Since our founding on March 21, 1964, Kindred Credit Union has grown from 22 Mennonites coming together to share resources into a trusted financial cooperative serving over 29,000 members in diverse communities across Ontario. We’ve remained committed to our values of integrity, compassion, and stewardship through community-driven movement with meaningful, innovative products like the Affordable Housing GIC and Loan, designed to promote mutual aid and compassion, and the Kindred Charitable Fund, which deepens our impact by supporting local organizations.
Our journey has always been about more than banking—it’s about connecting values and faith with finances to inspire peaceful, just, and prosperous communities. As we celebrate 60 years of “Making Peace with Your Money,” we look back with gratitude for the trust and partnership of our members, whose deposits help fund others’ dreams.
This year, we marked a major milestone with meaningful celebrations that reflected our commitment to serving our members and local communities. Some of these highlights include moments that brought us together to honor the past while looking to the future, such as:
- A vibrant photo wall celebrated our history, showcasing cherished memories from across six decades;
- At our Annual General Meeting, we presented a custom-made 60th-anniversary Mennonite quilt, symbolizing the strength and unity of our community;
- On International Credit Union Day, we were honored with special municipal and provincial commemorations, recognizing the impact of our 60 years of service;
- And members and local communities joined us for giveaways and special prizes, further highlighting the steadfast support that has made our journey possible.
These moments provided opportunities to deepen the sense of connection and shared purpose that defines Kindred.
In terms of community impact, we accomplished a lot in 2024! The Kindred Charitable Fund issued over $100,000 in grants to 15 organizations actively serving their communities with creative and impactful projects! We introduced our social impact themes – housing, hunger, and mental health – to provide a clear, focused framework for our community engagement and giving.
We completed our funding commitment to House of Friendship with the second of two $30,000 contributions to their ShelterCare program. Kindred teammates participated in the Coldest Night of the Year in February, raising over $12,000 for a variety of community organizations serving those living in poverty. We also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement with our friends, highlighting a decade of impactful work.
Our learning and growth journey didn’t stop there! We:
- Partnered with MCC to hold two Blanket Exercises, which aims to build understanding about our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada;
- Collaborated with House of Friendship to offer training on how we can better serve underbanked populations in Waterloo Region.
Finally, just this past November, we held our 2nd annual food drive, contributing a total of $67,000 to several local food banks! What a way to end 2024!
We are deeply grateful to our members, team members, and community partners for six decades of trust and collaboration. Your unwavering support has been the foundation of our shared purpose, enabling us to foster mutual aid and create opportunities for peace and prosperity.
Looking ahead, we carry gratitude for our history and a renewed commitment to serving you and our communities with integrity, compassion, and stewardship. Together, we’re using financial resources as a force for good, connecting values and faith with finances in ways that truly make a difference. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey and for reminding us what it means to Make Peace with Your Money®.
Explore more about Kindred Credit Union’s 60-year journey in our blog series, or visit kindredcu.com to learn how our unique products and services can make a meaningful difference in your life and community.