Community Enrichment
From Here. All In. For You.
Why Does Community Matter to Us?
Community is one of the three pillars upon which Integris was founded: Members, Staff, and Community. Our purpose is to enrich the lives of all we serve through responsive financial expertise and innovative solutions to our communities. We live our purpose through our connections to the people, priorities and projects that make Life Out Here so great! Many members choose Integris because they know that Integris is a part of our communities.
Integris communities also share in our profits through our contributions of time, talent, and the tools we’ve developed to deliver our From Here. All In. For You. promise. Through engagement, investment, and partnerships, Integris enriches communities throughout north central BC, a remarkable region we are so fortunate to call home. Healthy, resilient, prosperous communities are foundational to both our culture and our measurement of success. For us, it’s people before profit; because we are here when our friends need us – investing in one another – to make Life Our Here the very best it can be!
What is Community Investment?
Community investment at Integris refers to our financial resources (cash, sponsorships, in-kind support and charitable donations) to local non-profit organizations whose mandates are supported by our community enrichment objectives and that impact people and place here in north central BC.
Integris Community Foundation
The Integris Credit Union Community Foundation (the Foundation) promotes and provides charitable assistance that contributes towards the vibrancy, sustainability, and well-being of communities in the Nechako-Stuart region (Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, Fraser Lake and the surrounding area).
Please note that only registered charities and qualified donees can receive grants directly from the Integris Community Foundation. If you are a BC incorporated society/association, you may be eligible to receive an Integris Foundation grant however, you MUST partner with a Registered Charity (ex. United Way, a Municipality, a Regional Districts, any registered charity). The Registered Charity or the Qualified Donee will apply on behalf of your BC Incorporated Society/Association. A Partnership Agreement must form part of the application to the Integris Community Foundation. If you have questions about your organization’s eligibility to receive a Foundation Grant, please email us at communityinvestment@integriscu.ca or call and ask to speak with Dan Wingham, Integris Manager of Partnerships.
Since 2002, the Integris Foundation has invested over $1,200,000 into community projects in the Nechako-Stuart region, including: The Integris Community Theatre at NVSS, the Takla Nation Emergency Sockeye Hatchery, a Cardiac Ultrasound Machine at St. John Hospital, and specialised medical and survival equipment for regional Search & Rescue/local volunteer fire departments just to name grants in the last five years.
From HERE. All in. For YOU!
Some of the benefits include:
The following Application types are not supported:
Community Investment Council
Our Community Investment Council meets every quarter to adjudicate applications received from non-profit organizations. Integris welcomes Community Investment Grant applications from local non-profit organizations whose mandates address one or more of the following:
Educational Awards
Over the years, Integris has made substantial community investment by providing opportunities and financial assistance to students from across our region while supporting our regional post secondary education partners, CNC and UNBC.
As a financial cooperative, we enable and reward our members so we have included Integris membership in the eligibility criteria.
High School Awards
For youth graduating high school, we provide scholarships and/or bursaries for students in:
For more information on scholarship & bursary eligibility and the application process, please contact your school’s counselling office.
Post-Secondary Awards
At the post-secondary level, we invest in our youth who work hard to make our communities the very best they can be. This is done through our partnerships with the College of New Caledonia and the University of Northern BC.
By investing in students pursuing post-secondary education here in north central BC, our aim is to:
- Strengthen our region by keeping young professionals in our communities.
- Enable students who aspire to people and place over profit.
For more information on award eligibility/process, please contact CNC and/or UNBC.
What is Community Engagement?
Community engagement at Integris refers to our contributions of time and talent (i.e., our human resources: Integris volunteers, staff at events, financial literacy workshops & outreach, etc.,) to local non-profit organizations/projects whose mandates are supported by our community enrichment objectives and that enhance communities here in north central BC.
Community Engagement Teams
Community Engagement Teams (CETs) are specialized operational teams in each of our communities that work closely with local branch leadership, key stakeholders, and existing/emerging partners to identify and action initiatives that align with our community enrichment objectives. CETs engage community at events, encourage & facilitate staff participation, and develop & deepen business opportunities with value-aligned individuals, households, and organizations. CETs are our collaborative ALL-IN local assets that connect Integris to community.
Do Some Good
Do Some Good is a platform that provides Integris members, staff and communities with a single community enrichment digital destination to find more information about applications for Integris Community Investment and Foundation Grants, renting the ICUBBQ, seeking Integris volunteers, and connecting with other ‘good-doers’ across the region.
ICUBBQ
Shortly after launching our refreshed brand in 2015, Integris launched our ICUBBQ initiative. A cornerstone of our Life Out Here brand is to create community connections – we do this by providing opportunities for people in our communities to support each other. The ICUBBQ ‘shows up’ differently for Integris community partners in that when it rolls up to an event, it enables our community partners to feed, inform, and fundraise, providing unique connection and engagement value for all involved.
Since the ICUBBQ (aka the Sauce Boss) launched, the asset has attended over 200 events across the region and has raised well over $200,000 for community organizations and initiatives; it has surpassed our most enthusiastic projections. It is a hot commodity indeed … if you’d like a shot at becoming the next grill master, here is your chance: please apply at the link below.
What does a partnership with Integris look like?
Partnerships involve both Community Engagement & Investment while ensuring mutual benefit (typically advocacy and promotion) between and on behalf of the partners.
Strong partnerships rely on the ability to detect, discern, and deepen relationships with key individuals and organizations in positions of influence, capability and leadership across the region. We achieve our Vision, Mission and Community Enrichment objectives when we enable our partners’ mandates.
Partnerships typically involve multi-year Community Investment and Engagement agreements which provide financial certainly to mission-aligned organisations while reinforcing Integris as leading corporate citizen.
This is accomplished through shared storytelling, logo placement, targeted promotion, and further engagement opportunities Partnerships plays a vital role in the Strategy as it is through their efforts that the organization connects and deepens connections with key community and sector partners.
Our Partners
Become a Member
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Read Our Blog
Celebrating the 10-Year Nechako White Sturgeon Juvenile Release Event
This year, we had the honour of celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Nechako White Sturgeon Juvenile Release Event, held at Riverside Park in the District of Vanderhoof on unceded Saik’uz territory.
New Intakes for Integris Community Photo Calendar Contest!
Our calendar contest, a cherished tradition that captures the essence of our community, is undergoing a transformation to make it even more engaging and inclusive.
The Vanderhoof Children’s Theatre celebrates 25 years with some help from Integris.
Integris Credit Union and the Integris Community Foundation are thrilled to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Vanderhoof Children’s Theatre, a cornerstone of the Vanderhoof community that has brought joy and creativity to audiences for a quarter of a century.