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Preparing for Tomorrow - What We Are Doing

Heritage Gardens is a grass-roots without having to file formal complaints
movement to establish an environmentally, with authorities. Where is the bar set for
economically, and socially sustainable cemeteries? We set it at the level where
cemetery. ethics, compassion, and environmental-
stewardship meet.
Background

The requirements of each cemetery - In British Columbia, and most of North
whether private or municipal owned - are America, we bury in perpetuity. To be
reflected in its bylaws. Bylaws are unique buried in perpetuity, and therefore having
to each cemetery, as they are written by a permanent ownership in the earth is
the cemetery themselves. Legislation incredible, but understandably impractical.
governs the minimum legal requirement We are running out of room to bury our
for place of interment/operator of a place deceased, and the shortage will not go away
of interment conduct, by all ‘park rules’ as long as each generation needs their own
after that are in the cemetery bylaws and graveyard. A shortage of space equates to
regulations. Bylaws that lack compassion higher costs, as demand dictates the value.
or flexibility mean that the cemetery may In turn, our cremation rate is skyrocketing
not be able - or willing- to meet the needs - over 85% in 2018, (32,000+ people)
of client families. Today, more than ever, adding its own share of environmental
businesses are held to a higher standard consequences. Cemeteries try to recover
for how they treat customers and the interment space by digging up roads or
environment. Before the internet, a family “building up”, in the form of mausoleums
taken advantage of in the arrangement and columbaria. It is time we get away
office would have no way to know, or to from short-term fixes and circle back to the
share their story aside from word of mouth. real issue - how we approach burial needs
Today, with Google reviews and social to change. It is time for cemeteries to be
media, nefarious practices can be outed, proactive.

Page 16 - Preparing for Tomorrow - Heritage Gardens