by Giselle Lussier
GAZETTE STAFF
Glenn Young has been a steady and respected presence in Manitoba’s credit union system for nearly four decades. After serving a combined 38½ years on the board of directors for Cypress River Credit Union and Sunrise Credit Union, he has officially retired. While he looks forward to the freedom retirement brings – including unlimited golfing – the moment is also bittersweet.
“I enjoyed every aspect of it, from working with other board members to the dedicated staff,” he said. “I will miss the ongoing learning and being part of the Credit Union’s direction into the future. There are much younger individuals in the community who are very capable of taking on the role of director; I’ve been at it a long time and it’s time to make room for new people.”
Glenn served on the Cypress River Credit Union board from 1980 to 1989, and again from 1995 to 2008, acting as Chair from 1995 until the 2008 merger with Sunrise Credit Union. He has remained on the Sunrise Board since then, taking on the role of Chair for two separate three-year terms. He also completed the CUES Governance Leadership Course through the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
Looking back on his years of service, Glenn – who holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics – reflected, “I’ve always had an interest in finance and numbers, so I jumped at the opportunity to learn when I was asked to join the Board in 1980.” That passion for learning clearly followed him throughout his nearly four decades of dedicated service.
During his tenure, Glenn also owned and operated a grains and oilseed farm while managing an agri-business consulting enterprise specializing in farm management analysis and taxation.
He was employed part time with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development for 22 years and was a founding member of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), the provincial organization responsible for farm policy. Additionally, he served as a representative on the National NISA Committee and the National CAIS Committee and chaired the Manitoba Agri-Recovery Appeals Committee for flood programs in 2011 and 2014.
Though deeply involved in agriculture and policy work, Glenn remained equally committed to the credit union system. He played a vital role during times of major change and growth. In the mid-1990s, he was part of Cypress River Credit Union’s expansion to Baldur. Then in 2008, the newly formed organization expanded further by joining four other Credit Unions to form what is now Sunrise Credit Union. But those milestones were just part of the many transformations that unfolded during his service.
“There have been countless changes over the years,” Glenn said. “We’ve gone from paper to A.I.; loans can now be applied for and approved online very quickly. Technology is constantly advancing, and the Credit Union has to stay abreast of those ongoing changes.”
While technology brought growth and opportunity, it also presented significant challenges. Glenn emphasized the importance of making wise decisions: “There are a lot of options, so it’s vital we choose what will serve our members and communities best.”
Part of his role as Chair included attending the annual President’s (now known as the Director’s) Forum “The forum enabled me to meet a variety of people and hear their outlooks on different topics,” he said.
Later this year, Glenn will be inducted into the Credit Union Central of Manitoba’s Order of Merit – an honour recognizing his exemplary service to the credit union system. “I’m very honoured by this,” he said. “And I was also surprised to learn that a $2,000 bursary will be awarded to a student attending a college or university from a high school of my choice.”
With his board duties now complete, and his gaze on retirement, Dave Nicholson of Cypress River has been elected to the board. When asked if he had any advice for Sunrise’s newest director, Glenn offered; “There is unquestionably a lot for a new director to learn, but he doesn’t have to learn it all at once. It’s a lifelong learning experience.”
As Glenn exchanges his focus from the boardroom to fairways and putting greens he leaves behind a legacy of leadership, vision, and service – a legacy that will continue to shape the credit union’s future for years to come.
