Annual General Meeting

(1) A bylaw amendment to make it clear that the Board may remove a director in the event the director has breached the Co-op Code of Conduct and Ethics (recommended by the Board); and

(2) A bylaw amendment to reduce the amount that a member must have spent at the Co-op in the prior year (together with any spouse) in order to be eligible to serve on the Board from $3600 to $1600 (not recommended by the Board).

The full text of both resolutions is available on the Calgary Co-op website and at any Calgary Co-op food centre at the customer service desk.

Resolution to the Annual Meeting of Members of Calgary Co-operative Association Limited

Submitted by: Dianna Pieper (nee Rosentreter) | Membership #: 344245

Seconded by: Jeff Pieper | Membership #: 1113698

RESOLUTION

Bylaw Amendment to Reduce the Annual Spend Required to be Eligible to be a Director

 WHEREAS: Section 5.05 (a) of the Bylaws of the Calgary Co-operative Association Limited (“Calgary Co-op”) currently states that a Member-Owner may be elected and continue to serve on the Board only if and for so long as the Member-Owner…

5.05 (a)(ii) “as Member-Owner, whether alone or as the holder of a joint membership, has made purchases from the Co-op in the immediate preceding fiscal year of at least $3,600”.

WHEREAS: The eligibility requirement to spend $3,600 in the previous year is limiting Calgary Co-op in considering potential qualified candidates in experience, knowledge and skillsets who fall short of the minimum spend, that may negatively impact the quality of the decision-making process for specific areas of corporate and operation team investment strategies.

WHEREAS: Living location, family income and/or the competitiveness ability of Calgary Co- Op, may impact candidates’ decisions to shop at Calgary Co-op or not. Lowering the requirement to $1,600 in a given year, especially for singles, is more doable financially, and opens up the competition to other candidates who may be qualified.

BE IT RESOLVED: That the amendment and restatement of section 5.05(a)(ii) of the Bylaws as follows is approved and confirmed: 5.05(a)(ii) ‘‘as Member Owner, whether alone or as the holder of a joint membership, has made purchases from the Co- op in the immediate preceding fiscal year of at least $1,600”.

BOARD’S RECOMMENDATION:  The Board of Directors of Calgary Co-op recommends that Members vote AGAINST this resolution. As a member-owned, locally operated cooperative, it is important that those who oversee the management of Calgary Co-op’s business and affairs have sufficient insight and experience with our stores and operations, which comes in part by shopping regularly at Calgary Co-op. It was determined back in 2012 that prospective directors should have spent at least $3,600 in the previous year (which includes purchases made through a joint membership with a spouse or Adult Interdependent Partner). This averages out to $300 per month. Prior to 2012, the amount was set at $2,400. Given inflation, there is arguably justification for again increasing the minimum required annual spend. While there is no proposal to increase the minimum spend at this meeting, the Board believes that the amount should not be decreased either.

Resolution to the Annual Meeting of Members of Calgary Co-operative Association Limited

Submitted by: Bryan Walton | Membership #: 1059973

Seconded by: Ken White | Membership #: 323135

RESOLUTION

Bylaw Amendment to Clarify the Board’s Ability to Remove a Director

WHEREAS: Calgary Co-op bylaw Section 5.08 outlines the rules around removal of a director; and

WHEREAS: Section 5.08(b)(ii) permits the Board to remove a director who has been proved guilty of disloyalty to Calgary Co-op, or proved guilty of negligence, lack of due diligence or misconduct; and

WHEREAS: It would be preferable for the Board to have the authority to remove a director for breaching the Co-op Code of Conduct, which is a more precise, detailed and comprehensive standard;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that Calgary Co-op bylaw Section 5.08 (b)(ii) be replaced with the following:

The Director has been found to have breached the Co-op Code of Conduct.

and that the following definition be added to bylaw Section 1.01 (Definitions), and that the definitions be renumbered as necessary:

“Co-op Code of Conduct” means the Co-op Code of Conduct and Ethics, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Proposal to the Annual Member-Owners Meeting of Calgary Co-operative Associated Limited

Submitted by: Trent Clark | Membership #: 0855225 | Telephone: 403-999-6356 | Email: twcherak@gmail.com

Seconded by: Shirley Ford | Membership #: 0072583

RESOLUTION

Proposal for Calgary Co-op to offer ‘price matching’ for its Member-Owners similar to how many other grocery and liquor stores do.

WHEREAS: The cost of food purchased from grocery stores in Canada continues to increase. According to Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index: Annual review, 2024, “prices for groceries remained elevated,” and price growth for food purchased from stores increased by +7.8% in 2023, and +2.2% in 2024.

Calgary Co-op grocery and liquor stores appear to charge premium prices for the vast majority of their products available in-store. Their products are sometimes discounted by nominal ‘app offers’ (such as: “Buy 4 Fresh gourmet 142g croutons get the 5th free, available until Mar 26, 2025), whereas other stores’ grocery pricing strategies such as Walmart’s appears to revolve around an “everyday low price” approach.

Online users express frustration with Calgary Co-op’s apparent premium pricing strategy, asking, “Is there a reason Calgary Co-op is more expensive for groceries?” and further stating:

I needed to go in for some gluten-free flour, Kraft peanut butter, and toothpaste.

The flour was $10.99 ($8.50 at Walmart and on Amazon)

The 2kg peanut butter was $12.99 (8.89 at Walmart and $8.99 on Amazon)

The toothpaste is $5.99 for 65ml (3 pack of 110ml tubes for $10.99 at Walmart)

Unfortunately, Calgary Co-op does not currently offer price matching at its grocery or liquor stores, whereas many other stores across Canada do.

WHEREAS: Save-On-Foods goes the extra mile and states “We Match flyer prices if a competitor within our geographical trade area offers a lower advertised flyer price than our current in-store price on any identical grocery item”. (https://www.saveonfoods.com/sm/planning/rsid/1982/price-match)

Real Canadian Superstore states “Ad Match: We’ll match prices when you show us a lower advertised price.” (https://www.realcanadiansuperstore.ca/en/save-forreal#ad-match)

IGA grocery stores have an “Unbeatable Price Guarantee” where “If a major supermarket competitor within this store’s geographic trade area offers a lower price on any item we post in a flyer with an “Unbeatable Price” tag, we will sell you that item for 1¢ less than the competitor’s price upon presentation of the competitor’s flyer”. (https://www.iga.net/en/utilities/unbeatable_price_guarantee)

Sobeys grocery stores have a “Verified Prices promotion” where “if a product in [their] flyer with the Verified Prices icon is available at a lower price at a selected competing supermarket, you will automatically get the difference in Scene+ points.” (https://www.sobeys.com/en/verified-prices/)

WHEREAS: Liquor Depot liquor stores in Alberta offers a “Price Match Guarantee” where “If a competitor has a lower price … simply show an advertisement for that price and we will sell you that item at the same price as that store.” (https://liquordepot.ca/pages/price-match-guarantee)

Real Canadian Liquorstore liquor stores in Alberta say, “See a lower price? We’ll match it.” where “if you happen to find a competitor with a lower price on the identical item, show us and we’ll match it”. (https://www.realcanadianliquorstore.ca/about-us/)

WHEREAS: One of Calgary Co-op’s values is “Service: our customers’ needs drive us to deliver exceptional shopping experiences.” As part of delivering an exceptional shopping experience, Calgary Co-op should offer price matching.

Price matching can be a great strategy for retailers as it can lead to increased sales, enhance customer trust, and help maintain a competitive edge in the market by ensuring customers feel they are getting the best possible price.

BE IT RESOLVED: That similar to how many other stores offer, Calgary Co-op grocery and liquor stores should offer price matching for its Member-Owners.

In addition to the special business described above, member-owners will be presented with the financial statements of Calgary Co-op for the preceding financial year and the results of the director election and management of Calgary Co-op will provide an overview of the cooperative’s past performance and future strategy.

2025 Annual General Meeting

Notices of Proposals

Pursuant to the Cooperatives Act and Calgary Co-op’s Bylaws, member-owners are entitled to submit notices of proposals to be considered at the annual meeting of member-owners. To submit a proposal, member-owners should complete this form and deliver it to Calgary Co-op no later than March 26, 2025.