Annual General Meeting

Together, we create the future of Heritage Co-op. Every member is an owner, and with ownership comes the power to shape the future. Your voice matters, and your involvement helps guide the path forward.

Heritage Co-op’s Annual General Meeting will be held on April 29, 2026. Attendees may join in person at the Minnedosa Community Centre or join the live stream at our Brandon Agro location. Details on how to RSVP will be shared closer to the event. We look forward to your participation!

Board Elections

This year, three positions for the Board of Directors are up for election, each with a three-year term. A nomination period was held December 1, 2025 – January 30, 2026, to accommodate advanced voting as made optional through a bylaw change in 2024. The nomination period was advertised via posters in stores, on the Heritage Co-op website and social media, and in the December 2025 newsletter. 

NEW THIS YEAR: Voting for the Board of Directors will be hosted virtually from March 16-27, 2026. Heritage Co-op members may vote virtually on any device, vote using a Heritage Co-op provided device at the Administration building during the voting period, or vote at a Heritage Co-op location using a provided device during the following times:

• Monday, March 23, 2026 – 9:30AM-12:30PM – Brandon Food Store (1035 Richmond Ave)
• Monday, March 23, 2026 – 2-4PM – Rivers Food Store (601 1st Ave)
• Tuesday, March 24, 2026 – 10AM-2PM – Sandy Lake Food Store (114 Railway Ave E)
• Tuesday, March 24, 2026 – 1:30-3:30PM – Erickson Food Store (38 Main St)
• Wednesday, March 25, 2026 – 1:30-3:30PM – Wawanesa Gas Bar (210 Prov Rd 340 N)
• Friday, March 27, 2026 – 10AM-12PM – Strathclair Home Centre (46 Main St)
• March 16-27, 2026 – 8AM-5PM – Minnedosa Administration Office (110 Main St S)

At the time of nominations closing, five nominations had been received. Nominee information, including abridged versions of the biographies, may be viewed below. Full versions of the biographies may be found in a link at the bottom of the page.

Randy Brown

Randy has lived and worked in Westman his entire life. Raised in Brandon, he graduated from Assiniboine College’s Business Administration program and built a long career in Manitoba’s credit union system. He and his wife Elaine, have lived in several Westman communities and now reside in Brandon. Randy retired from Westoba Credit Union’s management team in 2016. He has served on the Heritage Co-op board for six years and on many community and cooperative boards. Randy looks forward to supporting Heritage Co-op’s growth and strong community impact in another three-year term. 

Savaughn Peddle-Hastings

Savaughn has spent most of his life in the Westman region, living on farms and in local communities. This experience has given him a strong appreciation for the contributions of rural residents, especially those involved in agriculture and food production. He brings valuable frontline customer service experience, including work in retail cooperative stores, where he developed a solid understanding of the cooperative model, member service, employee engagement, and community focused business practices. He currently serves on his local Chamber of Commerce and the board of Westman Communications Group. Savaughn looks forward to contributing to the Heritage Co-op Board of Directors. 

Charlene Quinlan

Charlene is a senior leader with extensive experience in business, education, and employment services. Recently retired from the Provincial Government as a Director for Western and Northern Manitoba, she led more than seventy staff across nine offices and managed a budget of over $50 million. Her leadership strengthened service delivery and improved employment outcomes. Charlene holds a business degree from Brandon University and a certificate in Business Improvement. An entrepreneur, she has owned and invested in Westman businesses and brings strong financial, operational, and governance expertise aligned with Heritage Co-op’s values.

Harvey Wedgewood

Harvey moved to Minnedosa in 1983 and built his career in financial services, working with a Chartered Accountant, the Royal Bank, and the Minnedosa Credit Union, where he served for 21 years before retiring in 2014. His credit union experience has given him a strong understanding of cooperative principles and member focused service. A longtime Co-op member, Harvey has served on Minnedosa Town Council and the Minnedosa District Foundation. He is currently Secretary Treasurer for Minnedosa Kinsmen Housing and active in several local organizations. He values teamwork and people centred leadership and welcomes the opportunity to serve on the Heritage Co-op Board. 

Dennis Yanchycki

Dennis has deep roots in Westman and has been a Co-op member since 1978. He retired in 2016 after a 34 year career with Manitoba Telecom Services, holding roles in IT, marketing, business development, mergers and acquisitions, and provincial field operations. He has represented MTS on several corporate boards and has extensive experience leading negotiations and building national and international business relationships. Dennis has also contributed significantly to community organizations, including the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, the Horod Ride for Life fundraiser, the Knights of Columbus, and Sandy Lake Sports Park Inc. He looks forward to supporting the work of the Heritage Co-op Board.