2026 AGM

Annual General Meeting

This year's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Thursday, May 7th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. via Webex.

The Annual General Meeting is one of the key ways members can participate in the democracy of Homestead Co-op. We encouraged all members to attend and participate.

Attend virtually and be entered to win great door prizes!

Agenda Items
Annual report of the Board & Management to the membership
Presentation of the audited financial statements
Appointment of auditors
Election of Directors
Proposed Bylaw Amendments to Bylaws #3.05, #3.14, #3.18, #6.01, #7.03, #7.04, #7.06, #8.05, #8.06 and #8.09

Bylaw Amendments

2026 Bylaw Amendments

Bylaw change proposal: Election and Term 3.05: Directors are elected by members

Current Bylaw states:
3.05: Directors are elected by members
a) Directors are elected by secret ballot at the first meeting of members and at each subsequent annual meeting of members. The candidates for director who receive the highest number of votes cast are declared elected until all vacancies are filled.

First and subsequent meeting of members
b) The members must elect seven (7) directors at the first meeting of members. The three (3) candidates who receive the most votes are elected to three-year terms. The two (2) candidates who receive the next highest number of votes are elected to two-year terms. The two (2) candidates who receive the next highest number of votes are elected to one-year terms. At each subsequent annual meeting, Directors elected to replace those whose term of office has expired shall hold office for three years.

Proposed Bylaw:
Election and Term 3.05 Directors are elected by members
c) Directors are elected at the annual meeting of members. The candidates for Director who receive the highest number of votes cast are declared elected until all vacancies are filled. Directors elected to replace those whose term of office has expired shall hold office for three years.

Bylaw change proposal: Election and Term 3.14: Time and Place of Meetings

Current Bylaw states:
Time and Place of Meetings 3.14
Board meetings must be held in Manitoba at a time and place of the Board’s choosing.

Proposed Bylaw:
Time and Place of Meetings 3.14
Board meetings will be held at a time and place as determined by the Board.

Bylaw proposal: Election and Term 3.18: Conflict of Interest

Current Bylaw states:
Conflict of Interest 3.18
A Director or officer who has a conflict of interest as described in section 207 of the Act must declare their conflict of interest in accordance with that section. The following rules apply:
a) All officers, directors or committee members must carry out their duties honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of the Cooperative rather than in their own best interest.
b) A conflict of interest is when someone benefits personally in any way from a decision of the Cooperative or has an interest in a contract that the Cooperative may enter into.
c) When a Director has or may have a conflict of interest:
i. The Director should declare the conflict of interest at the Board meeting considering the matter.
ii. If a Director does not declare a conflict of interest, but another Director is aware of one, the other Director can bring it up at a meeting.
iii. The Board then decides whether there is a conflict of interest.
iv. If there is a conflict of interest, the Director cannot vote on the matter and must not be present while the matter is discussed.

Proposed Bylaw:
Conflict of Interest 3.18
A Director or officer who has a conflict of interest as described in section 207 of the Act must declare their conflict of interest in accordance with that section. The Board shall, from time to time, establish and amend a conflict-of-interest policy. The rules relating to Director’s conflict of interest are those specified in the Act.

Bylaw change proposal: Membership Qualifications 6.01

Current Bylaw states:
Membership Qualifications 6.01
No person can become a member of the Cooperative unless that person:
a) is an individual, is at least 13 years of age.
b) has submitted a written application for membership that has been approved by the board or a person authorized by the board to approve membership applications.
c) has purchased and paid for a minimum of ten (10) membership shares.

Proposed Bylaw:
Membership Qualifications 6.01
No person can become a member of the Cooperative unless that person:
a) is an individual, is at least 13 years of age.
b) has submitted a written or electronic application for membership that has been approved by the Board or a person authorized by the Board to approve membership applications.
c) has purchased and paid for a minimum of ten (10) membership shares.

Bylaw change proposal: Allocation of Surplus 7.03

Current Bylaw states:
Allocation of Surplus 7.03
At the end of a financial year, after allocation of any surplus into the general reserve, if any, the Board may credit the balance of that surplus in the financial year either in the form of a patronage return paid in proportion to the business done by members or patrons with the Cooperative or in the form of a dividend on shares. Patronage returns or dividends can be paid in the form of cash or shares in the Cooperative.

Proposed Bylaw:
Allocation of Surplus 7.03
At the end of a financial year, after allocation of any surplus into the general reserve, if any, the Board may credit the balance of that surplus in the financial year either in the form of a patronage return paid in proportion to the business done by members with the Cooperative or in the form of a dividend on shares. Patronage returns or dividends can be paid in the form of cash or shares in the Cooperative.

Bylaw change proposal: Computation of Business Done 7.04

Current Bylaw states:
Computation of Business Done 7.04
If allocating patronage returns, the Board must compute the business done by a member or patron with the Cooperative in a financial year in relation to:

a) The quantity, quality, kind and value of the goods bought, sold, handled, marketed or dealt in by the Cooperative; and
b) The services rendered:
i. by the Cooperative on behalf of or to the member, whether as principal or agent of the member or otherwise, or
ii. by the member on behalf of or to the Cooperative with appropriate differences for the different classes, grades or qualities of the goods and services.

Proposed Bylaw:
Computation of Business Done 7.04
If allocating patronage returns, the Board must compute the business done by a member with the Cooperative in a financial year in relation to:
a) The quantity, quality, kind and value of the goods bought, sold, handled, marketed or dealt in by the Cooperative; and
b) The services rendered:
i. by the Cooperative on behalf of or to the member, whether as principal or agent of the member or otherwise, or
ii. by the member on behalf of or to the Cooperative with appropriate differences for the different classes, grades or qualities of the goods and services.

Bylaw change proposal: Patronage Returns Applied as Membership Shares 7.06

Current Bylaw states:
Patronage Returns Applied as Membership Shares 7.06
If a patronage return is paid to a member in the form of membership shares, notice of the payment must be provided to the member in accordance with section 58 of the Act. The Board may, by ordinary resolution, repurchase a percentage of the membership shares allocated in a prior year as patronage returns. The shares may be repurchased in an order of priority set out in Bylaw 7.07.

Proposed Bylaw:
Patronage Returns Applied as Membership Shares 7.06
If a patronage return is paid to a member in the form of membership shares, notice of the payment must be provided to the member in accordance with section 58 of the Act. The Board may, by ordinary resolution, repurchase a percentage of the membership shares allocated in a prior year as patronage returns. The shares must be repurchased in an order of priority set out in Bylaw 7.07.

Bylaw change proposal: Notice of Meetings 8.05

Current Bylaw states:
Notice of Meetings 8.05
Notice of the date, time and place of each meeting of members shall be given by:
a) advertising on at least two separate occasions at least five days apart, including the day of publication, in a newspaper circulating in the co-operatives trading area, where the first advertising day of publication is between 14 and 30 days before the meeting; and
b) posting the notice in each place of business of the co-operative for at least 21 consecutive days before the scheduled date for the meeting.

Proposed Bylaw:
Notice of Meetings 8.05
Notice of the date, time and place of each meeting of members shall be given by:
a) advertising 30 days prior to the AGM; and
b) posting the notice in each place of business of the co-operative for at least 21 consecutive days before the scheduled date for the meeting.

Bylaw change proposal: Chairperson (and Secretary) 8.06

Current Bylaw states:
Chairperson (and Secretary) 8.06
The Chairperson of the meeting of members is the President or, in the President’s absence, the Vice-President. By ordinary resolution, another person may be appointed Chairperson. Where the Secretary is not present, the Chairperson may appoint another person to be Secretary for the meeting.

Proposed Bylaw:
Chairperson (and Secretary) 8.06
The Chairperson of the meeting of members is the President or, in the President’s absence, the Vice-President. By ordinary resolution, another person may be appointed Chairperson. The Chairperson will appoint a Secretary for the meeting.

Bylaw change proposal: Voting at the Meeting 8.09

Current Bylaw states:
Voting at the Meeting 8.09
A person that is on the member’s register at the time notice of a meeting is sent is entitled to vote. Voting is governed by these rules:
(a) Votes are counted on a one-member, one-vote basis.
(b) Votes, other than on special resolutions, are passed by a majority of members present who are entitled to vote.
(c) An ordinary resolution or motion fails in case of a tie vote.
(d) Votes are decided by show of hands, other than votes taken by secret ballot, and the results are reported in minutes of the meeting; and
(e) A member entitled to vote at the meeting may demand a ballot vote before or after a vote takes place.

Proposed Bylaw:
Voting at the Meeting 8.09
A person that is on the member’s register at the time notice of a meeting is sent is entitled to vote. Voting is governed by these rules:
(a) Votes are counted on a one-member, one-vote basis.
(b) Votes, other than on special resolutions, are passed by a majority of members present who are entitled to vote.
(c) An ordinary resolution or motion fails in case of a tie vote.
(d) Votes are decided by show of hands or electronic method, other than votes taken by secret ballot. The motion will either be Carried or Lost and will be reported in minutes of the meeting.
(e) A member entitled to vote at the meeting may demand a ballot vote before or after a vote takes place.

AGM Poster

Our 2026 AGM Poster is available by clicking on the first attachment below. You can also view it in-store at any Homestead Co-op location. 

Together, we build relationships, lead in service, and positively impact our communities with every interaction.

Attachments:
2026 AGM Poster