What’s Included?

A one-time membership that gives you peace of mind, clarity, and cost savings – when it matters most.

What You Get with a CMS Membership

For a one-time $40 fee, your CMS membership gives you:

• Access to affordable, pre-negotiated funeral plans with trusted, locally owned funeral homes across Alberta.
• Secure online storage of your funeral preferences so your loved ones aren’t left guessing.
• Discounted pricing on funeral and cremation services.
• Planning tools and guides to help you make informed decisions.
• Compassionate support from a nonprofit that puts people before profit.

CMS is not a funeral home. We’re a nonprofit cooperative that connects members to trusted funeral providers and supports them through the planning process with clarity, fairness, and dignity.

Click here to learn about your member rights and responsibilities.

Who Provides the Funeral Services?

CMS partners only with locally owned, community-focused funeral homes, not large corporate chains. We carefully select providers who:

• Share our commitment to compassion, dignity, and transparency.
• Offer straightforward pricing with no upselling or hidden fees.
• Honour our pre-negotiated member plans and respect your wishes.

Our partners are located throughout Alberta, and CMS members can choose the one that best fits their needs and location. See a list here.

What Happens After You Join?

Once your membership is processed, here’s what you can expect:

• You’ll receive a welcome email with everything you need to get started, including instructions for setting up your CMS Member Registry account through Membee.
• Your lifetime membership becomes active and your profile is securely stored in our system.
• You can begin planning right away. Many members choose to contact a CMS partner funeral home in advance to make pre-arrangements and lock in current pricing. You don’t have to wait until a death occurs to use your membership.
• You can fill out your funeral preferences online or by paper form. Whether through the secure Member Registry or a printable Funeral Planning Guidance Form, documenting your wishes ensures clarity for your family later.
• Your information is safely stored and accessible only when needed. CMS partner funeral homes can access your file to assist with arrangements, obituaries, and legal paperwork—only when required.
• Your family or executor can contact a CMS partner funeral home after your death to confirm your membership and receive all member benefits—even if your preferences haven’t been filled out.

Your information is protected under Alberta’s privacy laws. Only authorized CMS staff and funeral partners can access your profile when it’s needed.

Why It Saves You Money

Because CMS negotiates pricing in advance, our members often save $2,000–$4,000 on funeral or cremation services compared to standard rates. We do this by:

• Partnering only with ethical, independent funeral homes.
• Advocating for clear, honest pricing.
• Ensuring your family won’t face pressure to buy extras or upgrade services.

“The cost difference was striking too: my mom’s funeral cost $8,000, while Dad’s through CMS was just $2,700.” – From Member Stories & Testimonials

Common Questions

Can I buy a membership for someone else?

Yes! You can gift a membership by providing their name during the sign-up process. You don’t even need to notify the person right away—many people purchase memberships in advance for peace of mind, and the recipient can activate or update their preferences when they’re ready.

Is prepayment required?

No. You don’t have to prepay, but many CMS partner funeral homes offer prepayment options. Prepaying allows you to lock in current pricing and reduce future financial stress for your loved ones.

What happens if the funeral home I prepaid with is no longer a CMS partner?

If you prepay with a CMS partner funeral home while they are under contract with us, your pricing and plan are guaranteed, even if they are no longer a CMS partner when the services are needed. Your payment with them secures the services as agreed at the time of prepayment.

What if I move?

You can transfer your membership to another Canadian memorial society for a small fee or continue using CMS if you’re still in Alberta.

How do funeral homes access my info?

CMS partner funeral homes can securely search our database using your name and basic identifying information. You don’t need to provide a membership number.

Click here to see more Frequently Asked Questions.

You Deserve Peace of Mind

Planning ahead with CMS means no surprises, no pressure, and no inflated costs, just guidance and support when your family needs it most.

Click here to join now or still not convinced? Click here to read stories from our members.