annually by thousands of credit unions across the globe. Conexus is just one of more than 68,000 credit unions in the world serving 235 million+ members.
How is Conexus celebrating this year?
Our celebrations look a bit different. We invite you to celebrate with us virtually this year to ensure the health and safety of you, our members and our employees. Every day you inspire hope for us as a credit union. This past year has shown us that “we’re stronger together” – no matter the distance, stories of hope have brought us together, creating one global community.
We asked some of our employees “what stories of hope inspire them?” from the lens of our personal members, business members, Ag communities and Cultivator companies. On Thursday, October 15th we will be sharing these stories of how our members and communities inspire hope every day. We may not be able to celebrate with you in-person, so instead we celebrate the theme of "Inspiring Hope for a Global Community" through you.
We encourage you to join in the celebration by sharing your story of hope with those around you and with us, by commenting on our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram & Twitter).
October 6 - Android/Apple App Update
On October 6 we are launching new Android and Apple apps. With the new apps you’ll benefit from bug fixes and other performance enhancements. In addition, the Apple app will have new MiSnap technology for the Deposit Anywhere feature.Special note to Apple users
To ensure you have the most up-to-date app, you will have a 30-day window to download the updated version. During that time, you will receive notifications to update your app. If you don’t update your app within that 30-day time frame, you will notice you won’t be able to login to the app until it is updated.
How to update?
- Through the App store. Search for the Conexus app or view pending updates
- If your device settings are automatically set to update, there is no action required
Introducing What Connects Us – Conexus’ first ever podcast!
Conexus has launched What Connects Us, Conexus’ first bi-weekly episodic podcast!
Hosted by Conexus' own Mason Gardiner, What Connects Us will feature people in Saskatchewan who will have meaningful, 1-on-1 conversations about their own personal stories of triumph, heartbreak, redemption, vulnerability, risk and the role that money plays in these journeys. The guests will range from familiar faces in the province to lesser known community ambassadors, but all guests will offer a variety of interesting stories, lessons learned and experiences that will result in many meaningful and entertaining conversations.
Over 70% of Saskatchewan people say that worrying about money has affected their sleep, relationships or health. Money is the gatekeeper to so many of our dreams and the fuel for so many of our fears. We’re connected by this underlying thread of money, yet we don’t directly address it. Let’s talk about it and listen to stories that will inspire, educate, and most importantly, connect us.
The first episode is now live and features Regina’s Krista Broda sharing her story about what happened when her identity stolen and the lasting effects of identity theft! You can listen to it and the trailer for the podcast via one of the links below. Don't forget to hit "Follow" or "Subscribe" on these channels to make sure you are notified when new episodes drop every second Wednesday.
LISTEN HERE:
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6IOBnE0RmW97yLDeUr8fnc
APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/…/…/what-connects-us/id1512520996
ANCHOR: https://anchor.fm/whatconnectsus
September 24 - Introducing the 2020 Youth Leadership Award winners!
Across Saskatchewan, young people are trying to make their corner of the world a better place and make a difference in their communities. The 2020 Youth Leadership Award winners are making their mark, through everyday leadership and community engagement. Ten winners were selected, representing nine Conexus branch communities across Saskatchewan. Conexus received 58 applications from 21 Saskatchewan communities.The Conexus Youth Leadership Award recognizes graduating high school students who show leadership in everything they do and are guided by the cooperative principles.
The total value of the award prize is $1,500. Each winner will receive a $500 cash prize, and $1,000 deposited into a Conexus one-year term deposit account.
Conexus believes in improving the financial well-being of our members and communities and giving students a savings account allows them to think about their financial goals and how they can use that money to achieve those goals. Whether it’s exploring other countries, post-secondary tuition, a down payment for a home, or a rainy day, having money in a savings account helps improves members financial well-being.
2020 Youth Leadership Award Winners
Ramya Chawla, Central Collegiate Institute – Moose Jaw, SK
Ramya tries to change the world with every conscious decision of every day. He has made numerous contributions through his volunteerism with not only momentous projects that propose awareness visuals and law changes, but also through mentorship, peer tutoring, and fundraising for youth education in developing countries. If he could address one community issue, he would choose impaired driving because Saskatchewan is leading all provinces in Canada in impaired driving incidents per capita.
Adin Clark, Lumsden High School – Craven
Adin truly showed everyday leadership as the captain of the high school football team, basketball team, and volleyball team. His teacher endorsed him for the Youth Leadership Award, sharing he was often approached by students in younger grades and was able to make these students feel that they are the most important people to him at that moment. In truth, they are. This is just how Adin is. Every interaction Adin participates in is important to him. He is present at everything he participates in, be it academics, athletics or the arts. He mentored his student body on the skills he has learned, be it in the classroom or on the field.
Beatrice-Grace Domingo, Luther College High School – Regina
Beatrice believes that to be a leader is to have the humility to be a listener and that one cannot lead without hearing the voices of the people around them. She was a co-leader for Plan International - Champions of Change, where she fundraised and raised awareness for social and global issues. If she could implement one program to improve her community, it would be empowering LGBTQ+ youth of colour, with a safe environment that provides sexual education, history of rights for LGBTQ+ people of colour, and entrepreneurship skills.
Madelyn Kaban, Campbell Collegiate – Regina
Madelyn had a vision and plan to implement a Special Olympics track and field program at all Regina high schools. She actioned this plan by completing the Saskatchewan Athletics Track Coach Course and learning from others' experiences coaching athletes who are differently abled, to gain the insight to design the program, but was unable to implement it when COVID-19 disrupted extra-curricular activities. She has been a dedicated volunteer and co-president for Best Buddies, creating inclusive activities that foster relationships between differently abled and typical students. Madeline was elected as the president of the Student Leadership Council, serving over 1,500 students and diverse student groups.
Avery Lightfoot, Luther College High School – Regina
Avery is described as the synergy of Luther College High School, unselfishly giving her time and every bit of her positive energy to making those around her better. She has served as secretary of the Student Representative Council. She was actively involved in athletic, arts, social, and academic clubs within her school, including the leader of the hospitality committee for the Luther Invitational Tournament, and co-leader for the Social Advocacy Club where she led a fundraiser for Regina Transition house.
Jade Otsig, Three Lakes School – Middle Lake
In 2019 Jade proudly accepted the position of being a Youth Ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), sharing her Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) story, spreading her passion, positivity, and resilience, and advocating for research funding towards a cure. In her role as student leadership president, Jade organized charity toy and food drives, and fundraisers to support, STARS Air Ambulance, Canadian Cancer Society, Terry Fox Foundation, Telemiracle, and JDRF. During COVID-19, Jade created a school Wellness Challenge, offering weekly incentives and creative suggestions to maintain students', physical and emotional well-being.
Aidan Penny, Sheldon Williams Collegiate – Grand Coulee
Aidan served as the vice-president of the Student Leadership Council. He is a dedicated Camp Monahan counsellor and actively contributes to the events and activities led by the Grand Coulee Recreational Board. Aidan coaches youth football, floor hockey, ice hockey and soccer, and has captained four different hockey teams.
Jacob Stoll, Balcarres Community School – Balcarres
As captain of his high school football team, this means doing all Jacob could to be an on-field coach and roll model. He was the president of the Balcarres Community School Student Leadership Team and served on the School Community Council. Leadership Team. If Jacob could implement one program to improve his community, it would be access to sports for kids ages 8 - 18, providing funding that allows them to play, transportation to and from practices and games, and food nutrition for these athletes. He strongly believes it would help these kids create strong connections with their school and their community.
Venezya Thorsteinson, Sheldon Williams Collegiate – Regina
Venezya has been actively engaged as a member of student council throughout high school, leading and facilitating blood donor drives, fundraisers for mental health awareness, and implementing free feminine hygiene products in the school washrooms. If she could implement one program to improve her community, she would create a fundraising program that provides feminine hygiene products to vulnerable women and girls and create awareness for the impact this has for those who struggle with accessing these products.
The 2021 Youth Leadership Award applications will launch February 1, 2021 here.
August 28 - Conexus Kindness Capital Fund shows 210,000 reasons to be proud of Saskatchewan
After calling on people from across Saskatchewan to nominate individuals and businesses who were responding to COVID-19 with kindness in extraordinary ways, Conexus has re-invested $210,000 into the province through the Conexus Kindness Capital Fund.A few months ago we called on our members, our employees and our communities to nominate individuals and businesses in Saskatchewan that have shown ordinary and extraordinary acts of kindness during COVID-19, to award 40 nominees with $5,000 each to continue their work in their communities. You didn’t just answer the call, you showed up in a big way!
From La Loche to Coronach, we received 208 nominations that spanned across 995 kilometers and 37 Saskatchewan communities and treaty territories. Many were even nominated more than once, as many as 16 times. We heard stories of kindness that accounted for $381,000 fundraised for non-profit and charity organizations, 39,000 meals served, 29,000 pieces of personal protective equipment produced and delivered to healthcare and frontline workers and medically vulnerable populations, and even 28 hand drawn pizza boxes. From 400 mobile devices to 12,300 muffins, countless items have been donated to address major gaps in access to basic human needs. We’ve heard stories that have warmed our hearts, made us laugh, and even made us cry. Even the rest of Canada followed along as these stories reached over 180,000 people ranging from Victoria, British Columbia to North Sydney, Nova Scotia.
These kindness champions have lifted others up and created moments that connect us, so it was our pleasure to return the favour.
Care for our community is in our DNA and rooted in our cooperative values. The Conexus Kindness Capital Fund is more than just a thank you, it's 210,000 reasons to be proud of our prairie province and those who make it one of a kind.
Visit kindnesscapital.ca to learn more about the winners and stories of kindness being shown across our province.
August 11 - Help us award $10,000 by voting for Kindness Capital's People Choice
Introducing People's Choice, where two more nominees will receive $5,000 each from the Conexus Kindness Capital Fund (Kindness Capital), decided by your votes! The Kindness Capital has received so many nominations for ordinary and extraordinary acts of kindness that we're re-investing more with the introduction of People's Choice. We've chosen eight nominee finalists from across Saskatchewan who aren't among the 40 nominees to receive $5,000 each from the $200,000 Kindness Capital.Voting for the People's Choice launches today, Tuesday, August 10, until Tuesday, August 18. The two finalist nominees with the most votes will receive $5,000 each to continue their acts of kindness.
People's Choice Nominees
- Dalton Duzan // Moose Jaw, SK
- Blend Restaurant and Bar // North Battleford, SK
- Springer Construction // Moosomin, SK
- Roberta Curtis // Bethune, SK
- WOW Factor Media // Saskatoon, SK
- The Family Place // Weyburn, SK
- Regina Kindness Rocks // Regina, SK
- Tapestry Yoga // Prince Albert, SK
From Fond-du-lac to Coronach, COVID -19 has inspired stories of kindness across our province, People have lifted each other up and created moments that connect us. Seventy-nine-year-old Eleanor Land has baked over 1,000 loaves of bread to donate to the Community Cares Kitchen in Prince Albert, meanwhile six-year-old Hazel Bootie-Davies in Regina has been serving hand-made pizzas with her dad to families who lost their food nutrition programs when school closures happened.
Visit KindnessCapital.ca to vote People's Choice, learn about the kindness being shown in Saskatchewan, and view all the nominees and recipients.
July 21 - $100,000 awarded from Conexus Kindness Capital Fund at half-way mark
Conexus Credit Union has re-invested $100,000 across Saskatchewan, reaching the half-way mark in encouraging a return on kindness through the $200,000 Conexus Kindness Capital Fund (Kindness Capital). We’re still calling on people to nominate those who have responded to this pandemic in extraordinary and ordinary ways.More than 160 nominations have been received since Kindness Capital launched and 20 recipients have been awarded $5,000 each to continue their acts of kindness. People like Kathleen Ritchie from Harris, SK, who delivered 120 handmade greeting cards to every household in her community, and Alex Pelletier from Regina, SK, who has been using his apartment kitchen to assemble thousands of bagged lunches for children, families, and elders who live with food insecurity.
The first 20 individuals and businesses who have been awarded are from communities across Saskatchewan, including Regina, Harris, Green Lake, Saskatoon, Indian Head, Martensville, Prince Albert, Brownlee, Meadow Lake, La Ronge, and Montmartre.
Kindness Capital launched on Wednesday, June 10. Nominations are being scored in real-time to give immediate cash flow to continue these acts of kindness until the fund is distributed. Our goal is to award forty different individuals and businesses across the province. Administration revenue earned from the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) federal loan program is being used to re-invest into Saskatchewan through this Fund.
Visit kindnesscapital.ca to nominate an individual or business who has lifted others up during COVID-19 and to learn more about the winners and stories of kindness being shown across our province.
July 6 - Welcome to 2375 College Avenue
Our Conexus Building Communities project is nearing completion which means we’re that much closer to welcoming Conexus staff and the public into our new building located at 2375 College Avenue, Regina. This project is part of our partnership with the University of Regina, helping to restore College Avenue Campus, enhance the park and create educational and cultural opportunities for our community in the years to come.
Starting July 20, Conexus employees and the public will be able to access the building and enjoy the variety of amenities it offers including seating areas, public washrooms, and an on-site café. We’re excited to announce that Aimee Schulhauser will be joining us on College Avenue with her latest venture, Slice Café, which will also open July 20.
The building will also be the new home of our business incubator, Cultivator powered by Conexus. Over 15,000 square feet of the building will be used by Cultivator, helping us to further grow Saskatchewan startups.
The Conexus Building Communities project is part of our partnership with the University of Regina, helping to restore College Avenue Campus, enhance the park and create educational and cultural opportunities for our community in the years to come. To learn more, visit www.conexusbuildingcommunities.ca.
June 10 - Conexus reinvesting $200,000 with Kindness Capital Fund
In Saskatchewan we have this great way of coming together when we need to. From Fond-du-lac to Coronach, COVID -19 has inspired stories of kindness across our province. People have lifted each other up and created moments that connect us. We believe in celebrating and reinvesting in this kindness that’s improving the well-being of our communities and people.The Conexus Kindness Capital Fund is encouraging a return on kindness by recognizing 40 individuals and businesses with $5,000 to continue their acts of kindness. We’re calling on you to nominate those who have responded to this pandemic in extraordinary and ordinary ways.
COVID-19 has disrupted our lives in a number of ways, and in a time when so many felt uncertainty, their instinct was to help others, in any way they knew how. Throughout the province, we have seen individuals and organizations lift each other up with kindness. We see how they're making a difference and improving the well-being of our communities and people. This fund allows us to reinvest in their kindness.
Administration revenue generated from the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) federal loan program is being used to reinvest into Saskatchewan through the creation of the Kindness Capital Fund. This revenue has created the opportunity to invest new funding that will mobilize spending in the local economy, ease financial strain for Kindness Capital recipients, and support small business recovery.
Visit kindnesscapital.ca to nominate an individual or business who has lifted others up during COVID-19.
May 14 - Cultivator accepting applications for next START cohort
Do you have the next big tech startup or idea for one and interested in learning more about Cultivator programming? Here’s your chance! Cultivator powered by Conexus (Cultivator) is accepting applications for its next START cohort.
START is a 3-month pre-revenue accelerator program designed to help founders go from ideation to commercialization or take their minimum viable product to the next step. The program is offered twice a year (winter and summer) and focuses on problem validation, customer discovery, program development, raising capital, pitching and coaching.
The next START cohort begins July and runs for 12 weeks. The program is offered during evenings and weekends to accommodate founders who may not yet be working full-time on their project. At the end of the program, founders will pitch their startups to a panel of judges for a chance to win $10,000, helping them to further grow their companies.
Startups and founders can apply here. Deadline to apply is May 28.
May 5 - Introducing Google Pay and Samsung Pay for Android Users!
As banking continues to evolve, so do we. It is our commitment to provide our members with the best solutions available to make your banking life easier and more convenient. When deciding how to best serve our members there are times when we need to take a step back and review, with that in mind we have made some upgrades to the mobile payment options for our Android users.
We are excited to announce that Google Pay and Samsung Pay are now available for Android devices. These mobile payment options provide the ability to pay quickly and easily with the device that is already in your hand while protecting you with multiple layers of security.
As part of our transition to offering these mobile payment options, the existing Mobile Pay feature will be deactivated effective May 13. The removal of Mobile Pay will be reflected in our newest app update and we are here to help you get set up with Google Pay or Samsung Pay; whichever is right for you!
Get set up in a few easy steps by visiting our mobile banking page or calling our Member Contact Centre at 1-800-667-7477.
April 16 - Conexus Branches Shift to Service By Appointment
To our Members,
Your safety is of the utmost importance to us.
We thank you for your flexibility as we continue to make changes to our services in response to the ongoing health pandemic. Our communities have faced many changes in our day-to-day activities recently, including how we bank – and Conexus is committed to doing our very best to help ‘Flatten the Curve’ while serving you safely. We’re monitoring the situation closely and we’ll continue to respond as things change, to help our province progress in the battle against COVID-19.
We’ll always be here for you, we just need to serve you differently:
Effective Tuesday, April 21, Conexus branches will be open for service by appointment for transactions that can only be completed in person; for example:
- Accessing your safety deposit box
- Getting a new member card, or pinning a member card
- Coin and cash services for our business members
Though our branches will be open for service by-appointment, we remain fully operational for all of your banking needs. Our employees are available to help you remotely; and, we’ll help you set up an appointment if deemed necessary.
Call our Member Contact Centre at 1-800-667-7477, available seven days a week:
- Personal Banking (dial '1' in the main menu):
- Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 10:00 am. To 4:00 p.m.
- Business Banking (dial '2' in the main menu):
- Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday & Sunday: Closed
We’ve greatly expanded our Member Contact Centre capacity to ensure we are quickly available via phone to help you continue to manage your finances through this health pandemic. Don’t hesitate – call us. We’re here to help.
In addition, your Conexus Member Card provides you access to one of the largest ATM networks in Canada and payment for products and services with all businesses. ATM and night deposit services continue to be available, and we encourage you to use remote banking services via our mobile app and online banking for your day-to-day banking needs such as:
- depositing cheques
- paying bills or paying others
- transferring funds
- checking balances
We are a province that sticks together – and we’ll get through this, by staying apart:
Over the past week, we’ve heard the provincial government ask us to stay home, practice social distancing, and introduce the initial idea of planning for a phased approach to reopening the economy. When that day comes, we’ll be ready. We sincerely thank you for your flexibility as we do our part to help ‘Flatten the Curve’ by continuing to adapt our services to protect the health and well-being of our members, our communities, and our employees during the ongoing Covid-19 Health Crisis.
For continued updates, please visit conexus.ca/covid and follow our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Linkedin).
Manage your money from the safety of your home.
Stay safe, and help your loved-ones bank remotely too. Watch our how-to-videos here.
- Use Online Banking to view your account balances, pay bills and make transfers
- Pay a bill and manage payees from the safety of your home
- Sign up for Canada Revenue Agency Direct Deposit to ensure your funds are deposited quickly
Call us if you’re facing financial challenges due to COVID-19.
We can help assess your unique situation, and determine the best options to provide some relief.
- Talk to a Financial Advisor to help create an emergency budget
- Activate a skip-payment plan, and defer monthly payments
- Manage changes to your retirement and long-term savings plans
April 9 - Canadian Emergency Business Account Now Available
Conexus Credit Union is committed to assisting you with whatever you need during these unsettling times. We are making changes to how we serve our members and striving to deliver the most up-to-date information on financial relief as it is provided by the Federal Government.On March 27th, the Federal Government announced the Canadian Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to assist small, medium and large businesses financially during this time. Not-for-profits and charities can also access CEBA for financial relief. This benefit is administered through your financial institution, so we have been working hard to be able to deliver this relief to you. The Federal Government announced that the program would launch April 9, 2020, and we are now accepting applications online at Conexus.ca/CEBA.
What is the CEBA loan?
- $40,000 interest-free loan to help you cover operating costs you were not able to defer because of COVID-19
- $10,000 (25%) of the $40,000 loan is eligible for complete forgiveness if $30,000 is repaid on or before December 31, 2022
- If the loan cannot be repaid by December 31, 2022 it can be converted into a 3-year loan with an interest rate of 5%
- Once your loan application has been reviewed and submitted the process for funding will take up to 7 days from completion.
- Canadian operating company (ie. not a holding company)
- Annual payroll is between $50,000 and $1 million, as evidenced on your 2019 T4 Summary of Remuneration Paid (T4SUM). If you cannot locate your T4SUM contact Revenue Canada for reissue
- A 15-digit Canada Revenue Agency Number also shown on your T4SUM
- Conexus is your primary financial institution - meaning everyday business banking account and cash management activities held with Conexus, opened on or before March 1, 2020
- If your everyday business banking account is held elsewhere, please apply for funding through the Financial Institution that holds your primary Business Operating Account
- Your account must be in good standing as an existing member and
- Your business contact information including physical address, phone number and email
March 23 - Service Update – Reduced Hours, Restricted Access
To our members,These are unprecedented times, and we’re in this with you
Conexus Credit Union is committed to the health and well-being of our members and communities, especially through these unsettling times. We’re making changes to how we serve our members, in order to follow the advice and guidelines set out by our Provincial Health Authorities as well as Provincial and Federal Governments.
Branch Service Update
Effective immediately, we are reducing our hours of operation and limiting the number of members into our locations, enforcing strict social and physical distancing practices.Please call us first. We are able to deliver banking services remotely and our employees are available via phone to help you manage your finances through this pandemic. We’ll help you limit your visits for urgent services that can only be completed in person.
If we determine you MUST come into a branch, here’s what you can expect- We’re limiting the number of people inside the branch, so you may be asked to wait outside
- We’re only allowing one person in the ATM vestibule at a time, so again, you may be asked to wait outside
- We are practicing strict social and physical distancing, and increased cleaning protocols
- You will be asked about your visit to the branch, and every effort will be made to utilize remote banking channels
Call us. We’re here to help
Please call our Member Contact Centre at 1-800-667-7477 and we will help you through this. We’ve increased our capacity in our contact centre to serve you remotely, but please consider using our mobile app and online banking, as we manage many member requests.
If you're facing financial challenges as a result of COVID-19 or the economic downturn, we're here to help. We can work with you to activate a skip-payment plan, to defer monthly payments on your mortgages and loans.Business Banking:
Our night deposit is the safest way for our business members to deposit cash, credit card slips and cheques. Need a key, or don't know how to get started - call us! As a business member, you can continue to conduct business through services like Remote Business Pro® to scan and deposit cheques online and have your account credited right away.If your business is facing challenges due to the economic downturn, we can help assess your situation, and determine the best options to provide some relief. Call us to talk about help available, such as activating a skip-payment plan to defer monthly payments, or an interest-only payment plan to help your business navigate this unpredictable time.
There are many options that can be explored, please reach out to us directly to talk about solutions for your individual situation.
Sending a virtual hug to our members
Conexus Credit Union remains fully operational for your banking needs, while we do our part to limit physical contact and keep our communities safe during this unprecedented time. We thank you for your flexibility, as our communities rally together to navigate the Covid-19 Pandemic. We’re confident we can get through this, together.Click here for future updates or follow us on social (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Linkedin).
Team Conexus
March 18 - COVID-19 Support for Conexus Members
During these uncertain times, we understand the worry our members may be feeling, especially as it relates to your money. If you're facing financial challenges as a result of COVID-19 or the economic downturn, we're here to help.Please call us to talk about personalized solutions and financial support. We’re here to help you manage the specific challenges you may be facing due to COVID-19. Here are some of the ways we can help:
Personal Mortgages & Loans
We can work with you to activate a skip-payment plan, to defer monthly payments on your conventional and insured mortgages, and non-mortgage loans.
Commercial and Agricultural Banking
Your businesses are unique and your challenges may be complex. We can help assess your situation, and determine the best options to provide some relief including working with you activate a skip-payment plan, to defer monthly payments, or to create an interest only payment plan to help your business navigate the economic downturn.
This relief extends to members, small business members, commercial members, and agricultural members in good standing who are feeling a financial impact and are looking for a temporary relief from mortgage, line of credit, and loan payments. There are many other options that can be explored. Please reach out to us directly to talk about financial solutions for your individual situation.
To participate in these supports and programs
Contact your advisor, call your branch, or call the Member Contact Centre 1-800-667-7477 . We ask for your patience as we work through high-call volumes, but rest assured we will get to you and help you through this uncertain time.
Alongside financial well-being, we want to recognize the importance of taking care of your overall well-being. There are many free and confidential supports available 24/7 throughout the province to help your mental and physical well-being. Learn more.
Most importantly, in times like these, we need to look out for each other and our neighbours. We are in this together and will continue to work through these challenges together, truly defining what being a community is all about. If you have any questions, or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out.
March 13 - Letter to Our Members: COVID-19 Action Plan
To our Members,In light of the uncertainty so many are feeling from the COVID-19 outbreak, Conexus feels a great responsibility in helping prevent transmission to our members, our communities, and our employees. Concern for our communities is rooted in our cooperative principles, and we’re here to ensure you continue to have ways to bank with ease and precaution.
- We’ve gathered this list of ways we can serve you remotely if you’re feeling unwell, self-isolating, practicing social distancing, or live with compromised immunity.
- We’re taking exceptional hygiene and sterilization measures to equip our employees with ways to protect their health and yours, using guidelines prescribed by the World Health Organization.
- We’re continually monitoring the situation and will provide updates to members in real time with any changes in ways to bank and access to expert advice.
- Be vigilant with suspicious or fraudulent banking activity. If you do experience suspicious activity contact Conexus immediately. It’s common for scammers to exploit these situations. Conexus and other trusted organizations will never ask you for your full PIN or password or ask you to transfer or withdraw money from your accounts.
- Last but not least, stay informed. The media, internet and social media is full of information – some false, some true and some partially true – about COVID-19. Inform yourself and rely on credible information sources such as:
Sincerely,
Eric Dillon
CEO, Conexus Credit Union
March 11 - Apply for the 2020 Youth Leadership Award
We’re turning to our members and our communities to help us recognize and celebrate young leaders. Those who are helping to improve the wellbeing of our communities. Applications for the 2020 Conexus Youth Leadership Award are now open. Pass it along!
The Conexus Youth Leadership recognizes graduating high school students across Saskatchewan who show leadership in everything they do. They try to make their corner of the world a better place and make a difference in their communities.
Conexus will award ten grade 12 students across Saskatchewan with $1,500 and recognize them through our social media channels. Each winner will receive a $500 cash prize and $1,000 deposited into a Conexus term account, which can be withdrawn after one year, starting June 1, 2021.
Share this opportunity with the young leaders in your community to apply.
Visit Youth Leadership Award to view the award eligibility criteria and submit the application.
Applications will be accepted until Sunday, May 31, 2020.
March 3 - March is Fraud Prevention Month – Recognize, reject and report fraud
March is Fraud Prevention Month, an annual campaign that seeks to help you recognize, reject and report fraud.
When it comes to protecting yourself from fraud, knowledge is power! With so many scams out there, and new ones popping up daily, it’s important to be familiar with different scams and the warning signs of a scam. Here are a few tips and resources, we encourage you to review to refresh your fraud prevention skills and understanding.
- The Little Black Book of Scams shares the different scams out there, and provides tips on how to protect yourself from each type of scam.
- Phishing emails and texts may look real at a quick glance, but there’s usually something wrong to help you identify it’s fake. Here’s an example of a scam text that highlights some of the warning signs that it’s fake including an unfamiliar phone number, spelling and grammatical errors and a URL that doesn’t look like a typical URL (e.g., conexus.ca).
- Fraudsters will use a variety of methods to try and scam us including email, text message or phone. When using phone, often the fraudster will call you pretending to be someone that you may trust such as an employee from your financial institution or your pharmacist. They will often use scare tactics to make you panic, such as your account being closed or they require you provide personal information in order to process your prescription, and try and make you give up information about yourself. If you receive an unexpected call and they’re asking for your personal information, don’t give in and instead hang up and call the business back to confirm. It’s important that when calling the business back, you call the official phone number for that business and not the phone number displayed on your caller ID or provided by the caller.
- Set your bank account up with real-time fraud alerts. There are a variety of different alerts available for you to enrol in to automatically receive an email, text message or both to alert you when a certain event has occurred on your account via online or mobile banking. Learn about the different alerts available to you here.
Lastly, talk about it! We often don’t talk about fraud or report it because we’re too embarrassed that it happened to us. It’s important to report any scam or fraud that you’ve experienced as this can help prevent others from becoming victim to a similar scam. In recognition of Fraud Prevention Month, we challenge each of our members to talk about fraud prevention with their financial advisor, family and friends – just one conversation can help prevent someone you love from falling victim to a fraudster, keeping them and their money safe.
To learn more fraud prevention tips, follow Conexus’ social channels (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) or you can also visit https://www.conexus.ca/Personal/PrivacySecurity/Security/ProtectYourself/
Update: Request for Offer Update: Successful Candidates of Conexus Buildings
We took a unique approach to request offers from the community to acquire and use our buildings in Chamberlain, Cupar, Drake, Middle Lake, Mossbank, Spy Hill, Young and two locations in Regina – Fifth Avenue and Wallace. We’ve finalized several of the offers, and we’re excited to share with you the successful candidates:- Cupar - Town of Cupar
- Fifth Avenue (Regina) - Circle Project
- Wallace (Regina) - Ignite Adult Learning
- Young - Village of Young and RM of Morris
- Drake - Village of Drake
- Middle Lake - Three Lakes Economic Development Region Inc.
- Mossbank - Town of Mossbank
We’re ‘Wanderer’ing Into a New Partnership
We’re super excited to announce our new 3-year partnership with the Saskatchewanderer Program. The Saskatchewanderer is a provincial program that brings attention to a range of industries and businesses in the province and highlights why Saskatchewan is a great place to live, work and play through the lens of a new media-savy individual each year to tour the province through social media, blogs and videos.As a Saskatchewan-based and member-owned co-operative, we too know firsthand how amazing this province is and through this partnership we’ll be able to demonstrate our shared values in promoting why Saskatchewan is the best place to operate a business, grow a tech company, build a career, raise a family and explore.
To learn more about the Saskatchewanderer Program and to follow along, visit www.saskatchewanderer.ca.
Happy Birthday Cultivator!
A year ago today, we launched Canada’s first credit union led business incubator, Cultivator powered by Conexus and what a year it has been!2019 was a year of growth as we beta-tested our programming and created a business incubator that will soon live within our new hear office building on College Avenue, Regina. With this growth also came a number of highlights and successes from the Cultivator space including:
- 32 companies incubated
- 86 jobs created
- 194 investment pitches
- $1.7 million in private capital raised
Saskatchewan’s entrepreneurial eco-system is booming, and we’re excited to contribute to it through Cultivator along with our Venture Capital Fund. The momentum is here and we’re just getting started as we further grow Saskatchewan’s startups and show the rest of the world why Saskatchewan is the place to be. For more information about Cultivator, visit www.cultivator.ca.
Saskatoon Capital Funding Announcement
We're excited to announce today a new partnership with the Optimist Club of Saskatoon, contributing $1 million to Phase 2 of the Optimist Hill Campaign. This funding will be used for the future permanent chalet, which once built, will be named the Conexus Riverview Chalet.
Optimist Hill, Saskatoon’s winter destination, provides a full range of activities for children and adults, located in in Diefenbaker Park. Phase 1 of the campaign included the creation a 70-foot hill with groomed lanes for snow-tubing, skiing and snowboarding, terrain park, and a Sunkid carpet conveyor – all now open to the public.
Being part of the community where we live, work and play is fundamental to who we are, and is why we contribute to capital projects like Optimist Hill. The Hill creates a fun, new amenity for families to enjoy together and not only supports growth within Saskatoon, but also improves the well-being within our community.
To learn more about the Hill, visit www.optimisthill.ca.
Protecting yourself from fraud
There are many scams out there, and during the holiday season we tend to see an increase in scams due to more purchases being made and people their guard down due to being in the holiday spirit.Unfortunately, scammers don’t take the holiday season off and try and trick us when we least expect it. Here are a few tips and reminders on keeping yourself and finances safe this holiday season:
- If online shopping do your research first. Buy only from companies or individuals that have a good reputation or you’ve purchased from in the past. If a seller has little or no reviews, this may be a sign that they aren’t legit. Be sure to read the fine print, including refund and return policies and ask the vendor questions – if a trusted company, they should be able to provide you the answers no problem.
- Scammers use a variety of channels to try and trick us, including email and text. Before clicking on any link, be sure to look at the email carefully. Spelling errors, bad grammar or altered logos are signs of the email being fake. Hover over the link to display the full URL. If it looks suspicious, it probably is – instead, contact the company directly or type in the website to log into your account to see if any actions are required from you.
- Create pins, passwords and security questions that aren’t easy to guess – 123456 or password are on the top worst passwords list and should be avoided! Do not share your pin or passwords with others. If you need to write down your pin or password, keep in a secure place such a your home safe. Do not keep in a place such as under your keyboard or in your wallet as it increases your risk of being scammed, especially if stolen.
- Be suspicious of phone calls asking for your personal information. The majority of companies won’t call or email you asking you provide personal information over the phone or through email. Scammers will many times use scare tactics (such as your account is about to close, or suspicious account activity that needs immediate attention) to make you panic give up the information. Don’t give in. If you do receive a call that seems suspicious, we suggest hanging up and contacting the company directly.
Supporting our Ag Members
Conexus is a locally owned and operated credit union, meaning the decisions made around your operation’s financial needs are made right here in Saskatchewan. We understand the hard work and passion behind each day in the field to produce high-quality food for consumers across Canada and North America. Due to weather and other conditions, 2019 was a tough year and we understand the serious impacts it had on farming operations across our province. With conditions out of your control, we want to make sure you know that we are here to support and help you during this time.We’re here to help you succeed and we’ll work with you to develop solutions that meet the unique needs of your operation to reduce financial pressure around this year’s circumstances. We have a team of experts ready to find a solution that works for you and your business, and we encourage you to contact your Business Advisor directly to discuss your individual situation and the options available.
Alongside financial well-being, we want to recognize the importance of taking care of your overall well-being. There are free and confidential supports available 24/7 throughout the province to help your mental and physical well-being such as the Saskatchewan 24/7 Hour Crisis Hotline or the Farm Stress Line.
All of us at Conexus appreciate everything you do to ensure that agriculture remains one of Saskatchewan’s leading industries and allowing us the ability to offer unique solutions that fit your operation. We are here to work alongside you to achieve your goals!
Please call to book an appointment today with a Business Advisor: 1-800-667-7477.
Branch closures take effect end of day October 2, 2019
Banking is changing and on May 31, we announced to our members the decision to close nine of our branches to keep pace with our member’s ever-changing needs.
At the end of day on October 2, 2019, the following Conexus branches will be closed permanently:
- Chamberlain
- Cupar
- Drake
- Fifth Ave (Regina)
- Middle Lake
- Mossbank
- Spy Hill
- Wallace (Regina)
- Young
- Visiting any Conexus Credit Union location across Saskatchewan;
- Contacting our Member Contact Centre at 1-800-667-7477, open 7 days a week; and
- Access your banking through our online or mobile banking apps.
September 27 - Conexus Giving $500,000 to CT Simulator Community Campaign for cancer care in Saskatchewan
We know cancer doesn't discriminate. People across our province, including our members, our employees and beyond are affected by this disease; and that's why we give.
On behalf of Conexus and our members, we’re proud to announce our support for cancer care in Saskatchewan with a $500,000 contribution to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan's province-wide, CT Simulator Community Campaign. This community investment partnership will enhance patient care for every cancer patient who receives radiation therapy in Saskatchewan. The campaign is aimed at fundraising $3 million to replace the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency's two CT Simulators for radiation therapy at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre in Regina and the Saskatoon Cancer Centre.
Investing in basic human needs, such as critical health care services, is foundational to Conexus' purpose of improving the financial well-being of our members and our communities.
Visit cancerfoundationsask.ca to learn more about the CT Simulator Community Campaign.
Update on September 8 ATM and Point of Sale issue
On September 8, our integrated payments service provider experienced a power distribution system failure which affected all of its payment processing services, including debit card payments and ATM transactions. This not only impacted our members but many Canadians, as a number of financial institutions were affected by this power failure. We can confirm that your information was never at risk and this service disruption was not due to weather or cyber-attack.We hear you and recognize the significant inconvenience this caused our members, as well as local businesses during this outage. We thank you for your patience as we worked with our partners to restore services. All services are now restored but if you are still experiencing technical issues related to your debit card, please contact our Member Contact Centre at 1(800)667-7477.
Conexus Service Delivery Changes
Banking is changing rapidly. More than ever our members are more mobile, accessing our services much more differently than they have in the past, using more digital services and using much less cash. As a co-operative, we must be responsible to our members on how we invest their credit union’s resources. This includes investing in our people and digital channels, not just physical locations to align with our members’ ever-changing needs and habits.
While recognizing your changing needs, and following an ongoing review of our service delivery channels, we’ve made the decision to close nine of our branches. Our branches in Chamberlain, Cupar, Drake, Middle Lake, Mossbank, Spy Hill, Young and Regina (Fifth Avenue Branch and Wallace Branch) will close at the end of the business day on October 2, 2019.
Decisions on branch closures are difficult. While respecting our past, we must build a future that allows us to best serve our members by offering flexibility in our delivery of service and that aligns with our members’ ever-changing needs. No longer is banking a place to go, but something we do, regardless of location. We’re more focused than ever on our purpose of improving the financial well-being of our members, and we know that it’s the financial advice we provide that makes the most meaningful impact for you. We’ll continue to proactively provide the advice and solutions you need and we’ll do that where and when you need us to, not just in our branches.
We understand that you may have questions and will be hosting information sessions the week of June 10-13, providing you with the opportunity to learn more about the decision and ask any questions you may have. The information session dates and times are as follows:
June 10:
Mossbank – 7:30 PM at the Mossbank Community Centre
Middle Lake – 7:30 PM at the Middle Lake Multiplex
June 11:
Drake – 7:30 PM at the Drake Community Centre
Fifth Avenue Branch & Wallace Branch, Regina – 7:30 PM at the Mamaweyatitan Centre,
Multi-purpose room West
June 12:
Cupar – 7:30 PM at the Cupar Town Hall
Young – 7:30 PM at the Young Community Town Hall
June 13:
Spy Hill – 7:30 PM at the Spy Hill Community Hall
Chamberlain – 7:30 PM at Chamberlain Town Hall
We recognize this is a change for our members in these communities, which can be uncomfortable. We will continue to be your financial partner, regardless of location, and will walk alongside you to make this transition as seamless as possible for you.
In addition to attending the information sessions, we encourage you to visit your branch to discuss your individual needs with our employees. They will work with you to understand your needs and identify solutions to best meet these needs.
We will also continue to support the communities of our members, regardless of having a physical branch location. We’re committed to the cooperative principle of returning profits to the community and is a promise we intend to hold with our members and communities. To learn more about our Community Investment Program, visit https://www.conexus.ca/AboutConexus/Community/Sponsorship/.
Members pass bylaw amendement
The votes are in and Conexus members have approved changes to our bylaws that will make our election process more consistent and inclusive. The changes were approved by 87% of voting members. The vote ran from April 16 – April 23. Thank you to everyone who voted to help shape the future of Conexus!This approval means that starting in 2020:
- All eligible members will participate in the electoral process every year (as candidates or voters) regardless of where they live.
- Quorum will increase to 25 from 15 members.
- Time allowed to vote on fundamental changes will increase to 21 days from 14 days (if needed).
- Members will have the option to vote for up to as many candidates (rather than required) as there are openings.
Members can read about the changes in more detail at our Bylaw Amendment page.
Your votes doing good – Conexus donated $1 for each vote to the Saskatchewan Financial Literacy Network. Added to the money pledged for each director election vote and AGM participant, this brings our total donation to $5,000.