The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Work is underway on a massive overhaul and expansion of one of downtown Flin Flonâ??s busiest destinations. Over the next few months, the Flin Flon Credit Union will be remodeled and extended onto a neighbouring property that formerly housed Nu-U Hair Care. â??Itâ??s exciting, itâ??s really exciting,â?ù said general manager Kory Eastman when asked about the commencement of the work in late May. Initial work included digging in front of the former Nu-U building, purchased by the Credit Union in late 2011, so the water could be shut off. To mark the start of the project, staff and board members posed for a photo outside of the former Nu-U building. Reuben Hagan, a former board member for 30-plus years, held the ceremonial shovel. While much of the Nu-U building will eventually be demolished, some portions will be salvaged as the lower level of the Credit Union gains 1,400 sq. ft. of additional space. All staff will then work on the main floor, meaning clients will no longer be forced to climb a staircase to the second floor. The expanded portion of the building will be one storey high. The second storey of the existing building will continue to be used for storage and board meetings. The main entrance will be relocated to the former Nu-U area, and the entire revamped Credit Union will receive attractive new siding. See â??Newâ?? on pg. Continued from pg. A few new services will coincide with the expansion, including more ATMs, commercial night deposits and a sit-down teller for clients with mobility challenges. There is no firm completion date for the project, but Eastman said the hope is to see it wrap up by the end of October. The work will be done in a way that will minimize disruption to clients. Itâ??s been 20 years since the last Credit Union renovations, and Eastman said there was a strong business case for this latest project. â??Weâ??ve felt that we needed to do something for probably the last five years or so, so weâ??ve been gradually working (towards it),â?ù he said. â??We looked at doing maybe a smaller reno and then realized that we really needed to (do more). â??We felt that this was the time and weâ??ve looked at the numbers and it looks like it should all work out. â??Weâ??re confident that itâ??s going to enhance the service that our members receive now and weâ??re optimistic that it will communicate our message to people who donâ??t deal with us right now and (encourage them) to try our services.â?ù When the Credit Union began looking at improvements, members were asked whether they wanted the facility to remain downtown. They did, so the expansion at the existing location was pursued. The Flin Flon Credit Union was incorporated in January 1940 with offices operating out of a private home. Originally known as the Alpha Credit Union Society Ltd., it moved to the North of 53 Co-Op building in 1949. In February 1959, the name was changed to the Flin Flon Credit Union Society Ltd. Construction of the current Credit Union building began in 1960 with the opening in early 1961. In July 1970, â??Societyâ?ù was removed from the organizationâ??s name, as was the case with all credit unions in Manitoba.
