Value-Added service for Albertans 
The Cooperative 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 cooperative 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 CMS 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 CMS, 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 CMS 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 CMS 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 CMS 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 will be held online via Zoom January 30, 2021 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 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 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.  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
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.
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 
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, mergers and acquisitions and/or the funeral sector. 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 Cooperative Memorial Society (CMS). CMS 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. 
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 memorial preferences with your family, you make it easier on those who love you most. We can help you. Simply become a member, add your information in our database and let your family know you are registered. Then go live your life to the fullest. If and when you pass away - your family can access significantly discounted funeral prices for your services with no strings attached. Learn more about our plans. 
"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.
April 2020

Annual General Meeting 

Given the limit on mass gatherings in Alberta, the CMS Board held a "virtual annual meeting" on January 30, 2021 with more than 210 members attending. Thank you to all who attended. 
​
AGENDA
Meeting Recap:
1. The Minutes of the 54th Annual Meeting held 25 January 2020 were accepted by the members. 
2. The 2020 Board Annual Report was presented and subsequently accepted by the members. Strategic Planning
3. The Financial Statements for the year ending 31 October 2020, were reviewed and accepted by members with typographical errors corrected. 
4. The Bylaw amendments proposed by the Board of Directors were presented and approved by the members. 
5. The members approved the election of 4 directors: Mark Farris, Michael Cacace, Lyndee Kehler and Terry Geib
6. McInnis & Holloway President Jeff Hagel, delivered a presentation on Funerals in 2021 and was on hand to answer questions from members. 
7. Members had the opportunity to ask questions of the board pertaining to meeting materials and strategic plans. 
Meeting Script - for information only
Questions and Answers from AGM
Meeting Recording - 

Quick Reference: Download Plans 

calgary_final.pdf
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 Please share this useful and important List of Essential Numbers for Seniors with vulnerable and potentially isolated seniors.
lethbridge_final.pdf
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medicine_hat_final.pdf
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taber_final.pdf
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membership_application.pdf
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"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, CMS 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 CMS.  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.