March 09, 2016

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

NEWS & VIEWS MARCH 2016 | FOOD FEED PHARMACY HARDWARE FASHIONS GAS BARS PETROLEUM | ottercoop.com

Another Record Year for Otter Co-op!

EVERYONE WELCOME – NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED

SEEKING DIRECTORS FOR A 3 YEAR TERM ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF A FAST GROWING OPERATION? If Yes, Otter Co-op Board of Directors is Looking for you. Sense of Community, Business Acumen in helping direct a $200 million operation.

If you are interested in running for the Otter Co-op Board of Directors you must have your Director Qualification Declaration signed at least twenty days prior to the Annual Meeting to be held at the end of May (Date to be determined please watch for ads in local papers, on our website or call the number listed below).

Applications are available on our website www.ottercoop.com

HOW DOES IT WORK? Otter Co-op’s Board is made up of nine Directors with staggered three year terms. A Director must run and be successful after each three year term to secure the next three years to a maximum of nine years (three terms).

After nine years a Director must take a one year break before being eligible to run again.

Good Board governance ensures that Otter Co-op operates in an economically, socially and environmentally responsible way, aligned with the interests of our members.

If you have any questions please refer to our website or call Merilee at the Administration Office 604 607 6923.

Scholarships TEN ($1000) OTTER CO-OP SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE If you are currently a grade twelve student and your immediate family member (parent/guardian) has been an active member for a minimum one year and has spent at least $2000 in the prior fiscal year you are eligible to apply for one of (eight) $1000 scholarships offered by Otter Co-op. We also have (two) $1,000 scholarships available for a mature student (an individual that has not been in an educational environment for the previous three years, and has not received an Otter Co-op Scholarship in the past three years). Applications are available on our website www.ottercoop.com. Deadline for applications is April 15, 2016.

Spring is in the air, I am still of our mill in Aldergrove, and additional sales and profits for the long shocked at how quickly our look forward to having the term health of our organization. Your 2015 year went by! February 27 new section up and running board, management and employee group marks Otter Co-op’s official fiscal shortly. continue on a track of fiscal responsibility year end, and I am pleased to balanced with sound marketing Projects in the works for report that by all accounts so far, objectives to ensure we have continued 2016 include the gas bar it has been another successful development and growth for the future. project in West Kelowna, as year overall for your Co-op. well as continuing work on Other fantastic happenings at the We had another record our upgrade to the Fraser Co-op this past year include several of breaking year of sales, ending at Highway and 248th gas bar our team receiving long term service Jack Nicholson $199,601,398 million, surpassing location; continued planning awards, including up to 45 years with OTTER CO- OP last years’ record of $183.8 Otter Co-op! I am so proud to work for G EN ER A L M A N AG ER on a site on property million by $15.7 million, or 8.6%. we own on the Mission/ a company that has such great benefits Fantastic results once again Abbotsford Highway; a major and opportunities that an employee made possible by our dedicated team interior upgrade to our Retail Centre on would stick around that long. I believe and family of directors and employees at 248th in Aldergrove, as well as further it is a great testament to the culture at Otter, as well as you, our loyal shoppers upgrades to our feed mill. We continue Otter. And even more exciting, is this and owners. It is much too early yet to to watch closely changing policy for coming year we will be celebrating some report on our bottom line earnings for liquor in grocery stores, as we see this as with as many or more years of service, 2015 as we continue to work through our another profitable service for Otter to stay tuned for those announcements! year end processes. I urge you to come offer our members when the opportunity Here’s to another great year ahead, and out to our annual meeting in May and arises. we look forward to continuing to serve hear the full results.

These projects fit well with our corporate our member/owner needs well into the future. Remember, you don’t have to be Some of the major events that happened business plan goals of continued growth a member to shop at Otter, but why not! throughout our 2015 fiscal year included and success of the Co-op, adding the unfortunate closing of our Abbotsford 2015 FISCAL SALES $199,601,398 Glen Mountain Produce Store. This location had been losing money for the past 5 years, and as we were looking Feed at our lease which was up for renewal, we could not justify continuing to lose $42,232,877 member funds and keep this location Gas Bars open. On a happier note, we completed Bulk $82,573,694 construction and opened a new Otter Petroleum gas bar facility in Penticton, and the Retail Food, $44,590,213 site continues to grow in volume each week. Otter has also closed on property Hardware, in West Kelowna, and we anticipate Clothing and construction beginning late this spring Pharmacy on a new gas bar and convenience store in that community. In our feed division, $30,204,614 we are just completing a major upgrade

Visit your local CO-OP® and THE MARKETPLACE™ food stores, convenience stores/gas bars and home centers through April 21, 2016 to receive 1 Game Ticket with every transaction.* • Spend over $50 and get 2 Game Tickets!

• Spend over $100 and get 3 Game Tickets!

• Spend over $150 and get 4 Game Tickets!

• Spend over $200 and get 5 Game Tickets!

The more Game Tickets you collect, the better your chances to win with over $8 million in prizes and discounts and 3 ways to win: 1. Collect to Win 2. Instant Prizes!

3. On Line Contest Plus a $25,000 Community Donation!

2016 FORD F150 XLT OR $35,000 CASH

FREE GAS FOR A YEAR

FREE GROCERIES FOR A YEAR

VACATION GETAWAY

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

NEWS & VIEWS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Welcome to the end of the 2015 Fiscal Year and the start of new beginnings in 2016. Our Board of Directors has just returned from the FCL Annual Meeting in Saskatoon. There was a lot of information about the state of the Co-op organization and the challenges we all face together.

Out of 203 retails, 195 retails were represented by delegates.

Our on-line Director portal now has a group of six university based courses to help Board Members to have the knowledge to do their job as directors. Out of the fifty-four courses to be taken your board members have completed all but five. There were thirty certificates of completion given out at the AGM in Saskatoon and two of them went to Board Members at Otter Co-op.

The Otter Co-op has been chosen as one of the retails to participate in the “Corporate Performance Management” model. This allows us to plan strategic initiatives, long range forecasts, department plans, reporting and progress monitoring, strategic planning inputs and enterprise risk management. How we look today, where we are going tomorrow and where we want to be five to ten years from now. This works as a blueprint to map out the year ahead. Monitoring and reporting are the keys to knowing your business.

We have our sixth year of record sales (sales not profits). I would like to invite the members of Otter to come to our Annual General Meeting at the end of May. Let’s make this a record year for member engagement, it is with your interest and support that we strive to have a better organization.

If you would like to be part of the Board of Directors, applications are on-line at www.ottercoop.com. We have three positions up for election this year. Dorothy Anderson has served on the Board for nine years and has to take a year off. The two other positions are at the end of their first three year term.

I look forward to seeing you all at the 2016 AGM at the end of May.

MARCH 2016 | ottercoop.com

SERVICE AWARDS – CONGRATULATIONS – AND THANK YOU! Otter Co-op Employees Celebrating Milestones from April 1, 2015 - March 31, 2016

FORTY-FIVE YEARS

FIFTEEN YEARS

Judy Legare – Grocery File Maintenance

Rodney Severinski – Feed Department Matt Letkeman – Grocery Receiver Barb Rucheinski – H.R. Manager (Retired) Marilyn Scott – Ladner Gas Bar Manager Tena Barclay – Pitt Meadows Tim Pedersen – Feed Department Mike Will – Retail Division Manager Pam Walters – Deli/Café Pamela Peaker-McManus – 248th Gas Bar Manager

FORTY YEARS Brian Macklin – Produce Manager

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS Melanie Piddington – Bakery (Retired)

Shannon Wergeland – Hardware File Maintenance

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

TWENTY YEARS Pat Vallely – Bakery Vic Degianni – Meat Manager

TEN YEARS Kirby Dyck – Meat Department Louise Douglas – Ladner Gas Bar Marlene Ambrosio - Bakery Sarah Williams- Cashier

FIVE YEARS Jordan Robinson – Feed Department Ann Audet – Feed Department Sean Weatherly – Marketing Co-ordinator Brandon Rihela – Feed Department

OTTER CO-OP B OARD PRESIDENT

Rob was a valued member of the Otter family, having worked in our meat department for over thirtytwo years. His dedication and commitment has been an integral part of our store.

Through the years Rob spent time putting his three boys through hockey and lacrosse as well as involved in coaching and managing their teams.

Each of us not only grieves at the passing of a tremendous

Bruce was passionate and committed to his roles in loss prevention and the health and safety of Otter Co-op, our team members and guests. Bruce joined Otter in October of 2014 and in that short period of time he made such an impact with his positive demeanor and ability to work through any situation. He is going to be greatly missed. Bruce was a great Co-op Ambassador, a

Calling All Gardeners

FEDERATED CO-OP ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

For all your gardening needs stop in and check out our supply of seeds for your flower and vegetable gardens as well as our selection of seed potatoes.

We also carry fertilizers and soil, planting pots and all things a gardener would need to get started.

Otter Co-op also has a nice assortment of books on gardening with some great tips.

TOP 9 THINGS TO DO IN MARCH

individual but also for the loss his family suffers. Rest in peace Rob, for you will be dearly missed.

great friend, and truly a part of our family.

Apparently 2016 is the year for gardening. Thank you Mother Nature for our fantastic early spring! To celebrate the bonus start to the season: 1 Plant early blooming perennials. Be sure to add a little bark mulch to the hole to improve drainage and water in the root booster.

2 It’s time to plant bare-root small fruits and fruit trees. Again, add a little bark mulch to the hole and water in with root booster.

Ensure you have well drained soil!

3 Dormant spray with a diluted mixture if you have not already completed three sprayings. See the sidebar for further detail.

4 Prune roses when the forsythia blooms, which is now!

5 Improve soil conditions in garden beds: add lime, manure, bark mulch and mix well. Keep lime, wood ash and manure out of the potato patch though!

6 Plant hardy summer flowering bulbs like fragrant lilies and herbaceous perennials. We now have a great selection ready to grow!

7 Start cold-hardy veggies such as garlic, early potatoes, broad beans, peas, onions, Swiss chard, radishes, lettuce, brassicas and spinach. Sweet peas can be started now too.

8 Aerate your lawn, apply a ¼” layer of coarse sand, then lime (this will improve your lawn conditions greatly). Finally, overseed with the new overseed grass seed.

9 Plant early blooming March colour: red flowering currants, fragrant white forsythia, yellow flowering Cornelian cherry, primulas, English daisies, pansies, arabis, aubrieta, ranunculus the new carnations.

What’s happening in Store?

We have been busy as bees lately with truck after truck arriving with fresh new stock for the season! Our complete seed order is in, including certified organic collections. Onion sets and summer bulbs are in and ready to go, small fruits (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries) are ready to plant, spring cut flowers abound in the floral department and even tools and hard goods are lining the shelves ready for eager gardeners to get growing!

Happy Gardening From the Otter Co-op!

GROWING SEASON SPRAYING If you have not yet completed your final Winter dormant spraying you can do so now ONLY if the leaf or flower buds have not burst.

If buds have appeared you need to shift gears. To keep your fruit trees clean and free of both insects and diseases (like scab) you need to spray your trees three times over the growing season.

You need to use the more dilute growing season ratios (indicated on the bottles) of lime sulphur fungicide and horticultural oil organic insecticide.

The rations provided on the ‘Green Earth’ Brand are 10 ml (2 teaspoons) of Horticultural Oil and 15 ml (1 tablespoon) Of Lime Sulphur per liter of water.

Do check the label to ensure you are applying the correct ration for the tree/shrub you are treating as application rates may vary and restrictions may apply.

Timing is now everything too. The first spray must be at the blossom pinking stage (before they open).

The second spray is after the blossoms have completely fallen and the third spray is 3-5 weeks later.

“Variety is the very spice of life that gives it all its flavor.”

William Cowper’s poem, The Task’ (1785) We work hard to offer our customers great selection but variety can sometimes be overwhelming! Here’s a bit more detail on why the following items are special!

JOIN IN THE FUN KIDS’ CLUB EASTER PARTY

Larry Jantzen

Rob Fraser

Bruce Browne

THIRTY YEARS

Jack Nicholson – General Manager Ernie McPike – 248th Gas Bar Trevor Norton – Hardware Receiver Darryl Regier – Feed Salesman

In Memory

Our next event will be held on Good Friday, March 25 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Retail Centre. Back again Rocking Horse Carriage Rides, Madame Butterfly with Face Painters, Balloon Artists, 4-H Petting Zoo, cupcake decorating, lots of games that you will win a prize at every station. There will also be a photo screen to take your photo (maybe the Easter Bunny too), we will develop the photo while you decorate

a frame to put your photo in. Our store mascot Cooper will be attending as well as the Easter Bunny.

If you are not yet 12 years old and would like to be a member of the Otter Co-op Kids’ Club you can register at www.ottercoop.com or fill out an application at the Administration Office or register at the party. All Kids’ Club events are free. We hope to see you soon!

RHUBARB

POTATOES

• Valentine: Low acid so needs less sugar when cooking • Canada Red: Shorter, tender stalks. Bright red • Victoria: Heavy cropping. Excellent for cooking.

• Crimson Red: Considered the best tasting. Tender.

• German Wine: Green/pink – red stalks. Sweet. Best for juicing and wine.

• MacDonald: Vigorous grower.

Wilt and root rot resistant.

• Strawberry Red: Tart flavour, red stalks keep colour when cooked.

• Sutton Seedless: Heritage variety. Heavy yielding.

• Holsteiner Blut: Juicy, deep red stalks. Vigorous.

• Timperley Early: One of the earliest varieties and suitable for forcing.

• New Potatoes: New potatoes are just early varieties that you pick on the early side. They are not a variety of potato. The best choices for “new potatoes” are: Warba, Yukon Gold and Norland (for red skin, closely followed by Red Pontiac).

Your Otter Co-op board of directors attended the Federated Co-operatives Annual General Meeting in Saskatoon Saskatchewan, February 27th to 29th 2016.

As always, it was interesting hearing about initiatives being developed by Federated Susan Dodd Co-op to move the OTTER CO-OP future growth of the DIRECTOR organization. Federated Co-op Limited is owned by the approximately 200 retail co-operatives in the western provinces. Together they provide goods and services that help build communities throughout Western Canada, and look for long term sustainability and values that bring benefits to the whole organization.

We heard a presentation about preventable injuries not only in the workplace, but all parts of our lives. There is an epidemic of unintentional injuries throughout Canada that cost the health care system in each of our provinces equal about one billion dollars annually. We heard from “Curtis” whose personal journey involved an accident that burned 60% of his body. He was bedridden for 2 months resulting in the loss of a leg and arm, as well as numerous painful skin grafts. The accident changed his life forever! The accident was preventable and it still happened. He was in a rush and although he had thought about the risks involved did the job anyway… how many times have we all taken a risk? We are often rushed to process information and we need to make our lives a priority! There is nothing selfish about looking after yourself.

During this last year we continued to be relevant and to meet the needs of the communities we serve. FCL has initiated a growth strategy along three horizons- short, medium and long term. As retails become larger and more complex there is an increased need to have a clear, long term vision on how to meet members’ future needs. We continue to support social responsibility and are happy that FCL has increased its funding for the community spaces program to 1.5 million dollars. This program supports local projects relating to recreation, environmental conservation and urban agriculture. Another program is the Co-operative innovation project to promote co-op development in rural and aboriginal communities.

Co-ops are a different type of business – we are locally invested, community minded and offer life time benefits that include patronage refunds, quality products and services. We look forward to a productive and prosperous future. With the continued support of YOU our membership, and the dedication of Otter Co-ops’ staff, we are making a real difference in our local community.

App Deals OTTER CO-OP Download it today from your application store.

There are great deals waiting for you!

ONIONS

• Raspberry: Superb sweet flavour. High quality.

*Remember to keep rhubarb leaves out of your compost!

• Multipliers: produce “green onions” • Scallions and Bunching Onions: are “green onions” • Onion Sets: produce “regular” onions • Shallots: Smaller, elongated “gourmet onions” with a delicate, refined flavour. Shallots grow in a similar way to garlic.

crs.coopconnection.ca/app.html

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

NEWS & VIEWS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Welcome to the end of the 2015 Fiscal Year and the start of new beginnings in 2016. Our Board of Directors has just returned from the FCL Annual Meeting in Saskatoon. There was a lot of information about the state of the Co-op organization and the challenges we all face together.

Out of 203 retails, 195 retails were represented by delegates.

Our on-line Director portal now has a group of six university based courses to help Board Members to have the knowledge to do their job as directors. Out of the fifty-four courses to be taken your board members have completed all but five. There were thirty certificates of completion given out at the AGM in Saskatoon and two of them went to Board Members at Otter Co-op.

The Otter Co-op has been chosen as one of the retails to participate in the “Corporate Performance Management” model. This allows us to plan strategic initiatives, long range forecasts, department plans, reporting and progress monitoring, strategic planning inputs and enterprise risk management. How we look today, where we are going tomorrow and where we want to be five to ten years from now. This works as a blueprint to map out the year ahead. Monitoring and reporting are the keys to knowing your business.

We have our sixth year of record sales (sales not profits). I would like to invite the members of Otter to come to our Annual General Meeting at the end of May. Let’s make this a record year for member engagement, it is with your interest and support that we strive to have a better organization.

If you would like to be part of the Board of Directors, applications are on-line at www.ottercoop.com. We have three positions up for election this year. Dorothy Anderson has served on the Board for nine years and has to take a year off. The two other positions are at the end of their first three year term.

I look forward to seeing you all at the 2016 AGM at the end of May.

MARCH 2016 | ottercoop.com

SERVICE AWARDS – CONGRATULATIONS – AND THANK YOU! Otter Co-op Employees Celebrating Milestones from April 1, 2015 - March 31, 2016

FORTY-FIVE YEARS

FIFTEEN YEARS

Judy Legare – Grocery File Maintenance

Rodney Severinski – Feed Department Matt Letkeman – Grocery Receiver Barb Rucheinski – H.R. Manager (Retired) Marilyn Scott – Ladner Gas Bar Manager Tena Barclay – Pitt Meadows Tim Pedersen – Feed Department Mike Will – Retail Division Manager Pam Walters – Deli/Café Pamela Peaker-McManus – 248th Gas Bar Manager

FORTY YEARS Brian Macklin – Produce Manager

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS Melanie Piddington – Bakery (Retired)

Shannon Wergeland – Hardware File Maintenance

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS

TWENTY YEARS Pat Vallely – Bakery Vic Degianni – Meat Manager

TEN YEARS Kirby Dyck – Meat Department Louise Douglas – Ladner Gas Bar Marlene Ambrosio - Bakery Sarah Williams- Cashier

FIVE YEARS Jordan Robinson – Feed Department Ann Audet – Feed Department Sean Weatherly – Marketing Co-ordinator Brandon Rihela – Feed Department

OTTER CO-OP B OARD PRESIDENT

Rob was a valued member of the Otter family, having worked in our meat department for over thirtytwo years. His dedication and commitment has been an integral part of our store.

Through the years Rob spent time putting his three boys through hockey and lacrosse as well as involved in coaching and managing their teams.

Each of us not only grieves at the passing of a tremendous

Bruce was passionate and committed to his roles in loss prevention and the health and safety of Otter Co-op, our team members and guests. Bruce joined Otter in October of 2014 and in that short period of time he made such an impact with his positive demeanor and ability to work through any situation. He is going to be greatly missed. Bruce was a great Co-op Ambassador, a

Calling All Gardeners

FEDERATED CO-OP ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

For all your gardening needs stop in and check out our supply of seeds for your flower and vegetable gardens as well as our selection of seed potatoes.

We also carry fertilizers and soil, planting pots and all things a gardener would need to get started.

Otter Co-op also has a nice assortment of books on gardening with some great tips.

TOP 9 THINGS TO DO IN MARCH

individual but also for the loss his family suffers. Rest in peace Rob, for you will be dearly missed.

great friend, and truly a part of our family.

Apparently 2016 is the year for gardening. Thank you Mother Nature for our fantastic early spring! To celebrate the bonus start to the season: 1 Plant early blooming perennials. Be sure to add a little bark mulch to the hole to improve drainage and water in the root booster.

2 It’s time to plant bare-root small fruits and fruit trees. Again, add a little bark mulch to the hole and water in with root booster.

Ensure you have well drained soil!

3 Dormant spray with a diluted mixture if you have not already completed three sprayings. See the sidebar for further detail.

4 Prune roses when the forsythia blooms, which is now!

5 Improve soil conditions in garden beds: add lime, manure, bark mulch and mix well. Keep lime, wood ash and manure out of the potato patch though!

6 Plant hardy summer flowering bulbs like fragrant lilies and herbaceous perennials. We now have a great selection ready to grow!

7 Start cold-hardy veggies such as garlic, early potatoes, broad beans, peas, onions, Swiss chard, radishes, lettuce, brassicas and spinach. Sweet peas can be started now too.

8 Aerate your lawn, apply a ¼” layer of coarse sand, then lime (this will improve your lawn conditions greatly). Finally, overseed with the new overseed grass seed.

9 Plant early blooming March colour: red flowering currants, fragrant white forsythia, yellow flowering Cornelian cherry, primulas, English daisies, pansies, arabis, aubrieta, ranunculus the new carnations.

What’s happening in Store?

We have been busy as bees lately with truck after truck arriving with fresh new stock for the season! Our complete seed order is in, including certified organic collections. Onion sets and summer bulbs are in and ready to go, small fruits (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries) are ready to plant, spring cut flowers abound in the floral department and even tools and hard goods are lining the shelves ready for eager gardeners to get growing!

Happy Gardening From the Otter Co-op!

GROWING SEASON SPRAYING If you have not yet completed your final Winter dormant spraying you can do so now ONLY if the leaf or flower buds have not burst.

If buds have appeared you need to shift gears. To keep your fruit trees clean and free of both insects and diseases (like scab) you need to spray your trees three times over the growing season.

You need to use the more dilute growing season ratios (indicated on the bottles) of lime sulphur fungicide and horticultural oil organic insecticide.

The rations provided on the ‘Green Earth’ Brand are 10 ml (2 teaspoons) of Horticultural Oil and 15 ml (1 tablespoon) Of Lime Sulphur per liter of water.

Do check the label to ensure you are applying the correct ration for the tree/shrub you are treating as application rates may vary and restrictions may apply.

Timing is now everything too. The first spray must be at the blossom pinking stage (before they open).

The second spray is after the blossoms have completely fallen and the third spray is 3-5 weeks later.

“Variety is the very spice of life that gives it all its flavor.”

William Cowper’s poem, The Task’ (1785) We work hard to offer our customers great selection but variety can sometimes be overwhelming! Here’s a bit more detail on why the following items are special!

JOIN IN THE FUN KIDS’ CLUB EASTER PARTY

Larry Jantzen

Rob Fraser

Bruce Browne

THIRTY YEARS

Jack Nicholson – General Manager Ernie McPike – 248th Gas Bar Trevor Norton – Hardware Receiver Darryl Regier – Feed Salesman

In Memory

Our next event will be held on Good Friday, March 25 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Retail Centre. Back again Rocking Horse Carriage Rides, Madame Butterfly with Face Painters, Balloon Artists, 4-H Petting Zoo, cupcake decorating, lots of games that you will win a prize at every station. There will also be a photo screen to take your photo (maybe the Easter Bunny too), we will develop the photo while you decorate

a frame to put your photo in. Our store mascot Cooper will be attending as well as the Easter Bunny.

If you are not yet 12 years old and would like to be a member of the Otter Co-op Kids’ Club you can register at www.ottercoop.com or fill out an application at the Administration Office or register at the party. All Kids’ Club events are free. We hope to see you soon!

RHUBARB

POTATOES

• Valentine: Low acid so needs less sugar when cooking • Canada Red: Shorter, tender stalks. Bright red • Victoria: Heavy cropping. Excellent for cooking.

• Crimson Red: Considered the best tasting. Tender.

• German Wine: Green/pink – red stalks. Sweet. Best for juicing and wine.

• MacDonald: Vigorous grower.

Wilt and root rot resistant.

• Strawberry Red: Tart flavour, red stalks keep colour when cooked.

• Sutton Seedless: Heritage variety. Heavy yielding.

• Holsteiner Blut: Juicy, deep red stalks. Vigorous.

• Timperley Early: One of the earliest varieties and suitable for forcing.

• New Potatoes: New potatoes are just early varieties that you pick on the early side. They are not a variety of potato. The best choices for “new potatoes” are: Warba, Yukon Gold and Norland (for red skin, closely followed by Red Pontiac).

Your Otter Co-op board of directors attended the Federated Co-operatives Annual General Meeting in Saskatoon Saskatchewan, February 27th to 29th 2016.

As always, it was interesting hearing about initiatives being developed by Federated Susan Dodd Co-op to move the OTTER CO-OP future growth of the DIRECTOR organization. Federated Co-op Limited is owned by the approximately 200 retail co-operatives in the western provinces. Together they provide goods and services that help build communities throughout Western Canada, and look for long term sustainability and values that bring benefits to the whole organization.

We heard a presentation about preventable injuries not only in the workplace, but all parts of our lives. There is an epidemic of unintentional injuries throughout Canada that cost the health care system in each of our provinces equal about one billion dollars annually. We heard from “Curtis” whose personal journey involved an accident that burned 60% of his body. He was bedridden for 2 months resulting in the loss of a leg and arm, as well as numerous painful skin grafts. The accident changed his life forever! The accident was preventable and it still happened. He was in a rush and although he had thought about the risks involved did the job anyway… how many times have we all taken a risk? We are often rushed to process information and we need to make our lives a priority! There is nothing selfish about looking after yourself.

During this last year we continued to be relevant and to meet the needs of the communities we serve. FCL has initiated a growth strategy along three horizons- short, medium and long term. As retails become larger and more complex there is an increased need to have a clear, long term vision on how to meet members’ future needs. We continue to support social responsibility and are happy that FCL has increased its funding for the community spaces program to 1.5 million dollars. This program supports local projects relating to recreation, environmental conservation and urban agriculture. Another program is the Co-operative innovation project to promote co-op development in rural and aboriginal communities.

Co-ops are a different type of business – we are locally invested, community minded and offer life time benefits that include patronage refunds, quality products and services. We look forward to a productive and prosperous future. With the continued support of YOU our membership, and the dedication of Otter Co-ops’ staff, we are making a real difference in our local community.

App Deals OTTER CO-OP Download it today from your application store.

There are great deals waiting for you!

ONIONS

• Raspberry: Superb sweet flavour. High quality.

*Remember to keep rhubarb leaves out of your compost!

• Multipliers: produce “green onions” • Scallions and Bunching Onions: are “green onions” • Onion Sets: produce “regular” onions • Shallots: Smaller, elongated “gourmet onions” with a delicate, refined flavour. Shallots grow in a similar way to garlic.

crs.coopconnection.ca/app.html

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

NEWS & VIEWS

MARCH 2016 | ottercoop.com

You’ll find us here

9 Ways to Bring Savings Home with Co-op

1 PLAN AHEAD Check Co-op’s weekly flyer for deals on items you regularly purchase. Prepare a meal plan based on items during Co-op’s sales. You may want to make more than you need as leftover items can turn into another meal or lunch the next day. Brown bagging your lunch instead of eating out can significantly reduce your food bill.

2 BUY (AND COOK) IN BULK Prepare meals in advance in batches and then preserve by freezing or canning. Larger quantities are often featured at great prices, including the value and warehouse packs in Co-op’s meat department. For items like snacks, buy a larger package and divide into individual portions at home. Cutting up products like pineapple or block cheese may take more time, but will help you save in the long run.

4 COUPONS

7 DO THE MATH

Not that they ever left, but coupons are experiencing a recent resurgence. Watch for coupons in your flyer, newspaper, in store and online. Major brands post their own coupons to their websites. Download the Co-op App on your mobile device for weekly deals directly from Coop or through Coupgon. It’s a quick and easy way to save.

Take another look at the price tag. With product sizes constantly changing, it’s difficult to compare the face value of prices. Luckily, Co-op has done the math for you. Many shelf labels in Co-op Food Stores provide the price based on a product’s weight or volume.

5 FOOD SELECTION

Post Office Hours

Buy your fruits and vegetables in season to take advantage of the best prices. Produce is transported from around the world, which increases costs along with today’s economic conditions. An alternative to buying fresh is to purchase frozen, canned or dried products.

Nutritional value is retained so you’re ensuring your diet remains packed with vitamins and nutrients.

MON-FRI 8AM-5:30PM; SAT 8AM-3:30PM; CLOSED SUNDAY & STAT HOLIDAYS

Pharmacy Hours MON-FRI 9AM-7PM; SAT 9AM-5PM SUN 11AM-5PM; CLOSED STAT HOLIDAYS

FEED STORE / PETROLEUM 3650 248 Street, Aldergrove FEED STORE: 604.856.2517 PETROLEUM: 1.855.668.2667

8 RAIN CHECK We like to save for a rainy day. If a sale item is out of stock, don’t be afraid to ask for a rain check at participating stores. It’s a note letting you take advantage of the best price when the product is available again, even after the sale has ended.

9 MEMBERSHIP Are you a Co-op member? Co-op members are owners. Our profits are your profits. Profits may be returned to members as cash or equity, which is held in an account to be paid at a later date.

6 SHOP CO-OP Store brands are a great way to cut back on costs.

CO-OP® GOLD, CO-OP GOLD PURE™, MARKET TOWN®, CO-OP ¢ENTSIBLES® and CARE+® offer quality products and different price levels for your consideration.

There are many ways to save with Co-op, from three-day sales to the three-week Price Drop. Sign up for a weekly e-mail to have information on Coop sales and promotions delivered directly your inbox. Now that’s easy.

MON-SAT 8AM-5:30PM SUN 9AM-5PM; HOLIDAYS CLOSED

44046 Progress Way, Chilliwack 604.793.8400

GAS BARS 248 Street Gas Bar 604.856.7011 24795 Fraser Highway, Aldergrove MON-FRI 5AM - 11PM WEEKENDS & STAT HOLIDAYS 6AM-11PM

Gloucester Gas Bar & Tim Hortons 604.856.6676 26474 56th Ave., Aldergrove

7 DAYS A WEEK & HOLIDAYS 5AM-10PM

Blue Jay Gas Bar & Tim Hortons 604.850.7330 2935 Blue Jay Street, Abbotsford

WEEKENDS & STAT HOLIDAYS 6AM – 11 PM

Ross Road Gas Bar 604.856.0030 29622 Fraser Hwy, Abbotsford

MONDAY – FRIDAY 5AM – 11PM WEEKENDS & STAT HOLIDAYS 6AM – 11PM

Chilliwack Gas Bar 604.793.8400 44046 Progress Way, Chilliwack

Fuel up to Win on now until April 21 Kids’ Club Easter Party – Good Friday, March 25 10 am – 2:00 pm Otter Trotter’s Barbecue/Fundraiser Hot Dog Sale – Saturday, April 9 4 Day Hardware/Family Fashions Scratch & Save Sale Thursday April 21 – Sunday April 24 4th Annual Country Car Show – Sunday April 24th (see details in middle section) Otter Trotter’s Barbecue/Fundraiser Hot Dog Sale – Saturday April 30 Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast by the Knights of Columbus Saturday May 7 8 am – 11 am 4 Day Hardware/Family Fashions Scratch & Save Sale Friday May 20 – Monday, May 23 Annual Meeting (date to be determined)

MON-FRI 5AM-10PM WEEKENDS & STAT HOLIDAYS 6AM-10PM

Mt. Lehman Gas Bar 604.557.0010 30419 Blueridge Drive, Abbotsford MON-FRI 5AM-11PM WEEKENDS & STAT HOLIDAYS 6AM – 11PM

Ladner Gas Bar 604.940.1322 6420 Ladner Trunk Rd., Ladner

MON-FRI 5AM-10PM WEEKENDS & STAT HOLIDAYS 6AM-10PM

OTTER CO-OP BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Call 604.856.2517

Fraser Heights Gas Bar 604.582.2517 16788 104 Ave., Surrey MON-FRI 5AM-10PM WEEKENDS & STAT HOLIDAYS 6AM-10PM

Hatzic Gas Bar 604.826.6421 34981 Lougheed Highway, Mission

FULL TIME POSITION:

MON-FRI 5AM-10PM WEEKENDS & STAT HOLIDAYS 6AM-10PM

• Gas Bar Supervisor – Hatzic

Penticton Gas Bar 1 250 493 2383 2007 Main Street, Penticton

• Meat Cutter • Meat Wrapper • Mill Foreman

Larry Jantzen

Maria Pucek

Dorothy Anderson

Dick Mayer

SUN-SAT 6AM-10PM

Board President

Vice President

Secretary

Past President

PITT MEADOWS CO-OP CENTRE 604.465.5651 12343 Harris Road., Pitt Meadows MON-FRI 9AM-5:30PM; SAT 9AM-5PM; SUN 10AM-4PM; HOLIDAYS CLOSED

PART TIME: • PT Demo Clerk

GLEN MOUNTAIN PHARMACY

• PT Produce

DIAL DIRECT

• PT Gas Bar Attendant – Gloucester Gas Bar • Cashier – Grocery

SUN-SAT 8AM-8PM; HOLIDAYS 9AM-6PM

Administration Hours

Coming Events MARCH - MAY

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

604.856.2517 3650 248th St., Aldergrove MON-FRI 8AM-6PM; SATURDAY 8AM-4PM; CLOSED SUNDAY & STAT HOLIDAYS

3 WASTE NOT, WANT NOT One exception to the above is knowing the amount your household will consume. A 2014 study estimated Canadian food waste amounted to $31 billion. This is not only bad for your budget, but potentially bad for the environment. Select smaller product sizes if you tend to throw out the savings you may have earned from buying larger volumes. Or save excess for later dates by preserving or freezing food before it expires.

RETAIL CENTRE

Susan Dodd

Angie McDougall

Kent Strobel

Martin Power

Brian Thomasson

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

604.851.9654 2596 McMillan Rd., Abbotsford MON – FRI 10AM – 6 PM; SAT 10 AM – 2 PM CLOSED SUNDAY & STATUTORY HOLIDAYS

Administration 604.856.2517 | Petroleum 1.855.668.2667 | Feed 604.607.6901 | Hardware 604.607.6909 | Bakery 604.607.6920

| Café/Deli 604.607.6921 | Produce 604.607.6919 | Meat 604.607.6918 | Grocery 604.607.6936 | Pharmacy 604.607.6934