Purpose beyond the practice: Sam Varing recognized with CCUA National Young Leaders Award
June 13, 2026
Some careers are built on expertise, while others flourish on relationships. For Sam Varing, it's both. As Senior Legal Counsel at Tru Cooperative Bank, Sam has combined her passions for law and banking with her commitment to building connections across her industry and in the community.
This approach recently earned her the 2026 Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA) Young Leaders Award, recognizing emerging leaders who are making a meaningful impact within the credit union system and beyond. Here, Sam shares her passion for both banking and law, and how the organization has supported her growth as a leader.
How did you start your career at Tru Cooperative Bank?
Sam: During my undergraduate studies, I worked at a financial institution and I enjoyed being part of the industry and later looked for ways to bring together my interests in banking and law.
While working as a lawyer at a law firm, I began taking on work related to commercial lending, commercial transactions and assisting businesses. At the time, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to fully combine both passions, as many head office opportunities were based in Toronto. Then, the opportunity at Tru Cooperative Bank came up here in the Fraser Valley. I decided to apply and haven’t looked back since. I’m proud to work at a cooperative bank that puts its members first and helps Canadians improve their financial well-being.
How did building relationships help you grow as a leader at Tru?
Sam: When I joined the organization, I quickly realized I had a two-fold challenge. Many people didn't know much about our legal team, and legal teams don't always have the most approachable reputation. We tend to be associated with jargon, red ink and saying "no." I knew if I wanted to be effective, I needed people to understand what the legal team does and feel comfortable coming to us as a partner, not just when there was a problem.
So, I started talking to everyone—in the hallways, the lunchroom, at the coffee station and beyond. I participated in virtual events, and attending local branches to connect with our team members across the organization. I wanted them to know me as a person, who is also on the legal team and here to help.
I think a big skill in leadership is knowing how to work with people, knowing how to bring them together, and building a network. That approach helped make the legal team more approachable and showed me that leadership can begin with everyday conversations, trust-building and a willingness to support others.
Those first conversations helped me build trust across the organization and develop the internal partnerships that supported my growth as a leader.
What opportunities at Tru have helped you grow beyond your legal role?
Sam: Something unique about working on the legal team is the cross-departmental exposure. I get to work with nearly every area of the business. It’s given me a well-rounded view of the organization and helped me grow beyond just a legal role.
One of the most formative projects I worked on was Tru Cooperative Bank’s values and purpose refresh initiative. I was interested in seeing how values could connect to our brand, culture, and voice. Tru has a rich 80-year history of values-based, cooperative banking, and the refresh work helped determine how we express our longstanding values in the most clear and relevant way possible moving forward. It was a unique experience because it meant a lot that my story and perspective mattered to Tru.
Another aspect of growth has come from my community involvement, where I get to develop externally. It’s been so rewarding to be involved with the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, as current President of the Board, and the Association of Women in Finance, to expand my professional circle and build skills that I can bring back to my role.
How did your community involvement begin, and how has Tru supported it?
Sam: I got involved with the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce in 2018 before starting at Tru Cooperative Bank because I wanted to be more involved locally. When I joined Tru, everyone’s reaction was, “That’s great! We want our employees to be involved in the community,” which I thought was such a refreshing view.
At Tru, employees are encouraged to volunteer and invest in their community in whatever way feels best for them. This could mean being on a board or committee for an organization or even helping coach their child’s sports team. I believe community involvement is so important for personal and professional growth, and Tru does too.
What advice would you give to someone looking to grow their career as you have?
Sam: Opportunity will come to you if you are seeking it.
I’ve seen people build a career across different departments at Tru Cooperative Bank, moving from one team to another as their interests grow. That is what I find fascinating about Tru: employees are encouraged to grow, and when you stay curious and open to new opportunities, they will come to you.
The mentorship program at Tru is also a perk. Tru sees the value in learning from others, and mentorship is an integral part of the organization’s commitment to employee growth.
