About Us

We are a Mid-Size Retail Co-operative located in the Province of Manitoba , Canada about 80km southwest of Winnipeg at the Junction of Highways #13 & #3. The Town of Carman is primarily a Farm Service Centre. During the last completed Fiscal Year (2010) we had sales of approx $29.0 million and employed approximately 95 People. In the Town of Carman we operate a Food Store, Gas Bar/Convenience Store, and a Home Centre. We also operate a Bulk Fuel Facility located just north of Carman on Highway #13. We are a member of Federated Co-operatives Ltd.

The Carman Co-op also has a Food Store/Retail Pumps/Cardlock in the community of Treherne, Manitoba located approx. 80 kms northwest of Carman on Highway #2.

The Carman Co-op currently has over 4,000 active members who elect the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors hire a General Manager to oversee the day to day operations of the Co-operative. The General Manager reports directly to the Board of Directors.

Board of Directors

President -	Bill McEachern	204-626-3210
Vice President -	Wayne Taylor	204-745-3469
Secretary -	Jocelyn Van Koughnet	204-745-6321
	Dan DePauw	204-723-2315
	Liza Penner	204-745-2324
	Doug Head	204-723-2350
	Ron Vanderzwaag
Student Representative -

Dan DePauw receives his Level 2 Director Award

Annual General Meeting

Annual Meetings are held early April. All members encouraged to attend.

Co-op Week

Co-op Week takes place during October of each year. Some of the events during the week are a Members Only Sales and the distribution of over 4,000 equity cheques and statements.

See our Home Page, on this Web Site, for the full details.

History

A Timeline History of the Carman Co-op:

1928:
• Carman Co-op Oil Refinery was Incorporated. Small refining plant built, but little oil was ever refined. Refined fuel and oil was hauled from Brandon.

1945:
• Boyne Consumers Co-op was organized. E. Swanton was the first President. Coal was the only commodity handled. Rented premises for the Boyne Co-op were in the Montgomery Building (10' Frontage!) on the east side of Main Street near the bridge. Customers shoveled and weighed the coal themselves. First year sales were $3,200.

1950:
• Boyne Co-op purchased Skelton's Electric shop, across from where the Fireside Inn is today, for $1,300.

1956:
• Amalgamation talks between the Oil Refinery and Boyne Co-op began. Mel Jefkins was hired as manager of the Boyne Co-op. Boyne Co-op sales were $39,000. The Boyne Co-op was now handling feed, machinery as well as coal.

1958:
• Provisional Board for the amalgamated Co-op was formed. Lloyd Wilton was the first President of the new Co-op.

1959:
• On June 11th the amalgamation of Boyne Consumers Co-op and Carman Co-op Oil Refinery took place forming Carman Co-op (1959) Ltd. Mel Jefkin's salary range as manager was $300 to $395 per month.

1960:
• Sales were $301,000.

1961:
• Service Station opened.

1962:
• Shopping Centre opened.

1963:
• Purchased Elias Lumber (near present Bowling Alley) and commenced selling Building Materials.

1965:
• 1,383 active members
• Sales exceeded $1.0 Million for the first time.

1968:
• Lumber Store and Yard moved near present site.

1969:
• Amalgamated with Haywood and Treherne Co-ops.

1972:
• 4,200 square foot expansion to Shopping Centre increased building size by 35%.

1976:
• Mel Jefkins retired as General Manager after 20 years of service.

1987:
• Major renovations were undertaken to convert the Shopping Centre to a Food only facility.

1988:
• Treherne and Carman Bulk Fuel Facilities were closed. Bulk Plant was consolidated at the Haywood facility.

1989:
• Haywood Branch was sold.

1991:
• Agreements were signed with the Elm Creek and Homewood Co-ops to share Petroleum Facilities. These agreements have continued to present.
• Bake-off/ Deli were added to the Shopping Centre.

1994:
• General Cash Repayments recommenced and continue to present.

1995:
• $500,000 upgrade was completed on Shopping Centre interior. Warehouse expanded on Shopping Centre.

1996:

. Current General Manager (Lorne Zacharias) was hired.

1997:
• Old Gas Bar/Service Bays demolished. New Gas Bar/Convenience Store constructed with a Cardlock Facility added. Additional Fuel Storage was also added.
• Auto Stak System installed in the Home Centre. First System installed in a Manitoba Co-op.

1998:
• Haywood Bulk Plant closed. New Bulk Plant Facility constructed at present Barnsley location.

1999:
• Above Ground Unleaded Pump Facility added at Treherne.

2000:
• New 25,000 sq ft. Shopping Centre built behind Old Shopping Centre. The cost of the new facility was $3.2 million. Old Shopping Centre demolished after the new Food Store was completed.

2001:
• Cash Repayments to Members, this year, exceeded $500,000 for the first time.

2003:
• Sales exceeded $20.0 Million for first time.
• Old Highways Building Property purchased at South of premises.

2004:
• Major expansion to Gas Bar/Convenience Store, Petroleum Storage and Cardlock facilities.
• Cardlock facility added at Treherne.
• Accounting services agreement signed with the Homewood Co-op.

2005:
• Share Capital Repayments for the past ten years topped $5.4 Million.

2006:
• New Home Centre construction was completed (Total Cost $1.3 Million). Old Home Centre demolished.
• Highways Building demolished to provide for additional parking.

2007:
• Active Membership presently at 4,290.
• 3,112 Cheques totalling $493,000.00 were distributed during a General Repayment to Members in October. Over $800,000 in Cash Repayments will be made to Carman Co-op Members this year!
• Carman Co-op Web Site created.
• Acceptance of Gift Cards began in December.

A major disaster was averted in the Shopping Centre as a fire in the Janitor's room was quickly extinguished by the sprinkler system. The fire was caused by a mop being left too near the Hot Water Tank. Damage was limited to the Janitor's Room and near vicinity.
Active Membership presently at 4,290.
Major upgrade of ISS45 POS Systems in Carman and Treherne at a total cost of $90,000.
Winkler and Lowe Farm Co-ops entered into an agreement to pick up Petroleum at the Bulk Plant.

2008:

Major Renovations done to Carman Food Store including. 18 Door Freezer and Walk-In Freezer added. Old Checkouts replaced. There was also an addition of new Deli Display Cases and CombiTherm Oven/Steamer. Total Cost approx. $350,000.
The PRISM Point of Sale System replaced by Store Point at a cost of $57,000.
Thc Carman Co-op's first ever Colour Photocopier/Printer Scanner purchased for Administration at cost of $11,000.00.
Fuel Truck Shelter added to Oil Warehouse in Carman at cost of $36,000.
Carman Co-op was a major sponsor of the Manitoba Summer Games held in August.
Acceptance of Third Party Gift Cards (from Boston Pizza, The Keg etc.) commenced in December.

2009:

50^th Anniversary Celebrated with the giveaway of a Ford or GM automobile at the Annual Meeting in April. Erynn Lawrence of Treherne was the lucky winner.
Accounting Agreement with Homewood Co-op ended with their amalgamation with the Pembina Co-op. All other agreements with Homewood/Pembina remain in place.
50th Anniversary Free BBQ was held on June 19th. Approximately 450 people attended. Marilyn Clearwater won the main door prize (a 37" LCD Television).
Over 3,400 cheues in excess of $790,000 distributed during Co-op Week in October. Total Cash Repayments for 2009 will be approx. $1.2 Million.
An Accounting Agreement was signed with Lowe Farm Co-op.

2010:

The Carman Co-op enters into an agreement to purchase the current R.M of Dufferin Maintenance Yard south of Carman. The current cardlock, located at the Gas Bar, will be moved to this new location in 2011.
Grocery Manager John Cartman accepts a position with FCL after twenty-five years with the Carman Co-op.

2011:

After fifteen years of service with the Carman Co-op, General Manager Lorne Zacharias accepts the same position with the Heritage Co-op.

The "Original" Cooper, circa 2005, conceived by the Carman, Sun Valley and Winkler Co-ops. The name is now used for the Co-op System mascot.

The Co-operative Retailing System Cooper at our 50th Anniversary BBQ in June 2009.