Pioneer Co-op Approves Amalgamation with Herbert Co-op

Herbert Co-op will be joining forces with Pioneer Co-op in the new year.

A month after Herbert Co-op members voted overwhelmingly in favour to amalgamate with Pioneer Co-op, Pioneer members approved the same proposal at a special meeting Thursday night at the Credit Union iplex Auditorium in Swift Current.

The resolution got unanimous support by the 54 members in attendance.

Pioneer Co-op General Manager Stu Dyrland says they're pleased that the amalgamation will go ahead. "We've been working with the Herbert board for the last six months or so... we're very pleased to be able to join together with their Co-op and to serve that community. It's going to be fun."

Herbert Co-op President Dale Cannon was also pleased with the support from members of the Pioneer Co-op, and says the amalgamation will ensure that the community of Herbert will keep its Co-op store. "It means that we are going to keep our store in the town, and look forward to many years of service going forward."

The amalgamation officially takes effect on January 29, 2012, and will grow Pioneer Co-op to 17 branches serving close to 24,000 members.

It's the second amalgamation involving Pioneer Co-op in two years. In 2010, members of Pioneer and Southwest Co-ops voted to amalgamate, adding branches in Maple Creek and Consul.

 

Colin Powers talked with Pioneer Co-op General Manager Stu Dyrland after the meeting: 

 

 

Dale Cannon, the President of the Herbert Co-op, also commented after the meeting: