FORMER CREDIT UNION PRESIDENT HONOURED

Released on October 13, 2000

A former president of Credit Union Central of Saskatchewan will be recognized

with a Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit Award on Monday, October 16th.



John Vinek of Lloydminster has spent his working career in Saskatchewan's

credit union system and has been general manager of Lloydminster Credit Union

for the past 31 years. He has been active in many co-operative and credit

union committees and piloted the credit union system's equity program in 1982.

He is also a former president of the Co-operative Trust Company of Canada.



Vinek's Co-operative Merit Award is just one part of Co-operatives Week in

Saskatchewan, being celebrated October 15th-21st this year. The week, also

observed nationally, highlights the importance of Saskatchewan's co-operatives

and credit unions to all facets of the province's economy and society.



"This is a week in which we celebrate how our co-operatives have shaped

Saskatchewan and epitomized its economic and social growth," Economic and Co-

operative Development Minister Janice MacKinnon said. "Our co-ops embody

traditions such as a dedication to innovation, a commitment to economic

progress, and above all, a belief in people."



Co-operatives Week officially kicks off on Monday, October 16th when the

minister and co-operative members raise the international co-operative

"rainbow" flag at the Legislative Building, where it will fly throughout the

week.



Highlight of the week is Monday's 21st annual Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit

Awards ceremony in Regina, where John Vinek and six other co-operators will

receive their awards.



MacKinnon noted that the co-operative sector contributes some $7 billion to

Saskatchewan's economy every year and employs 15,000 people across the

province. Co-operatives also represent 25 of the province's top 100 businesses.



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For more information, contact:



Bob Ellis

Economic and Co-operative Development

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-1691