Kevin Pittman has been named Tumbler Ridge’s Community Champion for August.
Pittman, a husband and father of two has spent the last several years coaching hockey, frequently coaching two teams, and when his team isn’t playing, he is frequently on the ice refereeing for the other Tumbler teams.
“He is also a member of the board for the Johnny Malcom Foundation, which assists youth in minor sports,” points out one of the many people who nominated him.
And, of course, he is also a member of the local Fire Department, and has been a member for eight years, where he recently earned himself the designation of Lieutenant. “Kevin exemplifies what it means to be a Tumbler Ridge Community Champion,” says the nominator.
Pittman will be getting a $100 gift certificate to one of the local businesses, sponsored by Lake View Credit Union. CEO Lori Archibald says the company is proud to be partnering with the Tumbler Ridge Chamber of Commerce in “providing a locally purchased gift certificate to award to a community member of distinction. In addition to celebrating the good work of those who make Tumbler Ridge such a wonderful place, we get to support our local businesses, who’ve been challenged in recent years by Covid and wildfires.”
Lake View has been a part of Tumbler Ridge since 2001, when the council of the day asked the locally operated credit union to step in after the departure of the Royal Bank. “LVCU has endeavored to support the people of Tumbler Ridge and be a valuable local partner,” says Archibald. “Like all partnerships though, there are challenges.
“The most common critique we hear is that residents would appreciate full-time hours. Rest assured, from our board to our frontline staff, we would love nothing more than to accommodate this desire. However, we must be able to justify the expense, and currently the business in Tumbler Ridge doesn’t warrant further service expansion. Unlike a bank, any losses we incur are absorbed by our members, who are our owners, in the form of higher rates, higher fees and smaller dividends.
“Similarly, when non-members impose upon us for services like coin exchange, or cheque cashing, those costs are passed along to our existing members, who are in the unenviable position of subsidizing the financial services of those who don’t support the only financial institution in town. What costs you ask? Coin delivery and associated security and insurance. Handling, storage and the ongoing cost of maintaining and staffing a physical location also add up.
“Additionally, we are bound by a very rigid regulatory regime which compels us to exercise a heightened level of scrutiny on non-members transactions in order to comply with existing anti-money laundering laws. The added staff time and effort is, once again, passed on to members.
“We value our relationship with the people and businesses of Tumbler Ridge and would appreciate the chance to grow in the community, be it through increased membership and lending, or a stipend provided by the municipality to offset the added costs of full-time hours and servicing non-members. Our board is open to suggestions, we’re simply looking for direction from our partners.”
The Tumbler Ridge Chamber is putting the Community Champion Program on hold for now, as it moves into getting ready for the 2023 Small Business Banquet, which it is taking over now that the Tumbler Ridge Children’s Centre Society is no more. (Daycare in Tumbler Ridge is now being provided by the YMCA.) If you are interested in helping with the small business party, contact the Chamber at
tumblerchamber@gmail.com.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
