Article Title | SECTION
NETWORKCanadian Cemetery Management May 2017
What’s Inside? Vol. 31 No. 3 • May 2017
2 Cover Story: In Service to Canada The grave sites of Canada’s former prime ministers
7 OACFP Association Update
8 WCCA Association Update
10 Business Index
IN SERVICE TO CANADAThe grave sites of Canada’s
former prime ministersPhoto cour tesy o f the Cata raqu i Cemetery Company.
COVER | In Service to Canada
Page 2 • NETWORK | May 2017
By L i sa Johnston
IN Service TO CANADA
The grave sites of Canada’s former prime ministers
Photo cour tesy o f the Cata raqu i Cemetery Company.
May 2017 | NETWORK • Page 3
In Service to Canada | COVER
Parks Canada is committed to the long-term preservation of Canada’s cultural heritage, which includes the grave sites of all 15 deceased prime ministers. Officially known
as the National Program for the Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers, the mandate is to ensure the grave sites are conserved and recognized in a respectful and dignified manner. The program also provides Canadians with information on the lives and accomplishments of each former prime minister, as well as the locations of their final resting places.
According to Parks Canada, the program – established in 1999 – includes the preparation of comprehensive conservation plans for the grave sites while working with each family and cemetery. Commemorative elements at the grave site may include such things as a Canadian flag and information panel.
“Grave sites are formally inspected by Parks Canada’s conservation specialists on a five-year cycle,” says Parks Canada in response to Network’s inquiry. “Based on these inspections, conservation projects are then undertaken, as needed.”
Parks Canada is responsible for implementing the conservation plans and for ensuring the graves sites receive routine maintenance, such as landscaping, cleaning, painting
and care for any commemorative elements that are present. The agency also ensures ongoing monitoring to identify any critical situations that may affect the integrity of the grave sites. While Parks Canada did receive some negative press earlier this year in response to the state of the graves, formal inspections were undertaken in 2016 and early 2017. Parks Canada reports, “Once the inspection reports for 2016-17 are finalized in spring 2017, their final recommendations will be reviewed to determine how and when the challenges they have identified will be addressed.”
Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, is buried in Kingston’s Cataraqui Cemetery. Designated a national historic site in 1938, the grave is visited regularly by visitors. Although it receives the same treatment and consideration as the other prime ministers under the Parks Canada program, Craig Boals, director of operations at the Cataraqui Cemetery Company, says the site is a special place.
“His grave site is what we call a double family plot,” says Boals. “There is a tall obelisk in the middle with the Macdonald family name. His grave site is adorned with a very simple grey cross and his name. There are two other markers on the site – one for his sister and one for his brother-in-law. The rest of
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the family is not really memorialized except for a couple of flat markers Parks Canada put down for interpretive purposes.”
According to Boals, Macdonald’s site is in good condition. “[Parks Canada] just finished doing a refurbishment project last year where they redid some of the handrails, the walkways and some of the plantings. They tended to it during the bicentennial of his birth in 2015, so most of the restoration work was done then.”
While Parks Canada works with the cemeteries to ensure each grave site is conserved and recognized in a dignified manner, they also respect the interests of the families. Therefore, while many of the prime minsters’ grave sites include plaques and a flag, not every grave will have the same commemorative elements. As an example, the family of Pierre Trudeau requested no awareness panel or flag be installed at his grave site in Saint-Rémi Cemetery.
“There are times I will get a letter from a visitor saying they were very underwhelmed by Sir John A. Macdonald’s plot saying they thought there would be more of a big monument,” says Boals. “It is his grave site … and Sir John A. Macdonald was a humble man of meagre origins. What we see at his grave site is exactly what he would have chosen. It is not up to Parks Canada or us to say he deserves more. We would never take down the monument he or his family chose and put up another one in its place. It is a burial site and it is very respectful but at the same time it is very well maintained.”
Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King is buried at Toronto’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery. In addition to a family memorial, there are two plaques and a large Canadian flag at the site.
“Those plaques and the flag are maintained by Parks Canada,” says Rick Cowan, AVP of marketing and communications with the Mount Pleasant Group. “The flags are provided by Parks Canada for the conservation of these types of individuals.”
According to Cowan, a conservation officer from Parks Canada did visit the site this past winter and made maintenance recommendations for future work (replacement of the flag and a peeling plaque). However, Cowan says regular maintenance of the site is maintained by Mount Pleasant as the cemetery staff takes pride in keeping the grave site of the former prime minister in pristine condition.
COVER | In Service to Canada
Photo cour tesy o f Mark Hopper, Be l l ev i l l e Cemetery Company.
Photo cour tesy o f Mount P leasant Cemetery.
Photo cour tesy o f Mount P leasant Cemetery.
Page 6 • NETWORK | May 2017
King is one of numerous historical figures buried at the 205-acre cemetery in the heart of Toronto. The cemetery distributes maps to visitors searching for significant graves and is also in the process of creating a GPS-enabled app to lead visitors directly to a particular grave.
“I think in terms of honouring our past prime ministers, as Canadians we owe it to these individuals to try and keep their memorials in good shape,” adds Cowan.
Located further east in Belleville Cemetery is the grave site of Canada’s fifth prime minister, Sir Mackenzie Bowell. Mark Hopper, manager of Belleville Cemetery and a past president of the Ontario Association of Cemetery and Funeral Professionals (OACFP), says it is important to maintain the graves while also ensuring the safety of visitors.
“When I met with [Parks Canada] in 2006, I was told they were supposed to come out on an annual basis to replace the flags and survey the land around the plot to make sure it was safe,” says Hopper. “It is one of those things that is an ongoing commitment to the prime ministers who have passed and it’s sadly been dropped over the last 10 years.”
In 2016, Hopper did meet with a Parks Canada representative who took Bowell’s plaques to be refurbished.
Hopper adds they are returning in the spring with reference to the base of the stone and retooling some of the brick work. “It is a fairly big monument by today’s standards, so safety is important to ensure it does not fall,” says Hopper, adding Bowell played a large role in the local community making his grave site a popular spot at the 650-acre cemetery.
As a non-profit cemetery, Hopper says it is important to receive the support of Parks Canada to maintain the site. “I want to see a commitment that they are here annually,” he says. “They are supposed to leave a flag every year. They left one in 2006 and I have been paying for the rest of them.”
As Canada prepares for its 150th anniversary, the individuals who have played a role in the country’s history are in the spotlight – including their grave sites.
“The public careers of Canada’s prime ministers have had a profound impact on our history and evolution as a country,” says Parks Canada. “The final resting places of Canada’s former prime ministers are not grave sites of the State, but the program allows Parks Canada to work with their families and the cemeteries to ensure that these sites are conserved and recognized in a respectful and dignified manner.” N
COVER | In Service to Canada
May 2017 | NETWORK • Page 7
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ASSOCIATION UPDATE
By Pat ty Har r i s , p res ident
Pat ty Har r i s
Professional membership associations rely on the engagement and support of its membership. Without our valued members, we simply wouldn’t exist. I’d like to thank
you all for continuing to put your faith in us as an association and for your commitment to our collective desire to present the best of ourselves by providing the highest level of services in an ethical manner. OACFP is an association known as a pre-eminent source for education and professional development and this has never been more evident as the last few years as we have expanded our education programs by adding webinars, creating new front-line training and developing new programs to be ready in 2018. None of this would be possible if not for the countless hours of dedicated time and commitment from our board and committee volunteers. Thank you!
Much work is well underway planning and finalizing our many programs and events for the year.
On April 6, 2017, the e-Learning committee hosted the third webinar of the year - Residual radioactivity following medical procedures: guidelines for management of the deceased - presented by Rachel Timmins from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Medical treatments involving the use of nuclear substances are becoming more and more common throughout Canada and this webinar helped to shed some light on the facts, and provided clarity and guidelines for all of us in the bereavement sector.
On March 28 and 29, 2017, OACFP held its signature Crematorium Operators Certification and Training Program in Burlington. With two full days of education content, exciting presenters, an impressive supplier showcase and a tour of the new state-of-the-art Meadowvale Cremation Centre, the 90 delegates came away from the program empowered with information, new skills and ideas to improve the overall cremation service experience. Thank you to the committee, Meghan Henning, Lakefield Cemetery and Crematorium Inc.; Trevor Foster, Catholic Cemeteries & Funeral Services;
Patrick Leblanc, managing director, O’Neill Funeral Home and Highland Hills Funeral Home & Crematorium; Richard Evans, general manager, St. John’s Dixie Cemetery & Crematorium; and committee chair Ian Merritt, Lindsay Cemetery Corporation, for all of their hard work putting together another incredible program.
In response to our members’ ongoing requests to provide hands-on training, we will once again be offering a Front-Line Cemetery Operations Training Program on August 24, 2017 at Christ the King Cemetery (Markham). This program will provide a review of best practices as it relates to front-line cemetery employees. Topics covered include: health and safety; ethics and professionalism; vault handling and installation; traditional interment services; and cremation interment services.
We’re heading to southern Ontario for our Annual Conference and Trade Show! Join us October 17-19, 2017 at Caesars Windsor Resort and Convention Centre for an exciting three-day program filled with dynamic speakers, industry-related education, networking and so much more. We are fortunate to have a creative and enthusiastic committee made up of representatives from all sectors of the membership who are bringing new and fresh ideas to ensure a not-to-be-missed conference.
Save the DateYou don’t want to miss our Annual Charity Golf Day on
June 12, 2017 at Meadowbrook Golf and Country Club in Gormley, ON in support of the Unforgettables Fund. Jimmy Cardinal, chair of the golf committee, and his team have a great day planned. Come out and have some fun, network and raise money for a great cause. Last year, we surpassed our target goal by raising over $40,000 and with your continued support and the support of our generous sponsors, we hope to do the same this year. Should you be interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jo-Anne Rogerson at [email protected]. See you on the golf course! N
Association Update | OACFP
Page 8 • NETWORK | May 2017
WCCA | Association Update
Raymond Ba i l ey
As long as humans have been in Western Canada, they have gathered at the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red rivers near Winnipeg. They have come together for
special celebrations, for trading and sometimes for recreation.
The Western Canada Cemetery Association (WCCA) is proud to invite everyone back to Winnipeg for all three of these reasons and more!
Centred on the theme, “Making a Difference,” WCCA’s annual convention will be held from September 10-14, 2017 at the Norwood Hotel and the Inn at the Forks in Winnipeg. Both convention hotels are within walking distance of each other and within walking distance of the Forks and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. This is a very beautiful and special part of this world-class city.
The WCCA directors will meet on the first day (September 10) and the convention will officially begin for all delegates on September 11 with golf, a meet-and-greet and registration. Manitoba director and convention coordinator, Jim Baker, is also hoping to incorporate a visit to the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights as part of this year’s convention.
The convention seminars and meetings will be held on September 12 and 13. Another special addition for the 2017 convention will be an opportunity for crematorium operators to attend a cremation technician training workshop which will be held on September 14. In cooperation with the Saskatchewan Crematorium Council, WCCA is offering the Saskatchewan Crematorium Council’s workshop that is used to train crematorium technicians in Saskatchewan. The workshop will be led by Larry Stuart, Jr., founder of Cremation Strategies and Consulting, and former president of Crematory Manufacturing & Service, Inc. – a leading manufacturer of technologically-advanced cremation equipment. Cremation Strategies and Consulting provides expert leadership, planning, organization, training, education, process improvement and strategic planning for the cremation profession.
WCCA feels this is a very valuable opportunity for crematorium operators in all three Prairie provinces. It is a great value and opportunity to be able to receive cremation training right here in Canada as very few opportunities like
ASSOCIATION UPDATE
By Raymond Ba i l ey, p res ident
May 2017 | NETWORK • Page 9
Association Update | WCCA
this exist and often operators have to send technicians away for this type of training. WCCA is also looking to partner with a particular location in Winnipeg for the part of the training that is done with a retort explaining various maintenance and safety procedures.
Being that many crematoriums are operated by funeral providers, we also hope some funeral service professionals will join us at our convention to help grow the relationships between funeral service and cemetery providers. There is definitely a movement in Canada to have all cemetery and funeral associations cooperating regularly together. WCCA hopes to capture this with the cremation technician training.
Other speakers will include cemetery specialists who will share best practices for cemetery design and maintenance. WCCA feels continuing education is an important part of
our conventions and always tries to offer an opportunity that can help towards safety or education accreditations and certifications.
Winnipeg is a world-class multicultural city. It offers a myriad of shopping, sports, cultural and recreational activities for its residents and visitors. Visits to the Leo Mohl Sculpture Garden in Assiniboine Park, the zoo and the newest national museum – the Canadian Museum for Human Rights – or walking near the Forks will certainly be a highlight for those who want to explore more of Winnipeg. We will also be only a short distance from St. Boniface Cathedral-Basilica and the grave of Lois Riel – leader of the Métis rebellion in Manitoba and the 1885 Northwest Rebellion in Saskatchewan.
Whatever your interests, Winnipeg has so much to offer as does the 2017 WCCA convention. N
Being that many crematoriums are operated by funeral providers, we also hope some funeral service professionals will join us at our convention to help grow the relationships between funeral service
and cemetery providers.
N E T W O R K BUSINESS INDEX
NETWORK PagE BI - 1
Bronze
Call1 (800) 465-0322
or email
to book your listing
Marble Statues
GAWET MARBLE & GRANITEBusiness Route 4, PO Box 219Center Rutland, VT 05736
Tel: (802) 773-8868Fax: (802) 773-2763Toll-free: 1 (800) 323-6398
Quality-crafted Italian marble statues and custom designs per request. Inventory. Free brochure and price lists.
Mausoleum Developers
Memorial Portraits
Cemetery Supplies
H.S. ECKELS & CO. (CANADA) LTD.23 Admiral PlaceGuelph, On N1G 4N4Tel: (519) 824-8020Fax (519) 824-7161Toll-free: 1 (800) 265-8350www.eckelsandcompany.comemail: [email protected] to cemeteries across Canada with interment products.
Columbaria and Mausoleums
4 Rock of Ages StreetStanstead, Quebec J0B 3E2
Tel: (800) 567-2793 • Fax: (819) 876-2234Donald Labonté, President
Columbariums made entirely of granite, carefully chosen for high quality.Perpetual Warranty. Contact us torefer you to a dealer in your area.
Tell them you found it in NETWORK Call 1 (800) 465-0322 or email [email protected] to book your listing today!
Monument Suppliers
GAWET MARBLE & GRANITEBusiness Route 4, PO Box 219Center Rutland VT 05736(802) 773-8868 • Fax: (802) 773-2763Toll-free: 1 (800) 323-6398Custom-fabricated high-quality Vermont marble memorials, markers, cornerstones and statues.
MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS
NETWORK
works!Call (403) 264-3270
SUNSET MEMORIAL & STONE3300 - 8 St. SE, Calgary T2G 5S7Tel: 403.243.3393 • Fax: 403.243.7533Toll-free: 800.363.3393Web: www.sunsetstone.com
website: www.enduramemorials.com142 Deerglen Terrace, Aurora, ON L4G 6Y3
Dependable1 week delivery
tel: 905-726-8288fax: 905-726-8248
Largest Builders & Designers of Quality Memorialization Structures in the World
w w w . m i l n e c o n s t r u c t i o n . c o m
2601 Hwy #7 Suite 400, Markham, ONT L3R 0M3
1 • 8 0 0 • 5 4 7 • 4 9 0 9
J.C. MILNE CONSTRUCTION CO.(CANADA) INC.
David O. Dahl, CSE, President [email protected]
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N E T W O R K BUSINESS INDEX
Quarries
ROCK OF AGES CANADA INC.4 Rock of Ages, Stanstead, QC J0B 1E0Tel: (819) 876-2745 • Fax: (819) 876-2234Donald Labonté, President
Vases
U.S. METALCRAFT, INC.P.O. Box 308, Delphos, OH 45833Toll-free: 1 (800) 633-1190Fax: 1 (888) 695-0235In business for over 30 years, the originalmanufacturer of the Metalflake granite-match finish. Die-cast aluminum vases. Trouble-free profit. No Canadian distributor, buy direct from manufacturer. Call Debra Altenburger for assistance.
Vaults & Grave Boxes
B.C. WILBERT VAULT(A division of Fraser Way Pre-Kast Ltd.)22765 Fraser Highway, Box 3294Langley, BC V3A 4R6Tel: (604) 534-2911 • Fax: (604) 533-3238
SUPERIOR VAULT CO. LIMITED‘Servicing Ontario for over 60 years’Box 42200, 128 Queen Street SouthMississauga, ON L5M 4Z0Tel: (905) 826-2870 or(905) 854-2688 (after hours)
MONUMENT RETAILERS
British Columbia
MORTIMER’S MONUMENTAL WORKS(in B.C. Since 1877)709 Kings Road., Victoria, B.C. V8T 1W4Tel: (250) 383-6421 • Fax: (250) 383-7770Toll-free: 1-800-788-0188www.mortimersmonuments.cominfo@mortimersmonuments.comContact Ken and Kerry MannWe service all of B.C. and the Yukon
Ontario
KINKAID AND LONEYMONUMENTS LTD.41 William Street EastSmith Falls, ON K7A 1C3Toll-free: 1 (800) 749-0807Contact: Chris LoneyComplete Monument Services Since 1947.Specialists in Cemetery Restoration. E-ZMasks Computer Graphics. Made-to-Orderfor Plastic, Bronze, Stone & Glass.Used Worldwide.
ST. JAMES CEMETERY/CREMATORIUM635 Parliment St.Toronto, ON M4X 1R1Tel: (416) 964-9194
WHOLESALE LETTERING & CARVING6215 Netherhart RoadMississauga, ON L5T 1G5Tel: (905) 564-5617 • Fax: (905) 564-8380
Please check your listing for
accuracy.
Should any changes be necessary, contact us at
NETWORK
works!Call (403) 264-3270
ALBERTA WILBERT SALES LTD. 16910 - 129th Avenue N.W.Edmonton, Alberta T5V 1L1
Tel: (780) 447-2222 - Fax: (780) 447-1984
Len Traub - President
Larisa Day - 587-341-5343 (cell)
4315 -58 Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB, T2C 1Y3Tel: (403) 230-1666 • Fax: (403) 276-4176Paula Ierullo - Manager - 403-371-3273 (Cell)
WILBERT SALES (Manitoba) LTD.1565 - King Edward Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 0R7Tel: (204) 694-4616 or 694-4659
Or toll free: 1-877-883-4473Fax: (204) 694-4671
Frank Bozso - Manager - 204-294-2864 (cell)
ALBERTA WILBERT SALES LTD.
NETWORK PagE BI - 3
NETWORK works!Call (403) 264-3270
Quebec
GRANITE LACROIX INC.1735, Boul. des LaurentidesVimont, Laval, QC H7M 2P5Tel: (450) 669-7467Manufacturer of Monuments.www.granitelacroix.com
N E T W O R K BUSINESS INDEX
CEMETERIES/CREMATORIUMS
Saskatchewan
WARREN & SON LTD.MEMORY GARDENS CEMETERYBox 37, 126 - 2nd Ave. N.E.Swift Current, SK S9H 3V5Tel: (306) 773-8831Dick and Jim Warren, Owners
Please check your listing for
accuracy. Should any changes
be necessary, contact us at
