Jane Smith Lake America’ sweatshirts to Halifax is no longer CEO​ 

A map labelling Lake Ontario as ‘Lake America’ is displayed in the White House after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to change its name on Aug. 27. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

The Michigan tourist who recently went viral over a Facebook photo where she and three family members appeared to be wearing “Lake America” sweatshirts has parted ways with her employer.

Jane Smith, the former CEO of Family First Credit Union in Saginaw, is no longer employed there, according to a statement posted on Wednesday to the company’s website.

“We are reaching out to inform you that Jane Smith is no longer an employee of Family First Credit Union, effective immediately,” reads the statement addressed to “Family First Credit Union Members and Community” and signed by the chair of the board of directors.
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The statement continues to say that chief operations officer Jason Acosta is now serving as interim CEO. It does not provide any further information about why Smith is no longer employed, or whether the decision to leave the company was hers.

The board of directors told CBC News on Friday that it is legally prohibited from discussing the circumstances surrounding Smith’s departure under section 381 of the Michigan Credit Union Act.

“We understand that members and the community may have additional questions and appreciate their understanding of these legal limitations,” the Family First Credit Union board of directors said in an emailed statement.

“What we can confirm is that she is no longer an employee of Family First Credit Union and Jason Acosta is serving as Interim CEO.”

CBC News has reached out to Smith and Acosta and not yet heard back. But the company apologized in a statement posted to the Family First Credit Union Facebook page on Wednesday.

“We sincerely apologize for the concern, disappointment and pain this situation has caused our members and community,” the post reads.

“We understand that members of our community may hold different perspectives about this decision. Our responsibility is to act in the best interest of the Credit Union, uphold the trust of our members and continue putting our community first.”

A screen grab of an Instagram post by Breaking News Canada from Sept. 13 shows the since-deleted Facebook post by Jane Smith that went viral. (@breakingnews.ca/Instagram)
‘Like our sweatshirts?’

The news comes in the wake of the backlash over a photo Smith had posted to Facebook on her way to Halifax, in which she and three family members pose wearing “Lake America” sweatshirts that Smith later said were AI-generated.

“Like our sweatshirts? Not sure Canada will,” said the Sept. 11 photo originally posted by Smith, and later shared by her sister, followed by “lol lol.”