Let's get real. You will die - some day. And no, talking about it doesn't make it happen sooner. However by being prepared - even if it is simply sharing your preferences with your family, you make it easier on those who love you most. We can make it easy. Simply sign up, add your information and let your family know you are registered.
​Then go live your life to the fullest. Have fun. You deserve it.

Newsletter coming in November

We are working on a new newsletter to our members with the latest information related to living, dying and planning funerals. Learn what the board is planning for the next 50 years, get answers to common questions from members and learn something new. The newsletter will be sent to members by email in late November 2020.

Format for January 30, 2021 Annual Meeting of Members

Given the limit on mass gatherings in Alberta, the CCMS Board has decided to proceed with a "virtual annual meeting". That means you can attend safety from the comfort of your own home on the internet or by telephone. Learn more.

COVID-19 Requirements Prior to Cremation

The Alberta Funeral Service Regulatory Board and the Alberta Bodies of Deceased Persons Act require that a person who passes away from COVID-19 be placed into a sealed container before cremation. Learn more.

alternative deathcare

The cost of deathcare in Alberta continues to rise as funeral homes grapple with decreasing revenues. There are other options and we are committed to providing our members with more low cost options.  Stay-tuned.
Value-Added service for Albertans 
The Calgary Co-operative Memorial Society (CCMS) was formed more than half a century ago by individuals who didn't want to pay the exorbitant fees for funeral services. Formed and run as a non profit co-operative, we arrange discounted funeral plans for our members in Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Strathmore, High River, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Taber and surrounding areas . Members can save on average $2500-$5000 on their funeral arrangements depending on plan selected . Plans can be prepaid to lock in the price or can be paid at time of need. Our service providers must be locally-owned and operated. 
  • 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 more than $5000 
  • Our providers are locally-owned and operated
  • ​Members sometimes forget to update their records and give us their email address. Click here to submit yours. ​
  • Membership must be purchased before death.​
  • We are a co-operative and we embrace the same guiding principles as co-ops around the world. 

HIDDEN CAMERA INVESTIGATION OF FUNERAL HOMES ​

CBC teamed up with the Toronto Star to uncover pushy upselling and huge markups at Arbor Memorial, Canada's largest funeral home chain. Follow the hidden cameras into six funeral homes to see what the sales pitch looks like when you're dealing with the death of a loved one. 
Benefits of Membership
  1. Membership in CCMS ensures that your wishes for your final arrangements are respected, and provides you with access to lower priced plans for funeral services from our service providers in southern Alberta. You will receive a Membership Card and Guidance Form as soon as you join.  You can also opt to enter your guidance information into our online registry for access by the funeral home upon need. 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 the death. 
  2. 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 to make rational choices. When you join CCMS, you sit down in the peace and quiet of your own home, without pressure, and you make the decisions.
  3. Membership is transferable among all societies in Canada, and indeed among almost all 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 CCMS which is useful should you move back at a later date.
  4. As an added benefit, children under the age of 18 are covered under their parent's membership until they become an adult.
Your membership also helps other work we do:
  • 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. As a CCMS member you will not be exposed to high pressure sales tactics from our service providers.  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 CCMS members. 
  • We monitor the whole field of funeral legislation, and advocate for consumer protection. This activity stands to benefit both members and non-members. It is our policy to only negotiate plans with one reputable, locally-owned funeral company per area to ensure best value to our members. Our funeral homes can also 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 is reserved at the Kerby Centre for January 30, 2021 1-4PM
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 CCMS membership, please contact our service provider in your area. You will receive immediate assistance with no pressure to make additional purchases. The funeral home representative will verify membership 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 YOur Board of Directors
The CCMS board can have between 9 and 12 directors. We are an operational board governed by our bylaws and board policies and procedures.
Mrs. Terry Geib, P.HEc.
Chair
​(Running for re-election in 2021)
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.
Mrs. Sylvia Kasper, Retired Lawyer 
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.
Ms. Susan Costello
Treasurer/Secretary
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
(Running for re-election in 2021)
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.
Louis Grenier
Director
Louis joined our board in 2020. He is experienced as a co-op developer having worked in a variety of roles across Canada.
Ms. Gloria Crofts 
​Retiring 
​Director
Gloria was born and raised in Saskatchewan.   She taught school in Saskatchewan and Ontario.   Upon moving to Calgary in 1975, she spent a few years as a stay-at-home mom caring for her two children.  A desire to work outside the home led to 19 years with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.   The death of family members led to her volunteer work in a nursing home in a palliative role. Gloria joined the Board in 2018 and was re-elected in 2019. ​ 
Mr. 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.
Ms. 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.  Nellie is now in charge of Advertising via personal presentations to groups of 6 or more adults as well as manning booths at functions.  
Myrna  Malanik
Director
Mrs. Patricia Sather
​Retiring Director
Myrna joined the board following the AGM in 2019. She is a retired nurse. 
​Patricia (Pat) attended Mount Royal College studying to be a Care Worker for the elderly.  Later in her career Pat became the personal secretary to the President of Fluor Canada, one of the largest Engineering companies in the world.  She also assisted her husband Joe in his real estate business.  Currently she owns a dog grooming business and is in high demand for her services.  
Mr. 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
Mr. Mark Farris
Director
​
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.
Ms. Barb Montgomery
Membership Manager
Barb became the CCMS Membership Manager in January 2017 after a long career as Accounting Manager for a Calgary hotel. Barb's warm and caring personality and attention to detail is appreciated by the entire board.
Vacant Board PositionS 
Our Board of Directors is seeking a new director to fill an opening starting in February 2021. The ideal candidate is someone who is strong in finance, and web design. To learn more contact the Board Chair. 
Buyer Beware
Please note we sometimes receive calls from people thinking the Memorial Society of Alberta is the same as the Calgary Co-operative Memorial Society (CCMS). CCMS is owned by its members. We only contract with locally-owned and operated service providers. While the Memorial Society of Alberta is a legitimately registered society, it is owned by Dignity Memorial. Dignity is a large network of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers with thousands of funeral homes across Canada. The parent company of Dignity is Service Corporation International, an American provider of funeral  goods and services as well as cemetery property and services. It is headquartered in Neartown, Houston, Texas. SCI operates more than 1500 funeral homes and 400 cemeteries in 43 states, eight Canadian provinces, and Puerto Rico. Read this concerning article on SCI by Bloomberg. 
 Please share this useful and important List of Essential Numbers for Seniors with vulnerable and potentially isolated seniors.
"We make funeral planning simple and affordable by providing our members and their families with access to factual funeral information and exceptional funeral services priced below market cost." Terry Geib, CCMS Chair

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 "I am astounded and very touched by the quickness and clarity of your response. It is a great help at this time." R. Birks.  Aug. 2020.
"The society was very helpful when my husband passed away. Service was great and the price was very reasonable. My mom's funeral cost over $12K in Lethbridge (not including casket she pre-purchased, and not including funeral plot. This was not through the Memorial society)". Kyera L. via Google Jun. 24 2020.
"I tell everyone about CCMS.  When my husband died at the hospice, they asked me what I would like to do.  All I did was pull his membership card out of my wallet, and everything was answered." Lola Sep. 2020.