TORONTO — Meridian Credit Union has received a Silver Stevie Award for its use of artificial intelligence across the organization, including an initiative that the credit union says has resulted in 96% of employees using Microsoft Copilot daily.
The Stevie Awards said Meridian was recognized in the Best Use of AI in Business Transformation category in the 23rd annual International Business Awards.
The award recognizes Meridian’s approach to integrating AI into its operations while addressing governance, risk oversight, employee training and innovation, according to the Stevie Awards.
Meridian, one of Canada’s largest credit unions, has deployed Microsoft Copilot across the organization while establishing governance practices and board-level oversight of its AI strategy.
‘Citizen Developer Ecosystem’
The credit union has also developed what it describes as a “citizen developer ecosystem,” allowing employees throughout the organization to identify opportunities and develop AI-enabled solutions.
According to the Stevie Awards, 96% of Meridian employees now use Copilot daily.
Meridian has also introduced AskHR, a customized AI-powered assistant designed to answer employee questions, and EdgeLab, an internal collaborative environment where employees can test emerging technologies and develop tools aimed at improving operations.
‘Embracing Innovation’
“This recognition reflects Meridian’s commitment to embracing innovation in ways that create meaningful impact for our employees, Members and communities,” Jay-Ann Gilfoy, president and CEO of Meridian Credit Union, said in a statement.
Gilfoy said the credit union has sought to combine governance with giving employees the ability to experiment with and use AI.
“By pairing strong governance with employee empowerment, we’ve built an approach to AI that enables our teams to work smarter, solve problems in new ways and unlock value across the organization,” Gilfoy said. “We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and honored to be recognized for our leadership in responsible AI adoption.”
About the Awards
The International Business Awards received more than 3,400 nominations from organizations in 82 countries and territories for its 2026 competition, according to the Stevie Awards. More than 200 business professionals worldwide participated in judging the entries through specialized committees.
Winners of the 2026 International Business Awards are scheduled to be recognized during an awards ceremony Oct. 28 in Paris.
