From The Heartland
 "I'm a big proponent of community and people, both personally and in my business. That's why I belong to my local credit union."
Allen Seto
Vanderhoof
Integris Credit Union
Allen Seto is a busy man: a do-er. Not only is he the owner and operator of a restaurant and gas station in Vanderhoof, he's also an elected director at the local branch of the Integris Credit Union. Allen moved here from Abbotsford in the Fraser Valley seven years ago with his wife, leaving their grown children back in the Lower Mainland.
The small BC town is located within spitting distance of the province's geographical centre, a vast, sparsely populated area of mountains, lakes and forest, where wilderness sports are very popular. Forestry and agriculture are the main industries, which means that the people who belong to the Integris Credit Union know the value of a hard day's work. They also appreciate the importance of community and the concept of people supporting one another. All too often, BC's remoter rural areas-and the values of the people who live there-are overlooked. It's especially important for community members to pull together to make things happen.
"Last year, my own businesses contributed $23,000 to local organizations and charities," said Allen, who is originally from Saskatchewan.
His personal values informed his choice to join a credit union way back when, and he's still a member. As an elected director, he shares responsibility for the governance of Integris Credit Union's Vanderhoof branch. Credit unions, of course, are founded on the principle of giving back to the community, so Allen is in his element.
Allen is typical of many BC credit union members, who roll up their shirtsleeves to create communities where people are the most important investment.
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