Our goal is to promote through education, association and other means - simple, rational and dignified funerals at lower cost than market; to encourage our members to make their own funeral arrangements well in advance in an atmosphere free from emotional strain; and to promote fitting memorials that serve the living, while honouring the dead. ​
We are 45,000 members-strong and operate in central and southern Alberta, Canada.
Register in advance for this meeting.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 
AGM Materials

TIME OF NEED ASSISTANCE

If you are dealing with the deal of a member, please contact one of our service providers directly. 
Value-Added service for Albertans 
The Cooperative Memorial Society (CMS) was formed more than half a century ago by individuals who didn't want to pay the high fees for traditional funeral services when all they wanted was a simple economical funeral. Formed and run as a non profit co-operative, we work with reputable service providers to provide discounted funeral plans for our members across central and southern Alberta . Members can save on average $2500 by choosing more simplified services depending on plan selected . Money can also be saved by prepaying plans to lock in the price.  
  • Our non-profit co-op was started in 1965 
  • We have had more than 45,000 members join 
  • An average funeral in Alberta costs $6,000 - $10,000
  • Members can save a significant amount of money depending on plan selected
  • Our providers are Canadian-owned and operated​​
  • Membership must be purchased before death.​​ 
Benefits of Membership
  1. Membership in CMS ensures that your wishes for your final arrangements are respected, and provides you with access to low priced plans for funeral services from our service providers in southern Alberta. We have partnered with extraordinary funeral homes who will give you and your next of kin, the care, and attention you deserve.
  2. You will have the opportunity to complete your preferences and vital statistics information when you join. If you prefer,  you can download our Guidance Form and fill it out by hand and store it with your important planning information.  This simple process allows you to indicate your preferences as to the disposition of your body at the time of death. It also provides your loved ones with important information they'll need to register your death. 
  3. The most important benefit is the peace of mind you gain from knowing that, by putting your affairs in order now, you will be saving your next-of-kin some hasty and painful decisions involving a large amount of money at a time when they are emotionally unprepared. 
  4. Membership is transferable among societies in Canada, and most of the more than 180 memorial societies in North America for a modest charge paid to the new location. If you are planning a move, contact us or do an internet search to find out if there is a Memorial Society in the area you are relocating to. Even if you move, you will remain a member of CMS which is useful should you move back at a later date.
  5. As an added benefit, children under the age of 18 are covered under their parent's membership until they turn 18.
More Benefits
  • Through education, we strive to increase public awareness about funeral practices. Each year we host guest speakers on a variety of topics at our annual meeting and other events during the year.
  • No high pressure sale tactics. We ask our service providers to not use high pressure sales tactics with our members.  Instead, our service providers will guide you through plan selection and can help you with prepayment solutions (should you choose to do so) at the current rate for CMS members. 
  • We monitor funeral legislation, and advocate for consumer protection. It is our policy to only negotiate plans with reputable, Canadian-owned funeral homes to ensure best value and service to our members. Our funeral homes can extend services beyond city limits for a fee covering travel expenses, allowing more Albertans to benefit from the savings.
  • We encourage anatomical gift-giving. If you are considering body donation or donation of tissues and organs for research, transplant, or teaching purposes, information is available.
  • We help loved ones through the process of dealing with the death of a member by providing valuable guidance and contact information. Follow our step by step process. 
Our Providers and plans 
COVID-19 requirement for deceased person
Next Annual Meeting
Our next annual meeting will be held online via Zoom January 29, 2022 1-3PM
Complete your guidance form 
Book a presentation
We can provide in-person, online or telephone presentations to any group interested in learning more about our organization and the service we provide. 
Dealing with the death of a Member
If you are faced with dealing with the death of a family member with a CMS membership, please contact one of our service providers in your area. You will receive immediate assistance with no pressure to make additional purchases. The funeral home representative will verify membership through our database and share with you any instructions left by the member. Your next step will be to identify the appropriate plan.  Follow our step by step list...  
Update your address
Meet our Board of Directors 2021-2022
The CMS board can have between 9 and 12 directors. We are an operational board governed by our bylaws and board policies and procedures.
Terry Geib,
Chair
Terry joined the board of CCMS in 2009. In April 2017 she retired as a director for Calgary Co-op after serving 15 years on their board.  In addition to Chairing CCMS board meetings, Terry does the writing and graphic design work and leads the strategic planning for CCMS. Terry works full time as a strategist for The City of Calgary.
Sylvia Kasper,
Vice Chair
Sylvia joined the board of CCMS in 2007. She is a former crown prosecutor and sits as a member of the Provincial Family Violence Review Committee. She is actively involved in the Calgary Lithuanian Canadian Community. Sylvia currently directs the audit function of the board and assists with the payment processing of new memberships and providing group presentations.
Louis Grenier,
Secretary
Louis joined our board in 2020. He is experienced as a co-op developer having worked in a variety of roles across Canada. ​Over the past 40 years, he accumulated a variety of experiences in administration, accounting, customer service, management, supervision, teaching and public relations within small, medium and large businesses and organizations.
Mark Farris,
Treasurer
​
Mark began his career in the investment industry in 1992 and is currently a Vice President and Portfolio Manager with RBC Dominion Securities in Calgary, primarily serving retirees, those about to retire and their families.  Mark is a past board member with the Calgary Cerebral Palsy Association and the Calgary Food Bank, where Mark took on the role of Treasurer.  Currently Mark volunteers his time with the Foothills Country Hospice Society and the Calgary Food Bank.
Susan Costello,
Director
Susan served on the CARP Board of Directors - Canada’s largest advocacy association for older Canadians. She retired from CARP in 2015 and joined the CCMS board where she continues her advocacy efforts.
Michael Cacace,
Director
Micheal was appointed by the Board in 2020 to fill the position vacated by Dyre Scheer-Peters. Michael is a social worker with a strong background in working with LGBTQ groups.
Jerry Jonasson,
Director
Jerry joined the board of CCMS in 2009. He spent
26 years working in the retail automotive as a sales
representative, new vehicle sales manager and fleet and lease manager. He has been with the Kerby Centre for the last 13 years as an advertising consultant. Jerry is on the CCMS marketing and AGM planning committees.
Nellie Pintus,
Director
Nellie is a retired school teacher and avid hiker. She joined the CCMS Board in 1995 and for many years she held the position of Secretary.   
Myrna  Malanik,
Director
Myrna joined the board following the AGM in 2019. She is a retired nurse. 
Peter Stacey-Salmon,
Director
Peter joined the board in 2015. He is a retired certified management accountant and he completed some MBA courses at McGill University. Peter brings 40 years’ experience in the business sector and government. Peter served as director of Calgary Co-op from 2004 to 2007
Lyndee Kehler,
Director
​Lyndee is a Registered Nurse and works as a Director of Care for a supportive living community. She has a special interest in alternative death care and has completed her training as a Death Doula. Lyndee volunteered with CMS in 2020 attending several board meetings and our strategic planning session to share her expertise.
Tim Duthie,
Director
Tim comes from a rural family with solid roots in the cooperative movement. His first job was with a co-op in rural Alberta. He is currently Manager of Petroleum Sales with UFA Co-operative Limited, helping agriculture and commercial customers keep their equipment moving. Tim has volunteered with many youth sports teams in hockey, basketball, soccer, and baseball.
Barb Montgomery
Membership Manager
Barb became the CMS Membership Manager in January 2017 after a 30 year career in hotels and hospitality. Barb's warm and caring personality and attention to detail is appreciated by the entire Board.
Vacant Board Positions
All positions are filled at this time. However, please keep us in mind and check back closer to January 2022. 

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Thank you for this society once again. You made our dealings with Ted's wife in September 2020 so much easier to handle!!! I sure wish there was such an operation in Grande Prairie. I would recommend you to everyone.

S.J.

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Red Deer Members vote to transfer to CMS

At a special meeting on October 23, 2021, the members of the Memorial Society of Red Deer & District, agreed to dissolve their memorial society and join CMS in a move towards a single provincial memorial organization. 
  • Red Deer members no longer have to pay annual fees as CMS memberships are for a lifetime. 
  • Existing contract with service providers stays in place until January 1, 2022. A new contract(s) is currently being negotiated. 
  • An email will be used by members to log into their profile. CMS will mail more information to members without an email address explaining options for accessing their information.  
  • Members with an email address will receive updates by email in December.  

UpDATE for Central Alberta Members

2021 Dec 18
We have imported all central Alberta Memorial Society members into our database. You will require an email address to login to the registry. Once we have confirmed email addresses, we will send you details to login. You can then update your own profile. 

If you do not have an email address on file with us, you can send it to us here. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. Thank you
We are currently negotiating with existing service providers. We expect to have a finalized contact in place with those service providers willing to meet our contract needs by the end of January 2022. We will keep you posted.

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​​This service was great for my dad.  My mom didn't belong. We had the same kind of funeral for her which was basically just immediate family.  Mom's funeral was $8,000 and dad's was $2,700.  It was easy to plan. I called the funeral home.  They picked up my dad's body from the nursing home and looked after the ministry and everything.  We stored the ashes at the funeral home until we were ready for the family to meet. Thanks for the great service. 

Arlene K.

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