For nearly a century, Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) has been serving and supporting local co-ops across Western Canada, all while staying true to its co-operative roots. That same co-operative model extends to the organization’s approach to employee support and retirement planning through its partnership with the CSS Pension Plan. 

For Vanessa Chesters, Manager of Total Rewards at FCL, this shared foundation of co-operative values is what makes the partnership with the CSS Pension Plan such a natural fit. 

“When you look at the values that FCL and CSS both have, there’s a direct alignment in terms of serving members within a co-operative nature,” says Vanessa. “It’s been such a great relationship of collaboration, support, and learning from one another.”  

Vanessa has been with FCL for ten years, managing a broad portfolio that includes compensation, benefits, and pensions. Today, she oversees the total rewards function for the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS), which serves over 150 local co-ops and approximately 25,000 employees across Western Canada. 

“We’re here to serve the local co-ops. They are our members, just as they are CSS’ members,” she explains. “When you think about collaboration and how we partner, the relationships are so similar in terms of how we’re serving our co-ops.” 

For Vanessa, ensuring those employees have access to a strong retirement plan is part of what makes FCL a competitive and caring employer. 

“In any economic conditions, we need to be competitive for our employees, and not offering a pension plan is not competitive,” she says. “CSS is a huge piece of our total rewards package. It helps with retention and recruiting, and there’s great appreciation for that.” 

Through CSS, FCL is able to offer a strong, values-aligned pension program that benefits employers and employees alike.  

“There are benefits at all levels,” Vanessa says. “Having a large group in the Plan means lower MER fees and stronger returns. The governance brings assurance in my long-term savings, and the investment analysis gives me a higher level of confidence in how I’m investing in my future.” 

A legacy of partnership and governance 

The partnership between the CSS Pension Plan and the co-operative system has deep roots, dating back to 1939. At that time, the Saskatchewan Co-operative Superannuation Fund (later the Co-operative Superannuation Society) was established at the Consumers’ Co-operative Refinery in Regina. 

In 1943, the Co-operative Superannuation Society incorporated to merge with a second employee “savings” plan developed by the Saskatchewan Co-operative Wholesale Society (known today as Federated Co-operatives Limited). By the end of 1947, the merged Fund was registered as a pension plan under the Income Tax Act. As consolidation began in the late 1940s, the CSS Pension Plan’s membership began to spread beyond Saskatchewan. 

For almost five years, Vanessa has served as an employer delegate with the CSS Pension Plan, representing FCL.  

“We have strong governance of the Plan for our members, and confidence in the Plan,” Vanessa explains. “But at the same time, we’re able to provide feedback. We actively participate within CSS and meet regularly to support the employee experience on the pension plan.”

Vanessa also deeply appreciates CSS’ commitment to making retirement planning approachable. 

“It can be scary for people who don’t have a financial background, it’s like a black box,” she says. “But CSS removes ambiguity from a process that’s so true to people’s hearts and their financial well-being.” 

Through intuitive online tools, resources, and regular member engagement, CSS helps members stay informed and empowered. 

“The website is intuitive and user-friendly,” Vanessa adds. “I can quickly go on, check the growth of my account, use the retirement tools, and see what my future savings might look like.” 

Beyond strong performance and sound governance, what stands out most to Vanessa is the personal touch CSS brings to every interaction. 

“I’ve heard from retirees that the process, whether for a life event or approaching retirement is handled so personally,” she shares. “They truly believe they’re treated like people, not just a number. That’s a huge piece to acknowledge.” 

Looking at the market, CSS is right in line with what competitive pension offerings look like. 

“If people are looking for a recommendation on what’s the best avenue for financial savings, I would, without a doubt, recommend CSS,” Vanessa says. “From governance and financial management to the culture and values, it’s five stars, without a doubt.”