A Brief History of CMS and Its EvolutioN
In April 1966, a diverse group of individuals from various co-operatives and the Unitarian Church in Calgary came together to establish a memorial society. Their goal was to help families and individuals make practical and cost-effective arrangements for funerals, burials, and cremations. This effort reflected the broader mission of memorial societies across the country, which promote informed, pre-planned decisions for end-of-life matters.
Harold Webber, Supervisor of Co-operative Activities for Alberta, advocated for a memorial society within a cooperative structure. This led to the formation of the Calgary and District Funeral Co-operative Ltd., registered under the Co-operatives Act. The society was guided by prominent leaders from businesses like the Alberta Dairy Pool, Co-operators, Calgary Co-op, and the Alberta Wheat Pool. In September 1966, at the inaugural annual meeting, Gil Jamieson was elected Chairman, and the co-op secured its first contract with Foster’s Funeral Home.
By 2012, CMS had grown significantly, transitioning to an online business model, which made membership easier to manage and access. Over 40,000 members from southern Alberta had joined, solidifying CMS as a major provider of funeral planning services in the region.
In 2020, the organization rebranded as the Cooperative Memorial Society, embracing new strategies like social media outreach and enhanced end-of-life planning resources to better serve the community. This rebranding helped CMS reach even more Albertans and adapt to modern needs in the memorial and funeral industry.
During 2021 and 2022, CMS expanded further by absorbing the memberships of two other memorial societies within Alberta. This resulted in a unified, province-wide organization, bringing together all memorial society members under one cooperative umbrella.
Harold Webber, Supervisor of Co-operative Activities for Alberta, advocated for a memorial society within a cooperative structure. This led to the formation of the Calgary and District Funeral Co-operative Ltd., registered under the Co-operatives Act. The society was guided by prominent leaders from businesses like the Alberta Dairy Pool, Co-operators, Calgary Co-op, and the Alberta Wheat Pool. In September 1966, at the inaugural annual meeting, Gil Jamieson was elected Chairman, and the co-op secured its first contract with Foster’s Funeral Home.
By 2012, CMS had grown significantly, transitioning to an online business model, which made membership easier to manage and access. Over 40,000 members from southern Alberta had joined, solidifying CMS as a major provider of funeral planning services in the region.
In 2020, the organization rebranded as the Cooperative Memorial Society, embracing new strategies like social media outreach and enhanced end-of-life planning resources to better serve the community. This rebranding helped CMS reach even more Albertans and adapt to modern needs in the memorial and funeral industry.
During 2021 and 2022, CMS expanded further by absorbing the memberships of two other memorial societies within Alberta. This resulted in a unified, province-wide organization, bringing together all memorial society members under one cooperative umbrella.
In September 2024, CMS entered the next phase of its evolution with the transition to coopmemorial.org. This new domain name symbolizes our dedication to cooperation, inclusivity, and our commitment to helping Albertans make well-informed, cost-effective choices for their end-of-life arrangements.
The new domain name, coopmemorial.org, aligns more closely with our identity as a cooperative and better represents the inclusivity of our membership throughout Alberta. While calgarymemorial.com has been a key part of our history, the change signifies our expansion and long-term goals to promote practical and informed decisions regarding end-of-life matters across the province.
The journey of CMS continues, driven by our dedication to providing accessible funeral services, adapting to the changing needs of our members, and upholding the cooperative principles upon which we were founded.
The new domain name, coopmemorial.org, aligns more closely with our identity as a cooperative and better represents the inclusivity of our membership throughout Alberta. While calgarymemorial.com has been a key part of our history, the change signifies our expansion and long-term goals to promote practical and informed decisions regarding end-of-life matters across the province.
The journey of CMS continues, driven by our dedication to providing accessible funeral services, adapting to the changing needs of our members, and upholding the cooperative principles upon which we were founded.