COOPERATIVE MEMORIAL SOCIETY
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      • Funeral homes with CMS plans
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      • AB Municipal Cemeteries >
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      • Obituary - Writing
  • Dealing with the Death of a Member
    • Death Benefit
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frequently asked questions (FAQ's)

What does it cost to join CMS?
The fee for a lifetime membership is $40.00 plus a $2.15 fee to offset bank and credit card fees. If you pay by cheque through Canada Post, there $2.15 fee is waived. A $35 records administration fee is paid after death and is collected by the funeral home on behalf of CMS to help cover some of our administrative costs. No other fees are collected by the CMS. 

What are the fees used for?
The fees are used to operate the business. This includes printing, advertising, website, bank charges, software, membership administration fees and overhead. 


Is Membership Transferable?
Yes and no.  A membership cannot be transferred to another person as it is a lifetime membership  It is, however, transferable to other similar societies throughout Canada.  A nominal fee is charged by the receiving society to cover the cost of transfer. List of Canadian Memorial Societies.

Is CMS Part of Calgary Co-op?
No. We are proud to say we are our own co-operative; however, all Calgary Co-op food stores have our information/application brochures at their customer service centres. 

Do I Have to Prepay for Funeral Services?
No.  We do not market prepaid services; however, pre-payment may be arranged directly with some of our funeral service providers in order to lock in currently-priced funeral plans.

What Happens if Death Occurs Away from Home?
There are insurance companies that specialize in providing coverage specific to funeral costs.  Ask your local funeral service provider about lifetime insurance coverage before you leave for your trip. 

What are the Benefits of Membership with CCMS?
1) Economy – The Board of Directors negotiates economically packaged plans for our members.
2) Lower stress level for you and your survivors, who will know exactly what your wishes are, avoiding disagreements.

How Does Membership Work?
Memberships are considered active once the payment is successfully processed and your information resides in our database. Our partnering funeral homes can access member information from our database to verify membership and to retrieve any plans and information you have provided.

​If you don't want to complete the online registry, we recommend you complete the Guidance Form and give a copy to your next of kin. This will enable them to carry out your wishes without additional grief of decision-making.  

Can I Purchase a Membership for Someone Else?
Yes! If you are purchasing the membership for someone else, please provide the member's information - not your own. When completing payment, please give your name and credit card information.  A welcome email will be sent to the email provided on the registration form.

How Does the Registry Work?
​All information we collect is secure, backed up and managed according to the Government of Alberta Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more information. You will need an active email address on file with us in order to receive a password to enable you to login to the registry. 
​
​If you don't have an email address, you may wish to sign up and get your own email address. Here are some easy, free options:
Create a Gmail address - google.com‎
Create Email Account – Safe, Easy and for Free at mail.com
​

If you don't want to provide an email address, you can still be a member and your next-of-kin will still have access to our plans. However, you will not be able to use the registry.

Ways to Purchase a Membership
1. Online: Purchasing your membership online is quick, safe and easy using your credit card. The fee is $40  plus  a $2.15 handling fee to cover the administration fees. Simply complete this online form and proceed with your payment by credit card. 

2. By mail: Please mail a cheque for $40 per person. 
1. Print the membership application form. Can't print the form? No problem. Include your full name, address, email and phone number. 
2. Mail with cheque or money order to: Calgary Co-operative Memorial Society, Suite 204a-223 12 Ave SW. Calgary, AB  T2R 0G9​
Cooperative Memorial Society (CMS)
Suite 204A, 223-12th Ave. S.W. Calgary, Ab. T2R 0G9 Canada (Appointments required)
1-403-248-2044 
​Toll free: 1-800-566-9959
admin@calgarymemorial.com

​
​The Cooperative Memorial Society of Alberta would like to acknowledge that what we refer to as Alberta is the traditional ancestral territory of a diversity of Indigenous peoples and home to Treaty 6, 7, and 8. We honor the Blackfoot Confederacy – Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika, the Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Stoney Nakoda, the Tsuu T’ina Nation and the Métis People of Alberta. This includes the Métis Settlements and the Six Regions of the Métis Nation of Alberta within the historical Northwest Métis Homeland. We recognize and give thanks to the many First Nations, Métis and Inuit who have lived in and cared for these lands for generations, all who continue to grace these lands, and all future generations. We are grateful for the traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who are still with us today and those who have gone before us. We make this acknowledgement as an act of reconciliation and gratitude to those whose territory we reside on or are visiting.
  • Home
  • About
    • Mandate and Action Plan
    • History
    • We're a co-op >
      • Memorial societies
      • Funeral co-ops >
        • Business Case: Funeral Co-op in Calgary
    • Legislation
    • Governance >
      • Board of Directors >
        • Bylaws
        • AGM Materials
        • Join Board
        • Policies >
          • Privacy policy
          • Terms & conditions
        • Contact us
    • Become a Volunteer
  • Membership
    • Purchase Online
    • Purchase by Cheque
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Request Presentation >
      • Testimonials
  • Partners
  • Registry
    • About the Registry >
      • Troubleshooting Login >
        • Dealing with 3rd party cookies
    • Member Login
    • Hard copy forms
  • Advance Planning
    • Must-Have Documents >
      • Personal Directive
      • Enduring Power of Attorney
      • Will >
        • Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Alberta
    • Manage Your Estate >
      • Be Prepared
      • Adult Guardianship & Trusteeship
      • Selecting an Executor
      • Executor Duties
      • Executor's Checklist
    • Palliative & End-of-Life Care >
      • Hospice Care
      • Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)
      • Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation
    • Body Donation
    • Family-Led Deathcare
    • Funeral / Memorial Service >
      • Funeral homes with CMS plans
      • After-death Documentation
      • Funeral Benefits
      • Cremation
      • Green Burials
      • AB Municipal Cemeteries >
        • Red Deer and Area
      • Obituary - Writing
  • Dealing with the Death of a Member
    • Death Benefit
    • Last Post Fund
    • Grieving Together
    • Useful links