The Wetaskiwin U.F.A. Co-operative Association was formed
when seventeen U.F.A. locals, consisting mainly of farmers, joined forces to find a fair
market for their products. At the time the concept of a viable retail store was
somewhat of a dream, but with co-operative effort that dream was quickly realized.
The U.F.A., around which these locals were organized, was
established in 1909 and they were more involved in education and had no real interest in
commercial ventures. They did enter the political arena in 1919 and by 1923 they had
gained a majority in the legislature to form a new Provincial government.
However, around the time of the Great Depression the
U.F.A. office in Calgary started advancing a group buying plan among many of its
affiliated farm locals. Upon entering the commercial sector they sought support from
the Wetaskiwin Co-operative. Unlike the previous U.F.A. Board of Directors that had
supported and helped arrange the development of the Alberta Co-operative Wholesale
Association this U.F.A. delegation was not interested in it. They discarded all
previous affiliation with several co-operatives like Wetaskiwin, that had worked so hard
to develop and organize the A.C.W.A. and applied for a separate wholesale charter
under the U.F.A. Co-op name.
This eventually caused two major problems. One
problem was that it caused a rift among locals and co-operatives that had worked so well
together. The second problem was that with two consumer organizations, with similar
names, operating both retail and wholesale outlets, it split consumer strength throughout
Alberta. Consumers also became confused - and in this regard some still are - as to
which was which and who operated what.
Over a few years the Wetaskiwin Co-op diligently studied
their options and benefits as it pertained to an affiliation with the U.F.A. and its
wholesale, but in the end, to clarify their situation, the Wetaskiwin Co-op dropped the
letters "U.F.A." and registered under a new name - Wetaskiwin Co-operative
Association Ltd.
Notwithstanding the economic decline that came with the
advance of the Great Depression and the competition, the Wetaskiwin Co-op maintained its
inventory and kept its store operating.
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