Peter Podovinikoff, Ladner Rotarian of 45 years, passed away on December 13, 2021 after a lengthy, courageous battle with cancer. He was 85. Peter joined the Rotary Club of Grand Forks, BC 56 years ago. He joined Ladner Rotary in 1976. In 2008-09 he served as club president. Over many years he was an active participant in community service projects for the club and was a generous supporter of The Rotary Foundation.
Peter was a Certified General Accountant (CGA) who became President of Delta Credit Union, with roots in the farming and fishing industry. Eventually he became Chief Executive Officer of Envision Financial, when First Heritage Savings Credit Union, with its roots in the Fraser Valley farming community, merged to become a division of First West Credit Union. He was also a founder of the First West Foundation. He retired from the executive team of Envision Financial in 2004.
During a career that spanned over 40 years, Peter held leadership roles within the credit union system at the local, provincial, national and international levels. He served on the Economic Council of Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. He was a founding member of the Delta Community Foundation and of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation Board, he has also served countless organizations, including the Fraser River Port Authority as Board Chair. He also worked on several developments in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America.
For his extensive community work, he was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He had also been inducted into the Canadian Credit Union Hall of Fame. Kwantlen Polytechnic University awarded him a Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa. Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia (CGA-BC) recognized him with its Community Service Award for outstanding service to his community and exceptional voluntary contributions at the community level.
Peter was predeceased by his wife, Molly, almost to the day of his passing, on December 8, 2013.
At this sad time, Ladner Rotarians give their condolences to our fellow member, Sandra O'Keeffe, who has been a partner of Peter in recent years, and to Peter's family.