WFCU’s Board of Directors is comprised of ten Directors who are elected by their fellow members and serve as the stewards of the membership. Operating within a comprehensive, principles-based regulatory framework, they are accountable for overseeing, alongside Management, WFCU’s strategic direction and corporate governance, and ensuring the successful performance of the credit union. WFCU’s Directors reside in the communities the credit union serves, supporting them to make decisions in the best interest of the membership.
Our Board
WFCU’s Board of Directors provides independent oversight of the credit union, including the decisions, plans, processes, and policies proposed by the credit union’s senior management team.
The Board oversees and approves the credit union’s short-term and long-term business plan and strategy, as well as its strategic initiatives, major budgets, and risk management strategies. It ensures the credit union’s ongoing commitment to being responsive to members while adding value to the communities in which we operate.
WFCU’s Board of Directors maintains a clear division between the roles and responsibilities of the Board and those of senior management, ensuring compliance with the provincial legislation all Ontario credit unions operate within.
One of the fundamental differences between credit unions and other financial organizations is that members have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote each year at the Annual General Meeting on issues that shape the future direction of the credit union.
Chair, WFCU Credit Union
Director, WFCU Real Estate Corporation*
Mr. Gillis worked in the automotive industry as a skilled tradesman for over 40 years before retiring in December 2007. He has been Chair of the Board of Directors since 1991, has served in the credit union system for over 48 years, and currently sits on the Audit, Governance, Risk and Nominating Committees. He also serves as a member on the WFCU Real Estate Board of Directors.
Mr. Gillis was inducted into the Credit Union Executives Society (CUES) Volunteer Hall of Fame, and in 2012 was honoured as the Recipient of the CUES Director of the Year. He was also honoured with a Long-Term Service Award through the Directors Forum. Mr. Gillis is the Recipient of the Designation of Certified Credit Union Director (CCD) and has completed the Advanced Leadership Program for credit union Directors through CUES. He is also a graduate of the Credit Union Director Achievement Program (CUDA).
Mr. Gillis is a lifetime member of the Ontario Credit Union Charitable Foundation, and a past member of the Credit Union Central of Ontario Board of Directors (Central 1), the Ontario Credit Union Directors Forum Board, and a participant in the Canadian Co-operative Association’s Leadership Program.
1st Vice Chair, WFCU Credit Union
Dr. Patricia (Patti) France is the President of St. Clair College and has over 30 years’ experience in the post-secondary education sector. She was appointed to WFCU Credit Union’s Board of Directors in 2016, and currently holds the position of 1st Vice Chair on the Board of Directors. She is Chair of the Risk Committee and also sits on the Audit Committee.
Dr. France is a graduate of St. Clair College in Information Technology and holds a Bachelor of Adult Education Degree from Brock University and a Master of Adult Education Degree from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia. Over the past decade, Dr. France has had direct responsibility for key College components including academic operations.
Dr. France presently serves on the Board of Directors of Windsor Regional Hospital and is a member of the Board of Directors for Connecting Windsor-Essex (Smart Community initiative). She actively participates in the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce initiatives and Women Leading the Way within the Windsor-Essex County United Way/Centraide.
2nd Vice Chair, WFCU Credit Union
Director, WFCU Real Estate Corporation*
Mr. Nesbitt is retired from his positions of Treasurer with the CAW and Executive Director with the AIDS Committee of Windsor. He was first elected to the Board of Directors in 1997, and currently sits on the Audit and Risk Committees.
Mr. Nesbitt was the Chair of the Board of the United Way – Windsor-Essex County, and is the Recipient of the Charles E. Brooks Community Award for volunteerism, was named Volunteer of the Year for the AIDS Committee of Windsor, Volunteer of the Year for the Canadian Mental Health Association, and Recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.
Director, WFCU Credit Union
Mr. Wheeler was first elected to the Board of Directors in 2000 and currently sits on the Governance and Nominating Committees.
Mr. Wheeler is a charter member of the LaSalle Optimist Club, and is the recipient of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award for “Company of the Year” for 2002.
Director, IT Operations, London Health Science Centre
Mr. Motloch is the Director, IT Operations at London Health Science Centre, and has had various other roles with the organization throughout his career, including both Management and entry-level positions.
Mr. Motloch is currently working on his Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Royal Roads University, and is a Certified Health Executive (CHE). He has extensive additional training in the areas of IT, leadership, and diversity and cultures.
Mr. Motloch has extensive Board experience, both past and present, from medical, education, and community backgrounds. He currently sits on the Risk Committee.
He also has experience assisting sports leagues in the community, and is the recipient of the ITS Caring Hearts Award.
Director, WFCU Credit Union
Ms. van der Pol is an independent business consultant and educated in the fields of Hospitality Administration and Accounting. She was first elected to the WFCU Credit Union Board of Directors in 2012 and currently sits on the Governance Committee.
Ms. van der Pol has previous experience serving on the Executive Committee of a Credit Union Board, as Chair of the Board and President, Vice President, as well as Chair of the Audit Committee. She also is a graduate of the Credit Union Directors Achievement Program (CUDA).
Director, WFCU Credit Union
Director, WFCU Real Estate Corporation*
Mr. McCormack joined WFCU’s Board of Directors in March 2021, as a result of the merger between WFCU and Education Credit Union (ECU). He serves on the Risk and Audit Committees. Mr. McCormack is the former Chair of the Board of ECU and has served on its Board since 2016.
Mr. McCormack is a graduate of the Universities of Waterloo and Toronto and is a retired teacher from the Waterloo Region District School Boards, after 30+ years of service. He is the former President of the Waterloo Region Teachers’ Local and also served as President of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) Waterloo local, as well as Vice-President of the ETFO provincial. In addition, he served as Vice President on the Executive Board of the Ontario Federation of Labour and is a Governor of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
Mr. McCormack is a graduate from the Credit Union Director Achievement (CUDA) Program.
Director, WFCU Credit Union
Ms. Thomas holds a Masters of Business Administration Certificate from the University of Windsor Centre for Executive Education and certifications in Human Resources and Governance. Ms. Thomas currently sits on the Governance and Nominating Committees.
Recently retired as Executive Director for the Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County, she has over 40 years of experience in the non-profit and private sectors in Windsor and Essex County. From managing multi-million-dollar budgets to overseeing key financial components such as risk, audits and annual business plan development, Ms. Thomas brings a strong financial background to the WFCU Board.
Over the years, Ms. Thomas has demonstrated an overwhelming commitment to numerous philanthropic organizations in the areas of diversity, culture, crisis management, women’s well-being, and countless others which have enriched Windsor and Essex County. She has also held various positions working as an Assistant to Members of Parliament and Provincial Parliament.
Ms. Thomas has attained vast experience as a member of countless Boards and Committees locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. Her extensive volunteerism earned her multiple awards and accreditations, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.
Chair, WFCU Real Estate Corporation*
Mr. Martinello is the President of Summit Floor & Wall Coverings Ltd. located in Windsor, Ontario. He has served on the Board of Directors of WFCU Credit Union since 1993. He currently holds the positions of Chair of the WFCU Credit Union Governance and Nominating Committees, and Chair of the WFCU Real Estate Board of Directors.
Mr. Martinello holds a finance degree through the University of Notre Dame and is a graduate of the Credit Union Executives Society (CUES) Governance Leadership Institute. He has received graduate status of the Credit Union Director Achievement program (CUDA) and is a recipient of the Directors Forum Long-Term Service Award.
Mr. Martinello volunteers with numerous organizations including the Windsor Good Fellows, Windsor and Riverside Minor Hockey, and has been recognized by St. Clair College for his accomplishments as a past guest lecturer in the Continuing Education Program.
Real Estate Board
Ruth Cruikshank was first elected to the WFCU Real Estate Corporation Board of Directors in 2021 and currently holds the position of General Director. Prior to joining WFCU, she was a Board Member of the Education Credit Union and Chair of the Governance and Audit Committees. She was also a Board Member of the Canadian Pediatric Society National Board and Chair of the Finance Committee.
A retired professor at Wilfred Laurier University School of Business & Economics, Ms. Cruikshank continues to consult with various organizations on governance, strategic planning, and strategy implementation.
Ms. Cruikshank holds a Ph.D. in Administrative Studies from York University, majoring in Business Policy & Strategy. She also has an MBA from York University and a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education from the University of Toronto. An avid volunteer with numerous organizations, Ms. Cruikshank continues to value her involvement with organizations such as Capacity Canada, United Way, Trinity United Church, the Kitchener Waterloo YMCA, Ontario Rett Syndrome Association and Kitchener Soccer.
Director, WFCU Credit Union
Director, WFCU Real Estate Corporation*
Mr. Neufeld is retired from his positions of Chief Executive Officer of Aphria Inc., President and Chief Executive Officer of Jamieson Laboratories and Partner and Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young. He was elected to the WFCU Credit Union Board of Directors in 2014 and is currently the Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Risk Committee.
Mr. Neufeld has previously sat on a number of local boards including the University of Windsor Board of Governors, Enwin Utilities Inc. as Chair, and Director of Reko Tool International Group Inc., serving on the Audit and Compensation Committees. Mr. Neufeld has also volunteered with many community organizations, including The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County, United Way Windsor Essex, Essex County Community Living and Junior Achievement.
Board Diversity
WFCU’s Board of Directors is committed to diversity. With diversity, WFCU is better able to consider and respond to various interests from a broad group of people with valued insight and support, which substantially contributes to a more effective Board.
Supporting a diverse and inclusive strategy for WFCU means respect for and appreciation of differences resulting in a broad range of diverse perspectives, demographic considerations, educational backgrounds, work experiences, life styles and cultures – enabling Board Members to discharge their duties and responsibilities more effectively.
Board Code of Conduct
WFCU’s Board is required to sign a Statement of Ethical Conduct annually, which provides the credit union’s Directors and Senior Managers with guidelines for resolving conflicts of interest and restricting the use of confidential information.
The Board operates under the regulatory and operational frameworks set out in the Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act, 2020 and its Regulations; FSRA Rule 2021-001 – Sound Business and Financial Practices and other Rules and Guidance; WFCU Credit Union Bylaw No. 1; as well as WFCU Credit Union policies, guidelines and procedures. The Board is entrusted with demonstrating the credit union’s commitment to cooperative principles, which consist of open and voluntary membership, democratic control, and non-discrimination.
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
WFCU holds its AGM in September. Open to all members, it’s an opportunity to hear from the Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team about both the financial and operational highlights from the past year and contribute to the corporate business voting process.
Details of WFCU’s 2024 and 40th AGM will be posted later this year.
*WFCU Real Estate Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of WFCU Credit Union.
