Earning their kibble: Zeus (above left) at a Goldeyes game. Enika Zirk, Gallagher, Donna Tschetter and Monique Bilecki on duty at the Lac du Bonnet branch. Photos courtesy of Sunova Credit Union
of our service really were, and that translated into Sunova,” Foster days. Sunova currently operates 11 full-time branches and one part-time branch, serving almost 32,000 members. Its assets have grown to over $1.1 billion. "To put that into perspective, when we went through the re-brand in 2008, our assets were almost half that and since we re-branded our assets have doubled, growing by $540 million over the past six years," Foster says. Foster credits the growth to a combination of factors: a member-focused service model, the opening of three new branches, a unique brand, bright corporate culture, and of course, the D.O.Gs program, which started as a trial with one dog in Selkirk. "The members love them!" says Foster. "People have come in just to see the dogs. People have opened accounts just because of the dogs, so they’re something that has definitely become a foundation of our brand.
they can perform as they need to perform in the branches." The St. Bernards also make public appearances at Sunova’s charity golf tournament, its childrens’ Christmas party, parades and other community events that Sunova lends sponsorship to throughout the year. And while the D.O.Gs are blazing a new trail for the company, the people are learning a few new tricks as well. "Right now we’ve got a mobile app in development so there are a lot of cool things that we’re working on based on what our members have told us that they wanted," Foster says. "We’re busy but that’s a good thing!" ■
BEAUSEJOUR & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BLUE WATER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE SAINT-PIERRE-JOLYS FALCON - WEST HAWK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GRUNTHAL & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAC DU BONNET & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LANDMARK & AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NIVERVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PINAWA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ST. MALO & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE STEINBACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
"We do work with a couple of trainers because Zeus and Gallagher are service dogs, so they’re being treated and trained in the best way possible so that
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