qathet Regional District’s finance committee is recommending the regional board approve mandatory use of urn vaults for cremated remains within regional cemeteries.
At the December 6 finance committee meeting, directors considered the recommendation, which, according to a staff report, is the standard practice in most local government cemeteries in BC.
City of Powell River director Cindy Elliott asked if there were any environmental considerations with the urn vaults. qRD manager of operational services Patrick Devereaux said the urn liners are made of fibreglass and it is relatively inert, but this is not part of the green burial sites where they would not be allowed.
“It’s in the older part of the cemetery where we already use liners for all our full-body interments,” said Devereaux.
According to the staff report, the regional district’s bylaw allows for two sets of cremated remains per cremation plot. The report stated that during removal for a second set of cremations, the first set would be removed, set to the side, the hole would be enlarged and both urns would be replaced together during interment. During removals, old urns often break, the report stated.
Devereaux said cremated remains have come to the cemetery in urns of porcelain or metal, but they have also come in wooden containers or bags.
“It can be distressing for staff, so this keeps the interred remains separate; it keeps them with an extra layer of protection,” said Devereaux. “Only us and cemeteries in the Okanagan do not have a requirement for urn vaults. This is for cremated remains that are interred in the ground. It’s a much simpler, and a much nicer and cleaner service.”
The committee voted unanimously to send the matter for the regional board for approval.
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