Community Stories
Giving back is in our DNA
Contributing to the betterment of the communities we serve is a core principal of the co-operative movement and a responsibility we at PCU take very seriously. Our staff and our members participate in a host of events that benefit a variety of causes from child homelessness to heart and stroke research and even the issue of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome for First Responders in our communities. Whether the goal is to raise funds or clean up our environment, the staff and members of PCU share a commitment to improving the lives of others and the quality of life in our communities.In partnership with the Ontario Credit Union Foundation’s “C U Succeed Bursary Program”, PACE awarded 11 of their member students, a total of $11,500 - the most number of recipients of any Ontario Credit Union this year! This bursary is in addition to PACE’s bursary program
The C U Succeed Bursary, recognizes and awards exceptional post-secondary students who displayed:
- financial need
- academic achievement
- strong engagement role within their communit
Tiffany J, Liam K, Victoria L, Julia N, Kemuel R, Shayla R, and Trudi V.
Their hard work and community involvement have not gone unnoticed! We wish them the best in their post-secondary school year!
If you are interested in the C U Succeed Bursary Program or the PACE Bursary Awards, stay connected!
PCU Etobicoke Branch and the community came together to raise money for Parkinson Canada Superwalk and challenged each other to stay active in support.
The branch raffle raised $1810 towards helping Canadians living with Parkinson’s. Thank you to everyone who contributed and congratulations to our raffle winners!
The PCU team believes in the power of community. Our staff at Stroud sponsored the “Backpack Heroes”, an organization that puts together backpacks for kids all year round. The backpacks were filled with essential school supplies and gift cards. Last year, they helped four different families who experienced fires in the winter. To donate, email backpackheroes4kids@gmail.com to arrange a drop off.
The CU Succeed Bursary, created 5 years ago by the Ontario Credit Union Foundation, supports students who have:
- Demonstrated financial need
- Had strong role in engaging with their community.
PCU would like to recognize and congratulate Amanda Bishop, Madison Byers, Mandisa Jacques – Saburi, Kassidy Seldon and Kevin Zhang for their hard work and community involvement and wish them a successful school year.
If you’re interested in the CU Succeed bursary or our PCU Bursary program, stay in touch!
Vaughan, ON - October 28, 2019 Guided by the values of putting people first, PACE Credit Union members donated 1103 pounds of non-perishable food items to Feed the Need Durham, a food hub in Oshawa that distributes food to 51 organizations including food banks, shelters and soup kitchens in Durham Region.
Hunger affects people from all backgrounds and all stages of life. In particular, children, single-parent households, newcomers to Canada, and seniors are some of the vulnerable populations that rely on food banks to meet their basic food needs. Food insecurity has only become worse for these groups, with seniors experiencing the highest spike in food bank usage in the past decade as a result of their government pensions falling behind the rising costs of living.
"Our local food banks help families in need. I am proud that PACE Credit Union members food donation will provide approximately 920 meals for those facing hunger in our community" said Rubina Havlin, Interim Chief Executive Officer, PACE Credit Union.
Contributing to the betterment of the communities we serve is a core principal of the co-operative movement and a responsibility we at PACE take seriously. As we enter into the holiday season, it is important that families can focus on enjoying time together, instead of worrying about where their next meal is coming from.
“We are always humbled by the support of our local business community,” said Ben Earle, Executive Director of Feed the Need in Durham, “the food donated by PACE Credit Union will allow us to provide support to those who need it most in our community, ensuring that no one in Durham goes hungry.”
About PACE Credit Union
PACE Credit Union is a full-service, member-focused, and community-based credit union that has been serving its 40,000 members for over 60 years. We offer a wide range of financial products and services through 16 branches, ABM's, online banking and more. At PACE you're an owner, not just a customer. Learn more at pacecu.ca.
Media Contact:
Heather Sarnecki
Senior Vice President, Branch Sales
289 459 0993
Since the program's inception in 2007, PCU has awarded over $400,000 to assist member students in pursuing their academic dreams. Click here to see the winners.
PCU partnered up with the Benincasa Family for the 10th Annual “Fun Night with an Illusionist” in memory of Matthew Benincasa. With the support from family, friends in their community and contributions from PCU, a donation of $40,000 was made to Covenant House Toronto.
This donation will help Covenant House Toronto provide 24/7 crisis care to homeless youth, aged 16 to 24, with a range of services, including education, counselling, health care and employment assistance.
May 7th, 2018
PCU partnered up with the Benincasa Family for the 9th Annual “Fun Night of Magical Comedy” in memory of Matthew Benincasa. With the support from family, friends in their community and contributions from PCU, a donation of $72,500.00 was made to Covenant House Toronto. This donation will help Covenant House Toronto provide 24/7 crisis care to homeless youth, aged 16 to 24, with a range of services, including education, counselling, health care and employment assistance. 
L to R. Dan Coldwell (PACE, Chief Marketing and Community Relations Officer, Nelle Lombardo (PACE Member), Mary Benincasa (PACE, Chief Operating Officer) and Bruce Rivers, Covenant House Executive Director.
The Whitchurch-Stouffville public library is undergoing a large expansion. PACE presented a cheque for a $15,000 donation that will help to equip and furnish the new facility.
On November 16th Dan Coldwell, CMO for PACE Credit Union, participated in the Covenant House’s 6th annual Executive Sleep Out. For one night Toronto executives were exposed to the discomfort and vulnerability of sleeping in the streets, an experience that is at best only a small window into the exhausting life of homeless youth. Behind each young person living on the street there is a story, there is a family and there are dreams and aspirations. The Executive Sleep Out is an amazing initiative to raise money to help these youth get off the street and back on their feet, but it is also a unique lesson in how hard it is to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness while enduring the elements. These young people cannot do it alone!
The Covenant House does an amazing job of giving shelter and guidance to young people in many cities. Dan and the other Executives raised $1.1 million for this cause and PACE is proud to be supporting the Covenant House.
Learn more about Covenant House here www.covenanthousetoronto.ca
PCU sponsored the Newmarket Ride Don't Hide charity event on June 25th, 2017. Ride Don't Hide is a community bike ride hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association. The goal is to raise awareness and help break the stigma around mental health while raising funds to help support mental health programs. PCU employees were there to show their support and take part in the biking and walking events. PCU also sponsored the event and contributed $10,495 to help fund mental health programs.
PACE Credit Union's committed and passionate membership was more than evident during the 2016 Annual General Meeting on April 26th, 2017. 290 members were in attendance to come out and cast their votes. The following members were elected to the 2017 Board of Directors, Ian Goodfellow, Wendy Mitchell, Ken Topping and Pauline Wainwright. We all look forward to a great year ahead, and are pleased to have shared a wonderful evening with the devoted member-owners of this amazing organization.
A special thanks goes out to our guests Kerr Smith (Ontario Cooperative Association / All 4 Each Program) and Dejehan Hamilton (Tune In Foundation / Musica Palooza) who gave us two inspirational presentations and provided a little entertainment as well!
The new PACE on Main condominium marks not only a new chapter for PACE Credit Union in Stouffville, but a huge step in the revitalization of the beautiful downtown core. On July 20, 2016 Stouffville Mayor, Justin Altmann, joined councillors, Geranium homes, home owners and of course PACE Credit Union to break-ground on site of the new five storey boutique condominium. PACE Credit Union's Stouffville branch will be relocated to the building's ground floor, with a modernized new look. The condo is a first for the Stouffville area, and PACE is very proud to be involved.
L to R: Nelle Lombardo (PACE Member), Dan Coldwell (Chief Marketing and Community Relations Officer), Toni Jennings (Covenant House), and Mary Benincasa (Chief Operating Officer, PACE Credit Union),
PACE partnered up with the Benincasa Family for the 8th Annual ‘Fun Night of Comedy’ in memory of Matthew Benincasa. Thanks to support from the community and contributions from PACE Credit Union, a donation of $66,250 was made to Covenant House Toronto.PACE proudly continues to support Covenant House Toronto. Covenant House is a great organization and they do so much to help homeless youth in the Toronto area.
Dan Coldwell, CMO at PACE was one of the seventy business leaders that slept out last night as part of Covenant House 5th annual Toronto's Executive Sleep Out. For one night, he gave up the comforts of his home and armed with only a sleeping bag and piece of cardboard, he took on the challenge of sleeping outside on the streets of Toronto so that homeless youth don't have to. Dan Coldwell, on behalf of PACE, rose over $35,000 to help youths get off the streets of Toronto and into the supportive hand of Covenant House. PACE is proud to support a wonderful organization like Covenant House.
PACE had 4 teams participate in the Curl for Kids Sake event on Wednesday November 16, 2016. The PACE teams were able to raise over $2,800 for the Big Brother Big Sister Charity and had a smile on doing it. Good work to the Sweeping Beauties, Curl Jam, Electric Curlers and Alcona Rocks teams who were out to represent PACE and have a great time at Curl For Kids Sake.
L to R: Bruce Rivers, Executive Director (Covenant House), Mary Benincasa (Chief Operating Officer, PACE Credit Union), Nelle Lombardo (PACE Member) and Dan Coldwell ( Chief Marketing and Community Relations Officer)
PACE partnered up with the Benincasa Family once again this year to host a ‘Fun Night of Comedy’ in memory of Matthew Benincasa. With outstanding support from the community and help from PACE, a donation of $70,800 was made to Covenant House Toronto on April 5th 2016.
We are proud to support Covenant House Toronto and continue to do more. For the second time, our very own Chief of Marketing and Community Relations Officer – Dan Coldwell, will participate in Sleep-Out Toronto this Fall.
PACE is committed to helping raise more for the incredible programs available to assist homeless youth in the Toronto Area.
The 7th Annual PCU Golf Classic was held on Monday August 11th at Silver Lakes Golf and Country Club. Without the generosity and support of our sponsors and golfers, we would not have been able to award 113 students with bursary's this year.
Thank you! We look forward to seeing all of you next year.
“Docs (Doctors of Ontario Charity) on Ice” is a charitable group of doctors from around Ontario that raises money for different medical related associations and foundations annually. Over $1 million dollars has been raised since its inception in 1983.
Docs on Ice 2014 was hosted in Newmarket, Ontario and was proud to partner with the Canadian Mental Health Association – York Region. This year over 600 doctors played in a hockey tournament and raised $275,000 for Mental Health. PACE was the proud title sponsor of Doc on Ice 2014 and we couldn’t be happier with the result! Congratulations to everyone who was involved; your generosity is inspiring.
We look forward to next years Docs on Ice which will be held in London, Ontario in support of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada on April 9th – 11th 2015.
The second annual i Run & Rock – United by Trauma was held this past weekend at Ray Twinney Centre in Newmarket. The weather truly cooperated with the event organizers! PCU has been the title sponsor for this very worthwhile cause right from its infancy. United by Trauma is a charitable organization hopes to raise awareness and funds for research and outreach programs for First Responder’s affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These men and women are members of our community who serve, protect and treat us each and every day. PCU is a highly committed, community minded organization that United by Trauma is happy to stand beside in the community.
This year’s 1, 5 and 10 km run exceeded expectations by hosting 398 runners – 124 runners more than last year. PCU again showed their support by having upwards of 80 participants! The runners persevered through the heat and sun on the run and crossed the finish line in fine fashion.
The indoors event again featured First Responder bands The Wilmas, Vital Organs and The Coppertones and headlined by Glass Tiger. Fantastic performances by each and every one of the entertainers were well received by the crowd on hand. Looking around the crowd, you could see the enjoyment on the faces. Those lucky enough to meet Marshall, the first donated trauma therapy dog, were rapt by his big eyes and playful demeanor.
Because of the great support received from PACE Credit Union and other sponsors, along with runner fees, the event was able to raise over $60,000!! Once all the bills are paid, United by Trauma will be putting all of the remaining funds into purchasing more trauma therapy dogs for First Responders in need. There is a great need for this outreach, and it could only be done with support of community partners like PACE. We, at United by Trauma, look forward to next year with PACE by our side to make the event even bigger and better. We welcome your input and comments.
Marshall is named in memory of OPP Sgt. Doug Marshall, who committed suicide in Midland detachment 2012.
PCU matches funds raised by the Benincasa Family to support Covenant House. In memory of Matthew Benincasa, the family hosts a "Fun Night of Comedy" with an auction to fundraise. This year $40,000 was donated to Covenant House Toronto!
On Sunday September 15th, our Stouffville and Uxbridge branches raised a total of $1162 for the Terry Fox Foundation. Along with Friends and Family, our staff participated in the Terry Fox Run in each community. Over the past 32 years, the foundation has raised over $600 Million for cancer research. Our staff at PACE are always eager to help a good cause in our community and will continue to support the Terry Fox Foundation annually. Join Team PACE next year on Sunday September 14th 2014.
For more pictures check out our FaceBook Page
On June 1st PCU sponsored the i Run & Rock 1, 5 and 10km run which took place in Newmarket, Ontario. In addition to the run, there was a concert featuring Canadian artists Glass Tiger.
The event was to recognize first responders in the Police, Fire, EMS and Military services and their struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
PCU Vice President Dan Coldwell said “Our community is very lucky to have people like Frank, Nicole and Lisa. By their actions, they obviously care about people, the community in which we live and most certainly the community of first responders. When we were approached to support this event, it was a very natural fit because PCU has the same values.”
Plans are already underway for next year’s event.
More photos can be found on our facebook page .
The Benincasa family has supported Covenant House Toronto in memory of Matthew Benincasa annually through fundraisers like a `Fun Night of Comedy`. PCU matches what they raise each year providing a larger donation. This year the Benincasa family along with PCU, donated an outstanding $36,000 to Covenant House Toronto. Donations like this help to provide 24/7 crisis care for homeless youth ages 16-24 in the Toronto area. They receive a wide range of services including education, counseling, health care and employment assistance. Covenant House is a safe place that encourages at risk youth to believe in themselves. PCU has a corporate social responsibility to contribute to programs that help the community as much at Covenant House.
