A proposal is being presented at the Calgary Co-operative Association Limited annual general meeting on Thursday April 23 asking Calgary Co-op to provide a written statement to all member-owners regarding the long period without an apparent permanent CEO.
“Our co-operative has been operating without a permanent CEO since former CEO Ken Keelor left on or around October 2024. From an email dated October 17, 2024 from Calgary Co-op former Board Chair Brad Krizan, it was stated: Effective immediately, Lisa Swartzman has been appointed interim CEO for Calgary Co-op … until a new CEO is in place, which we expect will occur within the next year,” said the proposal submitted by member Trent Cherak.
“Lisa Swartzman concluded her term as interim CEO around mid-November 2025, at which time Calgary Co-op appeared to quietly appoint current Board Chair Ken White to the additional role of “Executive Chair”. Ken appears to continue to assume the duties of both roles.”
“At the time of Calgary Co-op’s 2026 AGM, it has been more than 18 months since our cooperative has been without an apparent permanent CEO, and limited transparency and communication on this matter has been provided to Member-Owners. Calgary Co-op may now be falling behind in the grocery and food and beverage sector.”
The proposal is asking the Calgary Co-op Board to provide a written statement to all member-owners (via mail, email, or other direct letter to all member owners) acknowledging this matter, identify why a permanent CEO has not yet been found since Ken Keelor’s departure, and outline a plan and reasonable timeline for hiring a new CEO.
On its website, it said: “Due to overwhelming interest in our 2026 AGM, we have reached the venue’s room capacity and as a result, must restrict the meeting to voting-eligible members only. A member is eligible to vote at the Calgary Co-op Annual Meeting if they have purchased a one-dollar Calgary Co-op membership in the fiscal year ended November 1, 2025. Thank you for your understanding.”
As of Tuesday April 21, the grocery chain has not publicly released its annual 2025 report or annual 2025 financial results.
Total sales for the year ended November 2, 2024 were $1.48 billion. Total sales for the year ending on October 28, 2023, amounted to $1.303 billion, compared to $1.284 billion in 2022.
In the 2024 fiscal year, the company’s net loss was $10.043 million compared to net earnings of 16.7 million in 2023 and $38.67 million in 2022.
In an email statement, Co-op said: “With space being a consideration and to ensure ALL members who are eligible to vote (meaning they bought a membership at any point in fiscal 2025 or earlier) can attend, we need to limit the meeting to voting-eligible members only. New members who purchased their membership after November 1, 2025, will gladly be welcomed at next year’s AGM.
“While we have previously limited attendance to voting-eligible members only, we have not had to do so for a few years. The Carriage House Inn, where we are hosting this year’s AGM, currently holds double the number of members who attended our last AGM. We are sincerely pleased with the membership registration and interest this year.
“As for your question regarding our Annual Report and Financials, as is typical, these will be posted on our website directly before our AGM and will be provided to voting-eligible members in their AGM kits.”
Another proposal submitted by member Siyang Feng regards the closure of the company’s Hampton’s store on March 28.
“The Location has been serving Hamptons and Edgemont community for over 20 years. Many residents rely on this location for pharmacy service and convenient groceries. In addition, there’re some high products and local brands, such as “Founders and Farmers” that shoppers can’t get similar substitute products from the second nearest store, which is the Superstore,” its said.
“Moreover, this creates extra challenges for a lot of seniors who don’t drive to access for groceries and their regular medications. Whereas: I’ve asked the Hamptons Homeowners Association, they said that Coop owns this property. As a member-owned cooperation, I think serving the community’s needs is equally important as making profit.”
The proposal is asking that Calgary Co-op consider bringing a similar service provider (groceries/pharmacy) to the Hamptons location with the potential for the property to be divided into several units for lease provided that groceries and pharmacy essentials will be available to the nearby neighbourhoods.”
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