Paul Challinor | CPA, CA, ICD.D
Retired | Delta, B.C.
Retired | Delta, B.C.
Retired | Delta, B.C.
Director | Incumbent
I have been a Chartered Professional Accountant for 35 years and was first elected to the Board of First West in 2019, serving on First West’s Risk, Investment and Loan Committee (Chair – 2021/22) and Audit and Conduct Review Committees, and the Board of First West Foundation. I have also served on the Board of Central 1 Credit Union since 2020.
In 2019 I retired as a Partner at PwC Vancouver where I led the Financial Services practice from 2000 to 2015. Throughout my PwC career I served large public, private, and member-owned financial services organizations; and I have provided audit and advisory services to many of Canada’s large credit unions, alternative lenders (including fintechs), wealth managers and insurers. I have worked with a broad range of regulators including BCFSA (which regulates BC credit unions) and OSFI (which regulates Federal credit unions). My extensive Financial Services experience enables me to provide strong financial oversight of First West and to support its continued growth and success, particularly as we continue the federal continuance journey.
My governance experience also includes serving on the boards of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, the Public Guardian and Trustee, Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation, and church Parish Council. I have been actively involved in local badminton and squash and have been a regular participant in the Ride to Conquer Cancer.
I am honoured to continue to serve the members of First West as a member of its board of directors.
Retired | Kelowna, B.C.
Retired | Kelowna, B.C.
Director | Incumbent
I am a retired Okanagan business professional with 40+ years of experience, with accounting (FCPA, CMA) as well as corporate governance (C.Dir) credentials. My work background includes senior financial positions in very large companies (Home Oil/Devon Energy, SunRype Products, KF Aerospace), and I have demonstrated continuous volunteer and board work in local community, business and/or national professional associations for the same 40+ years.
I’ve had the privilege to be a pivotal part of taking SunRype public on the TSX, merging Canada’s three national accounting designations, turning around struggling local non-profits, and most recently, participating in building First West Credit Union’s vision to become a preeminent federally regulated financial institution providing the best of opportunities, diversification, innovation and economic resilience, all while keeping decision-making local in our communities.
My philosophy is based on continuous learning, volunteerism, and building leadership capability through mentorship of our youth. First West Credit Union exemplifies this same community, “member first” and continuous improvement philosophy. I have been privileged to act as a director on the board since 2019 and chair the Audit Committee since 2020.
My blended family (with four children and now grandkids) has lived in Kelowna since 1991. We love our local community and embrace the possibilities that First West Credit Union brings to all members: supporting and building thriving, resilient businesses and offering all members the best local financial support.
Owner/Operator, Yellow Point Lodge Ltd. | Ladysmith, B.C.
Owner/Operator, Yellow Point Lodge Ltd. | Ladysmith, B.C.
Director | Incumbent
I am a lifetime Innkeeper who has been a credit union member for 20 years. I am a 61 year-old white male and live on Vancouver Island. Through my daily interactions with many different people from all walks of life I have developed an appreciation for the diversity of thought and cultures that defines where we live. Through lean times early in life, I learned not to take for granted the good things we have. That brought a desire to help people reach their full potential and an interest in helping those less fortunate.
Through exposure to the regular banking system through my father, I found the contrast between that world and the credit union system to be striking. I have said before, and will say again at my interview, I believe that the credit union system is ‘the angel on the shoulder of the larger financial industry’ and that the influence our system can have on the ‘big 5’ is a responsibility we should not take lightly.
While all members may not realize the difference, many will see a financial institution that helps its communities, gives back meaningfully and they will support that with their business. This will not only be good for the communities involved but will cause the larger operators to take notice and maybe encourage them to do a bit more themselves, to preserve their market share. Whatever it takes.
I feel that the First West Foundation is a cornerstone of this value structure. These are my key reasons for wanting to continue to be involved with this organization.
Financial Services Executive | West Vancouver, B.C.
Financial Services Executive | West Vancouver, B.C.
Director | New
With 20+ years with Canadian financial institutions, I bring hands on experience in steadily and successfully growing financial institutions at both the provincial and federal levels. I grew up locally, attended UBC Commerce, obtained my CPA, CA and IT risk (CISA) accreditations through my time with a global professional accounting firm in audit and risk management while counting several credit unions as my clients.
My career has prepared me well to contribute to First West. I have held executive positions in both provincial and federal financial institutions as head of finance with responsibilities for strategy, reporting, treasury, tax, procurement and project management along with head of operations with responsibilities again with strategy and execution for lending (commercial, residential, and consumer), deposits, wealth management, branches and back office. In all roles I have collaborated with community groups, service partners, regulatory bodies as well as boards of directors.
My motivation for a director position is to serve others. The skills, competencies and collective experiences I bring are complementary to that aim. The thing I admire most about the Credit Union movement is that we are here to serve: our members, our communities, and our employees. We don’t forsake one for the other; we always work to create win/win/win solutions. My role is to leverage my experience as well as my inherent values to assist First West in achieving its federal charter goal of providing a healthy financial alternative for all Canadians as they are already doing locally.
A call for nominations to the First West board of directors was issued on Nov. 22, 2021 and closed Jan. 14, 2022, inviting qualified candidates to apply.
Each year the board evaluates its current composition and skill set and identifies any critical skills, experience or expertise that would be beneficial to attract to the board given changes in our market and evolving strategic direction. The board also considers diversity in (but not limited to) gender, ethnicity/culture, geography and age.
For this year’s call for nominations it was determined the following skills and experience would best complete the needs of our board.
Possession of director accreditation, such as ICD.D, C.Dir or other designation was considered an asset.
Equity, diversity and inclusion are essential elements in attracting high-calibre directors and maintaining a high-functioning board and business. In accordance with First West’s Board Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and recognizing that competence is paramount, the board was particularly seeking expressions of interest from well-qualified candidates who are from historically underrepresented groups, including women, people with disability, and Black, Indigenous and People of Colour.
The candidate search process is led by the board’s Nominations Task Force. The Nominations Task Force includes three members of the Governance and Nominations Committee and two non-director members-at-large. The task force was assisted by an independent company that aided in the search for qualified candidates, checked references and conducted additional interviews.
Learn how First West determines which candidates to endorse.
Once critical skills, experience and expertise are identified, the Nominations Task Force then seeks candidates with those attributes and, with insights gained through candidate applications and interviews, endorses those who would bring the most overall value to the board if elected. Incumbent candidates are not automatically endorsed—they are subject to the same assessment and interview process as other candidates, and only receive endorsement if their skills, experience and attributes meet the needs of the credit union.
The task force is required to endorse at least as many candidates as there are seats available in the election.
Endorsement helps members identify which candidates have the skills, experience and personal qualities needed to oversee the credit union on behalf of the membership. Candidates, for example, are not automatically endorsed—they are subject to the same assessment and interview process as other candidates, and only receive endorsement if their skills, experience and attributes meet the objectives of the credit union.
The terms of four directors expire at the conclusion of the 2022 AGM.
At the close of nominations on Jan. 14, 2022, 11 candidates had submitted nominations papers. After a thorough
candidate interview process, the Nominations Task Force endorsed four candidates. Although not required to, the
candidates who were not endorsed subsequently and voluntarily withdrew their candidacy. As a result, the following candidates were declared elected as at-large directors by acclamation and their respective terms (as determined by lot) are set out below:
3-year term expiring 2025