The Prairie Sky Co-operative Association has been growing over the last year, and will continue to look for opportunities for the co-operative to grow in a sustainable way, Co-op members heard at their annual meeting on April 24 at McKenna Hall.
The association saw sales of $78.9 million in 2017, up from $69.8 million, in part because of the amalgamation with the Milestone Co-op in 2017, the members were told. The growth continued with the amalgamation with the Cross Country Co-op in of Lang in February of this year.
“We will continue to look at opportunities to ensure that Prairie Sky Co-op is well-positioned to remain relevant as the marketplace continues to evolve,” said board chair and president Del Croissant in the president’s report, adding that an incentive this year for new members is that for members with less than $200 in equity, they will now see a cash payment of 25 per cent of their allocation.
“One of the core pillars to our operation is sustainability. We view this is as a responsibility to the future, and we continue to work towards improving the sustainability of our business. We strive to create better communities and to create opportunities for those yet to come,” said Croissant in his report.
In the question-and-answer period for the AGM, general manager Don Kraft was asked if the co-operative was considering applying to be a retailer of marijuana, as Weyburn is allowed to have two retail outlets.
“We looked at all the options and are certain there is not enough information out there at this time,” he said. “Are we saying no? No, but we’re not saying yes either. The board will take a serious look at it.”
Kraft said the Co-op aims to provide items that the public wants, “but no decision has been made at this time.”
Asked if the expansion of the Home Hardware with a Home Building Centre will impact on the Co-op at all, Kraft replied, “There’s no doubt a big challenge to us is competition.”
The board has been looking at the potential for a new Home Centre for the Co-op, and have commissioned a feasibility study for a market analysis on the possibility.
Meantime, in looking at the finances for the Co-op, pharmacy sales were up by five per cent, the sale of building materials were up by 11 per cent and petroleum sales were up by $3 million to $38 million, and non-fuel sales were $4.9 million.
Operating expenses for the Co-op were $12.6 million, up from $11.5 million the year before, but as a percentage of sales it dropped slightly. There were net savings of $4.56 million for Co-op members.
Fixed assets increased by $2.9 million, and members heard that 83 per cent of Co-op assets are free of debt, well above the goal of 75 per cent.
The allocation rates were announced for members for 2017, with the allocation for food purchases set at 4.5 per cent, pharmacy is 5 per cent, petroleum is 4.5 per cent, and purchases from the Home Centre, Fashions and feed are all at 1.5 per cent. Under petroleum, the allocation works out to 4 cents a litre for bulk fuel.
A number of local causes and organizations were supported through the Co-op’s member relations committee, including the Fuel Good Day which was held on Sept. 19, with five cents a litre donated by Co-ops across western Canada. Prairie Sky Co-op raised $2,519.06, which was doubled with a matching donation by Federated Co-operatives to $5,083.13. This was dispersed to the Milestone Swimming Pool, Dr. Brown Aquatic Centre in Oungre, KidSport in Weyburn, and the Salvation Army.
Within the last couple of weeks, the Co-op raised funds for the SJHL Assistance Fund in the wake of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, and the Weyburn branch of the Co-op raised $3,905.10, which was matched by Federated Co-operatives for a total contribution of $7,810.20.
A local group who also benefitted from the Co-op Community Spaces program for western Canada was the Riverwood Outdoor Wellness Space, which received a $40,000 grant towards the development of a new playground space at the Riverwood development on the former Souris Valley grounds.
Sean Perdue shared the story of how the development came to be, including their fundraising efforts towards a goal of $80-90,000 for the first phase. In thanking the Co-op board for their help, Perdue noted this grant helped them to reach their goal for the first phase, and volunteers gathered to help install the play equipment.
Board member Ted Hillstead retired from the board after 18 years, and the nomination committee came up with three names for the board member terms that came up. Leanne Anderson, Stella Swertz and Steve Robertson were acclaimed as board members, joining current board members Del Croissant, Brett Ferguson, Henry Jones, Gwen Paterson, Kevin Lohse and Don Horner. Robertson was previously an associate director, as he was on the board for the Cross Country Co-op in Lang at the time they amalgamated with the Prairie Sky Co-op.
