2025 AGM Recap: A Strong Year of Community & Member Support

Ucluelet Co-op welcomed members to its 69th Annual General Meeting with a message of gratitude, resilience, and pride in another strong year of service.

The past fiscal year brought its share of change, including senior leadership transition, staffing pressures, supply chain adjustments, and the rollout of a new payroll and people management system. Through it all, the Co-op team continued to serve members, support the community, and strengthen the organization for the year ahead.

Steady Leadership for the Year Ahead

Ucluelet Co-op will continue with the same Board as last year: Denise Stys-Norman, Lara Kemps, Heather Riddick, Margaret Morrison, Donna Louie, and Mary Brunet.

Lara Kemps and Margaret Morrison were both acclaimed for another three-year term, as those were the two terms up for election.

In her President’s Report, Denise Stys-Norman thanked the Co-op’s 4,973 members for their continued support, along with management, staff, and fellow Board members for their dedication to the organization and the community it serves.

Community Support Remains at the Heart of the Co-op

Supporting the community remains central to Ucluelet Co-op’s mission.

In 2025, the Co-op contributed more than $80,000 in cash, goods, and services to local organizations. Support reached groups including the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Trust, West Coast Resource Society, The District Youth Room, Rainforest Education Society, Ucluelet Aquarium, local basketball teams, USS, and many more.

The Co-op also worked closely with Food Bank on the Edge, providing more than 12,000 pounds of food through donations and purchases.

Other community support included:

• Ucluelet Elementary Breakfast Program
• West Coast Resources Society community soup lunches
• Local youth teams
• The Food Bank
• Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce Edge to Edge Marathon
• Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock
• Fuel Good Day
• Scholarships and support for graduating students
• Kids Club activities and contests
• Literacy and school support programs
• Ucluelet Childcare Society and Little Beans

The Co-op also continued its partnership with the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Trust, with a $150,000 commitment over three years. The final $50,000 installment is planned for 2026. FCL also matched the funding, creating a total gift of $300,000 toward the Community Kitchen at the new CBT Centre.

Investing in People, Training, and Facilities

Training remained a priority in 2025, with staff and Board members taking part in online learning and in-person leadership training.

The Co-op also completed several facilities maintenance projects around refrigeration, the gas bar, and other key infrastructure. These investments help ensure the Co-op can continue serving members reliably now and into the future.

Sustainability is also part of the path forward. Ucluelet Co-op is exploring options such as solar power to supplement existing energy sources and reduce its environmental footprint.

Food security and emergency preparedness remain important priorities as well. In the 2026 annual budget, the Board approved a new generator project that will support full store operations in the event of a power failure once completed.

Celebrating the Team

Ucluelet Co-op also recognized the people who make the organization what it is.

Staff milestones included Lorraine Braiden with 35 years of service, Cathy Donovan, Ida Marie Doiron, and Waylon Durfey with 20 years, Ryan Touchie and Richard Raschke with 10 years, and Alex Hemminger, Alma Mefragata, Chad Young, and Michael Randall with 5 years.

The Co-op’s staff recognition program, now in its fourth year, continued to celebrate outstanding customer service through monthly awards and a $1,000 annual prize at the AGM.

Ucluelet Co-op also continues to support staff through affordable housing, including owned and subsidized rental properties, with plans to grow that support in the future.

A Strong Year for Members

Member purchases totalled $19,215,553, representing 64% of sales, which was about the same member-to-non-member spending ratio as in previous years.

The Board recommended patronage dividends across multiple areas of the business, including store purchases, fuel, pharmacy, hardware, and propane. Equity payments and patronage allocation also continued to return value to members, with $530,289 paid out through equity payments and the general repayment program.

Member equity cheques will be distributed in person at the main store in July.

Members also continued to benefit from Co-op App offers, Seniors Discount Days, Double Scratch and Save Tuesdays, advertised specials, and in-store savings throughout the year.

Growth Across the Co-op

General Manager Sue Capern shared that sales reached $29,189,309, up more than 5% from the previous year. Net EBITDA returned $1,805,516 to the bottom line, representing 6.2% savings and a significant improvement over the previous year.

The Co-op saw excellent growth in both Hardware and Grocery in 2025, while continuing to benefit members through loyalty payments from FCL for fuel sales.

The Growcer farm also continued to grow, bringing fresh, locally grown produce to the community right from the Co-op parking lot. Customers have embraced the products, and Moe and the Growcer team continue to take great pride in what they produce.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As tourism continues to strengthen and more Canadians choose to explore close to home, Ucluelet Co-op is preparing for another busy summer season.

The year ahead will include continued investment in facilities, emergency preparedness, staff support, sustainability, and community partnerships.

To every member, customer, team member, Board member, and community partner, thank you for supporting Ucluelet Co-op.

We look forward to serving you in 2026.