The local branch of the CIBC celebrated 100 years of service in Maidstone Friday.
The Standard Bank of Canada opened its doors in the community Dec. 12, 1910. In 1928, the Standard Bank of Canada amalgamated with the Canadian Bank of Commerce and the name changed. The bank was re-branded to the CIBC or Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce when the Canadian Bank of Commerce and the Imperial Bank of Canada merged in 1961.
Community members remembered the branch's two- storey building on Main Street, used from 1922-74. It stood on the corner now home to Marfleet Building Materials. Long-time customers, and even staff from the old building, stopped by to share cake and memories during the anniversary celebration.
Customer Keith Paton recalled a simpler time before computers and automated banking machines and a list of numbers on a white wall in the old bank.
"We'd come in and they'd ask us for our number, well, half of us couldn't remember so we'd just write it on the wall. There were a whole bunch of numbers on that wall, nobody knew what number belonged to what account but when you went there you knew where you'd written your number. Remember that white stucco wall?"
The current building was opened in 1974 and was decked out for the anniversary with old style wickets and burlap sacks with dollar signs. The staff wore vests and visors bringing the past and present together.
Photographs, Maidstone Mirror articles, old equipment and guest books from other anniversaries were on display, spurring memories and smiles.
Les Graham and his helpers and team braved the cold and offered sleigh rides through town and cake and hot beverages were served inside.
Norm Duret, general manager for CIBC Northern Saskatchewan, and Michael Delainey, associate vice-president of CIBC Northern Saskatchewan, both from Saskatoon, were on hand for the celebration, to acknowledge the past and look forward to the future.
"We have a commitment to the home communities and we intend to be here for a long time," said Delainey.
"It really hits home when you're in the smaller communities and you see how valued you are in that community. I can only hope the value that we get from being in that community that you also get it. It truly is very nice to see our presence in these communities. You're our clients, we value you and we definitely plan to be here for an extended period of time," said Duret.
Dianne Hotz, branch manager, thanked everyone in attendance for coming.
"Without the great people in the community CIBC would not be where it is today and we at CIBC look forward to working for you for the next 100 years," she said.
She expressed her excitement over her new community and was happy to make a donation in honour of the anniversary to the Maidstone Aquatic Centre Project. Hotz, a former speed swimmer, presented a cheque for $1,500 from the CIBC to Charline Rhinehart one of the members of the aquatic centre group showing a celebration for the past can also be time to invest in the future.
