CMS Named Finalist for National DEI Award

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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