We are proud to announce that the Cooperative Memorial Society (CMS) has been selected as a finalist in the 2025 CharityVillage Awards in the category Best Nonprofit Employer – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace.This nomination recognizes CMS’s ongoing commitment to making funeral planning more inclusive, accessible, and compassionate for all Albertans. Our DEI journey has included:

• Offering multilingual membership applications, launched by our Membership Services Coordinator, Barb Montgomery, so more families can access our services in their first language.

 

• Creating Listening and Learning: A Resource for Community Funeral Providers, a practicum project led by Katherine Reilly (Jan–Apr 2025), which addresses barriers for newcomers, people with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

 

• Embedding DEI in our governance, volunteer recruitment, and upcoming training for volunteers.

These achievements reflect a true team effort—the dedicated work of staff, students, volunteers, and board members collaborating to ensure that every member of our community feels welcome and supported.

The winners will be announced during the CharityVillage Virtual Conference & Awards 2025 on November 19, 2025. Regardless of the outcome, we are honoured to stand alongside other organizations committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across Canada.
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#CharityVillageAwards #CharityVillage #DEI #InclusiveWorkplace #NonprofitCanada

​Life is full of the unexpected. While we can’t predict everything, we can prepare for some of life’s most challenging moments. One of the most thoughtful steps you can take for your loved ones is advanced planning for your funeral and end-of-life arrangements.  

At the Cooperative Memorial Society (CMS), we’ve been helping Albertans prepare for these moments since 1966. Partnering with locally owned funeral homes, we ensure that dignified, affordable arrangements are available when they’re needed most.

What Is Advanced Planning? 
Advanced planning means making key decisions about your funeral arrangements before they are needed. This might include:

• Choosing between burial or cremation.
• Selecting the type of service you want.
• Recording your wishes in writing so they’re clear and accessible.
• Ensuring important legal documents — like your Will, Personal Directive, and Enduring Power of Attorney — are available and up to date.

Why It’s So Important
Without advanced planning, grieving families often face:

• Emotional pressure — making big decisions in the middle of grief.
• Unexpected costs — sometimes thousands of dollars more than planned.
• Family conflict — differing opinions about “what you would have wanted.”

By planning ahead, you can:

• Save hundreds to thousands of dollars through CMS-negotiated member rates.
• Ensure your wishes are honoured — from ceremony details to music choices.
• Reduce stress for your loved ones — giving them space to focus on grieving and remembering.

CMS Tools for Peace of Mind

• Free Funeral Planning Guidance Form — a simple way to record your wishes.
• Online Member Profile — allows your chosen funeral home to instantly access your preferences.
• Coming soon our “Ducks in a Row” Planning Booklet — a comprehensive resource covering funeral arrangements and key life documents.

The Bottom Line
Advanced planning isn’t just about money — it’s about clarity, dignity, and care for those you love. Whether you’re in your 30s or your 80s,

​The best time to start is now.

Now is the time to act if you’re considering prepaying your funeral in the Calgary or Lethbridge areas.

As a CMS member, you are not required to prepay—your family will still receive lower member-priced plans by selecting a CMS plan at time of need. However, prepaying now offers additional financial protection and peace of mind by locking in today’s rates before upcoming increases at the end of 2025.

What’s changing?

Our contracts with McInnis & Holloway (Calgary area) and Cornerstone (Lethbridge area) expire on December 31, 2025. New contracts are expected by late November 2025. We know that prices will increase. These new prices will remain in effect for the next three years. Prepaying before December 2025 allows you to lock in today’s lower rates and shield your loved ones from future financial pressure.

Benefits of prepaying:

• Save by securing today’s pricing
• Funds held in trust by a third party
• Fully refundable at face value (minus a small administrative fee)
• Flexible payment plans available through the funeral home

Note: Some plans may not be transferable if you move out of area

Beyond the Price Tag: How CMS Makes Funeral Planning Affordable and Accessible
Date: June 2025

​When people first hear about the Cooperative Memorial Society (CMS) and our deeply discounted funeral plans with local funeral homes, their first question is often the same: How is this possible? And for good reason—funerals can be costly, emotionally overwhelming, and difficult to plan. So when we say our members save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on professional funeral services, it’s natural to wonder how it works.

Recently, a social worker at Bethany Cochrane, reached out with thoughtful questions after viewing one of our presentations. She asked:

• Do funeral homes really offer no-frills services to regular consumers?
• What happens after someone joins CMS?
• And why would a funeral home agree to offer lower rates at all?

These questions come up often—and the answers reveal a lot about the purpose and value of CMS.

What the Public Doesn't Always See
Most funeral homes do have basic service options available—but they are rarely promoted. The typical consumer may only be shown full-service packages that include optional extras like decorative caskets, extended visitations, or upgraded ceremony spaces. These additions can add significant cost.
CMS bridges the gap. We’ve negotiated simple, essential “no-frills” plans with trusted funeral homes—plans that meet legal and professional standards but leave out upselling and unnecessary extras. These plans are available exclusively to CMS members, ensuring they can access respectful, professional services without financial strain.

What Happens After You Register with CMS?
Joining CMS is more than just a one-time transaction—it’s a step toward informed, empowered planning. Once registered, members receive:

• A welcome package
• Access to our funeral planning registry (online and printable)
• A guide to help communicate your wishes with your family or executor

At the time of death, funeral homes can access this information directly to ensure the member’s plans are followed. We encourage members to:

• Talk with their loved ones about their plans
• Keep a copy of their preferences at home
• Attend an education session or contact us for support

This preparation helps reduce stress for families and prevents confusion when decisions matter most.

What About Pre-Payment?
CMS does not collect or manage prepayments. If you wish to prepay for your arrangements, you would do so directly with the funeral home. We do, however, encourage members to think carefully about whether prepayment is right for them. Preplanning—without prepaying—is often enough to reduce burden on your family while keeping your options flexible.

Why Funeral Homes Partner With CMS
The reduced rates we secure are not just about volume. Our partner funeral homes benefit in several key ways:

• Simplified services reduce staffing needs and overhead
• Predictable volume from CMS’s 33,000+ members helps with planning
• Administrative efficiency saves time
• Referral value from CMS’s reputation and community outreach
• Shared values in helping Albertans access ethical, affordable services

It’s a cooperative model that benefits everyone involved—and keeps our mission alive.

CMS: A Trusted Ally in Your End-of-Life Planning
At its heart, CMS exists to ensure that every Albertan can plan for the end of life with clarity, dignity, and peace of mind—without financial pressure or hidden costs. We’re grateful to professionals like social workers and estate planners who help their clients navigate these important decisions and are always here to support conversations with individuals, families, and care teams.

​Whether you're a prospective member, a care provider, or a family member helping someone plan ahead—know that CMS is here to help.

Have more questions? Want to schedule a presentation for your team? Reach out to us at [email protected].