Funeral Co-ops: BC Info Sessions

Mark Goldblatt, BCCA — 16 Dec 2008

The purpose of funeral co-ops is to provide funerals at cost and in a compassionate way. On the death of a loved one this is not the time to be making financial decisions about funeral services. People join funeral co-ops now in anticipation of their own deaths at some point in the future as well as that the deaths of those they love. However there is another element and that is that members want to see the funeral co-op alternative available in their communities. They join in solidarity with their fellow citizens.

The funeral business has been changing. In the past funeral homes were often family owned businesses with strong ties to their local community. Increasingly funeral homes are owned by large corporations such as SCI which is the largest provider of funerals in North America with their home office located in Houston, Texas. Often when these corporations buy a family owned funeral home they keep the family name on the door so people are not even aware that the business is now owned by a large corporation.

There is, however, a well established co-op alternative to corporate funeral business – funeral co-operatives. Funeral co-ops in Quebec have created a very successful funeral co-op movement that is sophisticated and growing. A network of over 30 funeral co-ops provides approximately 17% of all funerals in Quebec. This model functions very well in smaller communities. In PEI there are seven small funeral co-ops, however the model can also be successful in larger cities. In Gatineau, Quebec the funeral co-op has over 11,000 members and provides 65% of all funerals in their region. The largest funeral co-operative is in the City of Quebec with over 25,000 members and a 50% market share.

There are almost no funeral co-ops west of the Quebec border except for Sudbury, Ontario and Steinbach, Manitoba and one that is being launched in Regina.

The funeral co-op movement in Quebec has created their own federation to provide the local co-ops with various services. Working with the Canadian Co-operative Association the Quebec Federation of Funeral Co-operatives has offered to share their expertise for free to any interested groups across Canada. The first step is to set up public meetings to discuss the funeral co-op concept.

The BCCA is coordinating the visit of a representative from the Federation of Funeral Co-ops of Quebec to speak on the topic of funeral cooperatives in the New Year in three BC communities outside of the lower mainland.

If your community organization is interested in holding such a presentation please contact Karla at the BCCA at coop_development@bcca.coop or tel. 604-662-3906.

Category: Business, Community