Co-operatives have a long history of serving members in Western Canada. In the early 20th century, people worked together to create retail co-operatives in many towns in the four western Canadian provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia).

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1933 - A Growing Concern

The Rhineland Consumers Cooperative (RCC) had a rocky beginning. Farmers were still making most purchases on credit and promises. Any profits were used to pay oil station debts. In 1933, the RCC even had to disconnect its phone because of declining business. But still firmly believing the co-op was the answer, directors even put up their own farms as collateral. By 1935, co-op members finally received their first dividends - a total of $1,599.17. Membership climbed to 573 by 1939. It wasn't long before members began to ask: if a farm supply co-op worked, why couldn't other co-ops be successful? If you could bring down the price of gas and oil, couldn't you do the same thing for food and other goods?

1937 - A General Store

The Altona Co-op Service opened its doors in June of 1937 in a small, rundown garage on Main Street. It was steered by a provisional board of directors, with D.K. Friesen as president and Jacob C. Sawatzky as manager. The store's first customer was Maria Siemens, wife of co-op advocate J.J. Siemens. She purchased a package of raisins. The first day's total sales amounted to a grand $10.87. Growth was steady. By 1939, the small store had sales of $17,621.57 and retained a net surplus of $471.30. Savings of 4% were passed down to its members. The co-op's purpose was finally being achieved.

1940 - The War Years

The early 1940's brought more challenges to the co-operatives. A shortage of labour and wartime rationing once again made farming difficult. Then in 1942, the Department of Agriculture begun to encourage farmers to grow oilseed crops to meet domestic need and sunflowers were introduced to southern Manitoba. By 1946, the Co-op Vegetable Oils (CVO) plant was established in Altona to process the seeds. Spearheaded by its president, J.J. Siemens, and managed by D.K. Friesen, the plant was a major success, providing employment in the community and a much-needed income for area farmers. The federal government purchased all the oil and its by-products produced by CVO. In just 10 weeks of operation, sales totaled $200,000.

1940 - Continuing Growth

A major turning point for the co-op came in 1940 with the expansion of the Altona Co-op Service into a larger building. The grocery store was located on the main floor and an egg candling department in the basement. The older parts of the building housed hardware and dry goods. It proved to be a good move. By 1944, membership reached 800 and sales approached $250,000. The Co-op Machine Shop was established in 1942 to provide services that would keep farm machinery running smoothly and design equipment for different crops. Located on Centre Avenue, it employed 7 people and the first year it did a $24,000 business. The Rhineland Cooperative Hatchery and the Altona branch of the Manitoba Dairy and Poultry Cooperatives were also formed at this time, along with credit unions, pool elevators, burial aid societies, cheese and creamery factories, and a transportation association, all co-op run.

1941 - Amalgamation

In 1941, the Federation of Southern Manitoba Co-operatives was formed. Its function was to co-ordinate and integrate the different programs of the various co-ops. All the Altona Co-ops joined the Federation. With a more organized system in place, the post-war economy boom only added to the co-op's growing success. By 1950, CVO had added a concrete elevator and new refinery to its plant. The Altona Co-op Service erected a two-story addition to its existing store. Members were happy. Eventually, Co-op stores in Dominion City, Letellier, St. Jean, and Altona amalgamated under what is now known as Sun Valley Co-op Ltd.