Co-op dealings in a virtual world
By COLLIN GALLANT on March 6, 2021.
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant When South Country Co-op members were presented with the possibility of online voting and remote attendance at its 2019 AGM, it was the start of a long confusing night at the Chinook Village ballroom. It was explained as a way to better connect the expanding entity and bolster participation in the entire southern Alberta trading area. Many shrugged their shoulders and wondered, “What’s the big hairy deal?” Now, it is and isn’t a surprise to learn that virtual meetings are the only game it town as the 2021 annual general meeting approaches in two weeks time. With spring comes AGM season, tax time and patronage checks. This week the parent Federated Co-op presented its year-end financials, which paint a wild picture. Its profits are typically driven by the Co-op Refinery in Regina and fuel sales, but we all know how that went for the back two-thirds of the year. That cut earnings and its payments to local co-ops to a fifth. On the upside, the FCL seems to have absorbed the loss of Calgary Co-op’s food supply contract with bolstered grocery sales throughout the rest of the network. The effect on the local operation will be spelled out to owner-members at the March 22 AGM, which can be watched remotely if you register by March 10. Online voting for directors takes place until March 15, with bios and applicable info at the South Country website. Hatter up high Wayne Eyre, Hat High grad and now a Lt. Gen, is now the man at the top of the chain of Command in the Royal Canadian Armed Forces. That comes after the last two men in the post were moved out in short order as workplace investigations continue. Former Hat High guidance councillor Jim MacFarlane got in touch to remind the News about Eyre’s connection to the Hat and his participation with the local cadets before he was accepted to officer training program in the mid-1980s. “He was a good kid who worked really hard,” said MacFarlane, whose son was pals with Eyre when both excelled in the relatively new electronics program and at the local high school. “He just sort of went about his business and was very efficient.” Roster moves Time to update the rolodex. The local development community is saddened but encouraged that Kent Snyder, the city’s general manager of planning services, has taken a similar position with the City of Edmonton. He’s commuting until the summer and the start of the next school year, and is charged with guiding a plan to accomplish a huge increase in urban density in the capital city. As well, former CHAT newscaster Leah Murray has jumped from a radio career in Airdrie to a communications position with the United Conservative Party. Quinton Randall, once with the Invest Medicine Hat office when it was a contracted out city effort, is the new head of the Palliser Economic Partnership. Last but not least, News reporter Mo Cranker began a new job in stakeholder relations in the local tourism sector this week. A look ahead There’s little on the city’s public agenda for the coming week, but the issue of boosting urban density continues to percolate. The municipal planning commission was to deal with another urban infill zoning change this week, but it’s been moved to late this month. 100 years ago The city would sell off three autos, including one afforded to the mayor, and layoff workers to cut the budget, the News reported in March 8, 1921. Municipal positions for teamsters, the city blacksmith, meter readers and plumbing inspector would eliminated, according to budget deliberations by council. As well as the mayor’s car, those for the police department and the city’s chief engineer would, and the police chief and fire chief would share a vehicle in future. The cars, two Ford touring models and a McLaughlin, would be sold by sealed bids, and the work be put out to tender. In Edmonton, the province reported a budget surplus of $496,000 for the 1920 fiscal year, including $10.9 million in revenue and $10.4 million in expenses. It was “a most gratifying report,” presented by former Hat MLA and finance minister CR. Mitchell, reported the News. A badly splintered Conservative Party of Alberta failed to support its own leader’s opposition motion to demand provincial control over natural resources. From the Ladies Page, a tip for darkening grey hair involved soaking one’s head in a mixture of tea leaves and sulphur. Collin Gallant covers city politics and a variety of topics for the News. Reach him at 403-528-5664 or via email at cgallant@medicinehatnews.com 34-33
