Helping small businesses with big ideas is precisely why the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program was created. It is the only financing program of its kind designed to empower small businesses in Nova Scotia to succeed - https://bit.ly/3qVtakL

For the second year in a row, East Coast CU employees along with other participating credit union employees throughout the Atlantic provinces, were given up to $50 each to make purchases from local businesses between July 15 to August 15, 2021. In 2020, this initiative helped inject over $70,000 dollars into the Atlantic Canadian economy at a time when it was needed most.

A motto we like to live by at East Coast CU is Buy Local, Bank Local. By purchasing local products and services we are helping our communities thrive. East Coast Credit Union recognizes importance of supporting farmers markets across the province. Not only did we want to put money back into the local economy we decided that it would be best to support these organizations by buying gift cards to give back to members of the community to spend. Supporting these local farmers markets was the perfect way to support local and be able to give back at the same time.

In December of 2020, all 1,500+ credit union system employees we’re provided $25 and asked to Pay it Forward to a local organization, community initiative, or family that may need extra support over the holiday season.

East Coast Credit Union was a proud sponsor of the Coldest Night of The Year. CNOY is a family-friendly national walk-a-thon that helps you raise funds for charities that serve hungry, homeless, and hurting people in your town, and in 136 communities across Canada. This is a moment when tens of thousands of Canadians step outside the warmth and comfort of home and shine a light of welcome and inclusion. ECCU staff volunteered at the CNOY walk and handed out branded hot chocolate and lip chap. We were honoured to be a sponsor of such a meaningful event.

Nova Scotia Credit Unions were proud to be able to present The Victorian Order of Nurses (‘VON’) in Nova Scotia with a $50,000 donation. The gift to VON was organized and led by East Coast Credit Union and made on behalf of 13 credit unions in Nova Scotia, and Atlantic Central, a credit union partner organization, which supported the initiative by matching credit union donations up to $15,000, for a total donation of $50,000 to local VON sites across the province.

This donation was made to support Community Support Services offered by VON, like Meals-on-Wheels and transportation across Nova Scotia. This donation, like others enables VON to serve hundreds of Nova Scotians each year through its community support programs, which empower people to live their life to the fullest in their community.

East Coast Credit Union was the proud presenting sponsor of the 2020 Downtown Dartmouth Ice Festival. Guests from near and far carved out some time in their weekend to gather in Downtown Dartmouth to witness talented artists turn blocks of ice into amazing masterpieces. All while enjoying endless free hot chocolate in the free sustainable mugs provided by East Coast CU, roasting marshmallows on the campfire, listening to local musical talent, taking horse drawn wagon rides around Sullivan’s Pond and so much more.

The Nova Scotia Government worked together with the Canadian Red Cross to create the 'Stronger Together Nova Scotia' fund. The money collected has assisted families and communities impacted by the 2020 mass shooting tragedy in Nova Scotia. East Coast Credit Union is pleased have donated $5,000 to this initiative.

East Coast Credit Union has committed to providing $15,000 in support over the next three years for the North Grove Dartmouth’s Community Action Program. The demands on this program have expanded exponentially during the pandemic.

Over the past five years, the North Grove’s Community Action program has successfully engaged high numbers of community members who experience poverty and marginalization.

The Hospice Society is building a new 10 bed facility which will be open to all residents of Cape Breton. East Coast Credit Union values supporting our communities which is why we have chosen to make a $21,000 donation over three years to help build this new facility. This donation is in collaboration with multiple credit unions in Cape Breton for a total of $150,000 donated to the Cape Breton Hospice Society.

East Coast Credit Union received a $5,000 grant from Concentra Bank (“Concentra”) in support of the Antigonish Emergency Fuel Fund. Through its annual Empowering Your Community campaign, Concentra invites Canadian credit unions to submit grant applications for exceptional community projects. The Fuel Fund offers emergency relief for members of the community of Antigonish who are in immediate need of financial support to heat their homes during the winter. Funding comes from donations made by community members and local organizations, including East Coast Credit Union.

East Coast Credit Union donated $2,750 to the Bras D’Or Wellness Society to support upgrades to the Baddeck Gym. The Bras D’Or Wellness Society was founded to improve the health and wellness of the residents of Baddeck and surrounding areas by providing access to physical fitness equipment while significantly contributing to the operating costs of the Community Centre.

We are very proud to have assisted the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace in donating and matching funds for those affected by the Covid-19 crisis in India. This donation of $4,400 is helping 100,000 families across 35 districts by creating home and community-based care for non-critical patients and reducing pressure on the health system.

East Coast Credit Union donated $3,000 to the ATV Coastal Riders Association. These funds will be used for upgrades and modifications to a trail system that runs all over south-east Richmond County.

East Coast Credit Union is proud to act as Title Sponsor of Sullivan’s Sessions during Summer 2021. Sullivan’s Sessions is a volunteer-run organization hosting four Covid-safe concerts from July to October. We are always happy to support local artists, as well as the livelihood of our communities. 

East Coast Credit Union donated $2,500 to the Songwriters and Storytellers Society to support the Out of the Woods Music Festival, held on September 17 and 18, 2021. Based in Antigonish County, this society hosts local concerts in the historical Pomquet white church to raise funds for church maintenance, while also providing a venue for local artists. We were very happy to support the upkeep of historical buildings, as well as the art and culture of our local community.

In August of 2021, East Coast Credit Union was proud to have donated $1,500 to Arts Culture Alive, a charitable organization which develops artistic and cultural life in Antigonish. This volunteer-run organization has the mission to advance the public’s appreciation of local arts and culture.

East Coast Credit Union was a proud sponsor of Festival Antigonish in their outdoor production of Robin Hood: The Great Escape, running from August 4-19, 2021. Festival Antigonish is premier summer repertory theatre, with a reputation as a local economic and cultural anchor for Atlantic Canada.

The East Coast Credit Union Annual Bursary Program was created for eligible graduating high school students to help alleviate the stress of paying for education. Our bursary program is based primarily upon community and school involvement, instead of grades. Each year we give away $10,000 to deserving students. Ten prizes of $1,000 are awarded to any eligible member of East Coast Credit Union and one is reserved for the children or grandchildren of our staff and board members.

In partnership with Atlantic Credit Unions, East Coast CU help’s fund the Dave McLean Bursary. The Dave Mclean bursary was created to ensure that deserving students have their financial burdens lessened. This allows the students to focus more on their studies and less on how they are going to afford to get a higher education. The Dave MacLean Bursary provides bursaries for Aboriginal Canadians and African Nova Scotian high school graduates from Atlantic Canada attending St. Francis Xavier University, who demonstrate severe financial need.

East Coast Credit Union funds the East Coast Credit Union Prize in Entrepreneurship for graduating BAA students at St. FX. Awarded to a Business graduate at Spring Convocation, the $500.00 East Coast Credit Union Prize in Entrepreneurship at St. Francis Xavier University recognizes outstanding academic achievement within the Entrepreneurship area.

The Coady Change Leader Campaign is a partnership with community members to provide scholarships for people to attend Coady leadership education programs. These programs provide education on social change, including community development, climate resilience, and women’s leadership. East Coast Credit Union has pledged $25,000 to help develop this campaign, helping to support scholarships for international and Canadian students.

East Coast Credit Union has been partnered with Nova Scotia Nature Trust as a Conservation Friend in the Connecting with Nature series since 2017. - https://nsnt.ca/news-events/events/connecting-with-nature-events-series/

East Coast Credit Union are also proud supporters of Nova Scotia Nature Trusts “Volunteer of the Month” program where they highlight the incredible achievements of one of their volunteers every month.

East Coast Credit Union supports green electricity with Bullfrog Power. In 2016, we formed a partnership with Bullfrog Power to invest in renewable energy for our branch operations and ATM network across East Coast Credit Union. This partnership not only helps reduce our organization’s environmental impact across Nova Scotia, but also supports the development of new community based renewable energy projects in our region and across Canada. This initiative allows us to demonstrate leadership in sustainability both locally and nationally within the credit union system.

 

East Coast Credit Union branches participated in The Great Nova Scotia Pick-Me-Up, Nova Scotia’s largest volunteer-driven community clean-up program, promoting litter clean-ups across the province. Although we did this clean up in support of Earth Day, East Coast CU strives to work towards a more sustainable future all year around.

We are proud supporters of Antigonish Butterflyway Project. The goal for this project is to create twelve pollinator patches in Antigonish this year. Twelve gardens will establish Antigonish as an official “Butterflyway” and start the community on a path to rehabilitating our local populations of flora and fauna, and to supporting the return of the iconic Monarch Butterfly population to healthy levels.

East Coast Credit Union is proud to announce that have donated a piece of land to the St. Andrews Seniors’ Housing Authority which is used for their new ground mount solar power system. In considering our strong community mindedness and our commitment to helping maintain a sustainable environment East Coast Credit Union was happy to step in and donate a piece of land to house the new solar power system.