Mr. Gaudin dedicated over 34 years of volunteer service with Prince Edward Island's credit unions. He began his co-operative sector career in 1947, managing the Co-op Store in Rustico, Prince Edward Island, and later, the North Rustico Fishermen's Co-operative. In 1965, he assumed the position of Managing Director of the Prince Edward Island Credit Union League.

Mr. Gaudin established a provincial Stabilization Fund to strengthen the credit union system in Prince Edward Island. He also served as a National Director for CUNA International and served on the Boards of Directors for both the National Association of Canadian Credit Unions and Canadian Cooperative Credit Society (now Credit Union Central of Canada).

Nominating Organization:
Credit Union Central of Prince Edward Island,
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Mr. Grad has dedicated most of his working life to the cause of credit unions and co-operatives at the local, provincial, national and international levels.

Mr. Grad spent 18 years in various positions with Federated Co-operative Limited, 11 years as Senior Vice-president, Finance and Operations with Credit Union Central of Canada and 10 years as Chief Executive Officer of Credit Union Central of Ontario. He served on the Boards of Directors of the Cooperative Superannuation Society, Credit Union Central of Canada, Credit Union Electronic Transaction Services, Cooperative Trust Company of Canada and Landmark Savings and Loan, and as an outside board member of Co-operators pension plan. He served on the Executive Committee of Credit Union Central of Canada and the Audit Committee of Co-operative Trust Company of Canada.

Though officially "retired" since 1991, Mr. Grad continues to work as a consultant on credit union related projects in Canada and around the world.

Nominating Organization:
Credit Union Central of Ontario,
Mississauga, Ontario

Dr. Lanctôt's 45-year career in the Canadian credit union system began as a volunteer at the Windsor Station Credit Union in Montreal.

Dr. Lanctôt became the Managing Director of the Quebec Credit Union League in 1953, moving to CUNA Mutual Insurance Society's Canadian head office in Hamilton, Ontario in 1961. In 1972, he assumed the position of Executive Vice President and General Manager for CUNA Mutual and CUMIS operations in Canada. Dr Lanctôt became President & Chief Executive Officer of CUMIS Life Insurance Company on its incorporation in 1976. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Co-operative Credit Society (now Credit Union Central of Canada), Canadian Co-operative Association, Co-operative Trust Company of Canada, Co-operators Data Services Limited and CUNA Mutual Insurance Group.

Dr. Lanctot has been granted the status of "director emeritus" on all CUMIS Group Boards of Directors and awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Soctia.

Nominating Organization:
CUMIS Group Limited,
Burlington, Ontario

Mr. Podovinikoff began his co-operative sector career in 1955 with Sunshine Valley Co-operative Society in Grand Folks, B.C. Ten years later, he assumed the position of Manager of Grand Forks District Credit Union.

Mr. Podovinikoff was elected as a director of the British Columbia Credit Union League (now Credit Union Central of British Columbia) in 1967 and subsequently rose to the position of President. He was instrumental in bringing together the Canadian Co-operative Credit Society and the National Association of Credit Unions in 1975. Mr. Podovinikoff has been a member of numerous delegations from British Columbia to the World Council of Credit Unions to carry out short-term projects in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Mr. Podovinikoff has served as Chief Executive Officer of Credit Union Central of British Columbia and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Delta Credit Union.

Nominating Organization:
Delta Credit Union Surrey,
British Columbia

Mr. Riviere dedicated over 24 years of volunteer service with Saskatchewan's credit unions. He was elected to the Board of Radville Credit Union in 1953 and served for the next 24 years as Director, Vice-President and then President.

Mr. Riviere was a Director of Co-operative Trust Company of Canada where he held the positions of Vice-President and President. Being fluently bilingual, Mr. Riviere became involved in Saskatchewan's French co-operative movement and was a long-time President of the Conseil de la Co-operation (Saskatchewan) and served as Vice-President of Le Conseil Canadien de la Co-operation (National). He was also a Director of Credit Union Central of Saskatchewan, the Co-operative Union of Canada and the Co-operative College of Canada.

Mr. Riviere received the Master Farm Family Award for southern Saskatchewan in 1968. He was also awarded the Governor-General's Medal in 1978 and received the Saskatchewan Co-operative Order of Merit posthumously in 1983.

Nominating Organization:
Radville Credit Union
Radville, Saskatchewan