Stories of Alberta: Perkins Farm | Wainwright | Part 2

Apr 25, 2023

Part 2: The making of credit union history

Alberta Century Farm Award plaque on Perkins Farm, Alberta established in 1908

This is part 2/2 of Stories of Alberta: Perkins Farm. You can read part 1 here.

A statue of a pig sitting on Perkins Farm in Wainwright, Alberta

In 1943, the Perkins family made history again. Bryan’s father helped establish the Wainwright Credit Union, and, as the story goes, it all began around a kitchen table.

“There was part of a group called the Gerald Listening Club that would meet every Monday night to listen to the Farm Radio Forum. One of these programs happened to be on credit unions. My dad, who was part of this group, had gone to Olds College and learned about credit unions there, and after hearing all about it, this group decided they would get a credit union going.”

And so they did. Bryan’s father was the first secretary-treasurer, and the first office of what would become the Wainwright Credit Union was a desk in the corner of the dining room in the house Bryan’s grandparents built. A house more than 96 years old that Bryan still calls home today.

The credit union was a family affair from the very beginning. Among the 36 members in 1943 were Bryan’s dad, grandparents and aunts and uncles in the area. Even as the credit union opened its first office in town in 1953, those family connections remained strong. Bryan’s dad and uncles were active on the board and committees, Bryan himself was on the board of directors and acted as President for a few years, and later, Bryan’s daughter was on the board. The Wainwright Credit Union and the Perkins family have shared a history for three generations.

Bryan Perkins and family member on Perkins Farm

Banking was tough back in those days and required a lot of security. The Wainwright Credit Union, like many others, was born from the need to have something that could be responsive to agricultural needs and the rural side of things. While banks have come a long way, and many do a great job meeting agricultural needs, Bryan says the competition keeps credit unions healthy. “It’s incumbent on credit unions to continue evolving and provide leadership where they can.”

The Wainwright Credit Union became part of Encompass Credit Union, which has since merged under Vision Credit Union. Bryan supported this amalgamation, citing their increased capability. “I think credit unions can do some different things. One of the reasons I supported the amalgamation was the increased capacity and ability to stay responsive to the needs of the larger farming operations.”

Another thing that separates credit unions from others is their close connection and involvement with the community. In 2018, when Bryan was a member of the Rotary Club, they decided to team up with the health foundation and raise funds to put a CT Scanner in the Wainwright Hospital. They signed a memorandum of agreement with Alberta Health Services that they would raise $2.2M to make it happen. In 2019, as part of a fundraising committee, Bryan volunteered to reach out to what was then the Encompass Credit Union. Someone suggested asking for $30k, but Bryan decided he would ask for $100,000 because that’s what they really needed.

The credit union approved Bryan’s ask and, standing on the grandstand during the Wainwright Stampede, announced the donation of $100,000. “The credit union was investing back into our community. It was something the banks weren’t prepared to do, and what it did was it gave our fundraising a boost. It gave us a great deal of credibility,” Bryan says. “People thought it would be impossible to raise that much, but I was extremely positive we could engage the community. I remember leaving the grounds of the Stampede after making the announcement. I saw a little girl selling lemonade to raise funds, and I just thought, ‘We’re going to get there.’”

In March 2023, after successfully reaching the $2.2M goal, the Wainwright Health Centre held its official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the brand-new CT Scanner. And what is the name of the room the new CT Scanner is located in? The Bryan and Sharon Perkins CT Scanner Room, of course. A fitting end to another great chapter in the history of the Perkins Family.