On Thursday, October 1, 2015 Niagara West - Glanbrook MPP, and Critic of Financial Services, Tim Hudak rose in The House to pay tribute to Sean Jackson with the following statement:
Mr. Speaker, Ontario’s credit union system and the Niagara community have lost a true champion with the passing of Meridian Credit Union’s founding CEO, Sean Jackson.
We join with his wife Jo-Ann and their daughter Kailene in mourning Sean and remembering his contributions to the community.
Since his passing, Sean has been remembered by all who knew him as having a passion for people – it’s what drove his business success, his leadership style, and his community work, and it’s a quality in Sean that I have experienced personally and have long admired.
Described as a one-of-a-kind leader, he joined Niagara Credit Union in 1983 and became CEO in 1993. When it merged with HEPCOE Credit Union in 2005 to form Meridian, Sean became the first Meridian CEO, and led it through exponential growth to become Ontario’s largest credit union.
Under his leadership, Meridian has also become one of Niagara’s most generous corporate citizens, supporting numerous community initiatives, including scholarships and partnerships with charitable organizations.
His generosity didn’t end there. He was a founding director of the Niagara Community Foundation; past board chair of Hotel Dieu Shaver hospital; past vice-chair of the United Way Campaign and has worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters and YMCA.
Sean died of metastatic malignant melanoma. Not only did he personally battle melanoma for 8 years, when he passed away he was a current board member and fundraiser for the Melanoma Network of Canada.
Last year, in recognition of Sean’s work, Meridian established the “Commitment to Communities Sean Jackson Scholarship”, which recognizes an Ontario student who has demonstrated strong commitment to their community while achieving academic success.
Commitment to community and achieving excellence at work – it’s certainly a fitting legacy for a man who embodied both and was a true champion for Niagara and Ontario.
I’m honoured to pay tribute to a man of character, charisma and passion - Mr. Sean Jackson