The East Kootenay Community Credit Union (EKC), a cooperative, will celebrate International Year of Cooperatives 2012 by supporting Board member Cindy Corrigan’s trip to Uganda where she will participate in a Rural Financial Development Initiative. EKC is proud to sponsor Cindy’s trip and the sharing of cooperatives skills in this important area of development in the world.
Cindy is one of eight Canadian cooperators who are visiting Uganda to learn about Canadian Cooperative Association’s (CCA’s) Integrated Finance and Agricultural Production Initiative (IFAPI) model. CCA and the Uganda Cooperative Alliance have developed an innovative approach to rural development by linking agricultural cooperatives, marketing coops and savings and credit cooperatives.
Before boarding her flight to Uganda, Cindy told EKC “I’m really excited about the opportunity to exchange ideas with my colleagues from across Canada and those from Uganda. The goal of our mission is to learn how farmers in Northern Uganda are improving their livelihoods through an innovative and integrated program that brings together production, marketing, and financial services cooperatives.”
Corrigan has deep roots in Fernie, British Columbia and she can trace her family back to the 1890s. She has a history of leadership. “My love of local politics began at a young age when my mom was elected, as one of the first two women, on Fernie City Council in 1968”, says Corrigan. Corrigan was a member of Fernie’s city council between 1999 and 2005, and served one term as Mayor in 2008. Corrigan has been a director of EKC since 2006.
Volunteering in the community has also been a lifelong commitment for Corrigan. She has helped with the Red Cross Medical Equipment Loans, the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Fernie Family Housing Society, with her church, and among other endeavors.
The Canadian Cooperative Association provides leadership to promote, develop and unite cooperatives and credit unions for the benefit of people in Canada and around the world. CCA’s international development program works in Asia, Africa and the Americas to improve lives and livelihoods through co-operation.
