HomeMy WebLinkAboutCemetery Master Plan
Maple Ridge
Cemetery Master
Plan
Prepared for: District of Maple Ridge
Department of Park, Recreation and Culture
Prepared by: LEES + Associates
February 19, 2008
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
TA
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Chapter 5: Organizational Assessment.......................................................................................29
Customer Service.......................................................................................................... 29
Visitor Centre................................................................................................................ 29
Record Keeping ............................................................................................................ 30
Cemetery Bylaw............................................................................................................ 30
Chapter 6: Land Needs Assessment...........................................................................................32
Existing Capacity.......................................................................................................... 32
Projected Land Requirements....................................................................................... 33
Key Findings................................................................................................................. 36
Chapter 7: Recommendations.....................................................................................................37
Meeting Future Land Needs.......................................................................................... 37
Infrastructure and Amenities......................................................................................... 44
Organizational............................................................................................................... 47
Chapter 8: Business Planning Strategies..................................................................................50
Increase Interment Services.......................................................................................... 51
Marketing the Cemeteries............................................................................................. 52
Increasing Effectiveness and Partnerships.................................................................... 53
Towards Cost Recovery................................................................................................ 54
Implementation............................................................................................................. 59
Appendices....................................................................................................................................60
BLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary....................................................................................................................... 3
apter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................. 6
Cemetery History............................................................................................................ 7
Death and Interment Trends............................................................................................ 7
Death and Interment Trends............................................................................................ 8
Key Findings................................................................................................................. 13
apter 2: The Cemetery Site......................................................................................................14
Context.......................................................................................................................... 14
Cemeteries as Crucial Community Open Spaces.......................................................... 15
Site Ecology.................................................................................................................. 16
Opportunities and Constraints....................................................................................... 17
apter 3: Interment Options and Services................................................................................19
Interment Options: In-Ground Burials.......................................................................... 19
Interment Options: Cremated Remains......................................................................... 21
Interment Options: Memorialization............................................................................. 24
Key Findings................................................................................................................. 24
apter 4: Infrastructure and Amenities.....................................................................................25
Signage.......................................................................................................................... 26
Drainage........................................................................................................................ 27
Level of Maintenance ................................................................................................... 27
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 2 -
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Executive Summary
Two cemeteries in Maple Ridge have served the community for nearly 130 years. The
historic Lee Cemetery in Whonnock remains nearly unchanged from its early days as a
pioneer cemetery. The Maple Ridge Cemetery has evolved into a more conventional
cemetery where virtually all of the burials that occur in Maple Ridge take place. Given the
pace at which demographics, interment trends and memorialization patterns are changing,
Staff identified the need to embark upon a master planning process that would address the
key community needs for meaningful places of burial and commemoration. This master
plan addresses the current and projected levels of demand for interment and
memorialization services that will be required over the next 25 years. Those demands, in
combination with projected changes in interment choices (burial or cremation), have been
used to project future cemetery land requirements. A program of recommendations that
address the key findings in the project have been prioritized in an Implementation Plan that
concludes this report.
Following a review of the District’s burial statistics, site information, Vital Stats and Stats
BC cemetery data, a program of consultations was undertaken. This included interviews
with Staff, representatives from the two funeral homes, a workshop with Council and the
Heritage Advisory Commission. A public open house was held to garner public input, in
addition to input solicited from residents through a web survey. This information has been
synthesized into a series of key findings. These include:
Key Demographic and Interment Trend Findings
• The number of people that die in the District will rise due to an increased
population and to the fact that the population is aging. It is expected that
28,000 people will die in Maple Ridge between now and 2035.
• Rising death rates will lead to an increased demand for cemetery services in
the District over the next 20 years.
• The cremation rate will rise above the current 80% rate to approximately 85%.
• There will continue to be a demand for full depth (in ground) burial space, and
for cremated remains interment and memorialization opportunities.
• The trend towards columbaria and intensive forms of cremated remains
interment will continue.
• The demand for “green” burials (that minimize the ecological footprint of
interment) will slowly rise over the coming years.
• An increased expectation of site, service and ceremonial service options will
need to be addressed.
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 3 -
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Interment Options: Key findings
• Drainage conditions are poor in the remaining traditional (in-ground) burial
area.
• Lot layouts are very efficient, but this leaves little room for seating, amenities
or tree planting.
• Only a limited range of traditional burial options are available.
• In-fill of roads has already taken place, leaving little capacity on/near existing
roadways.
• There is no designated communal commemorative space.
• Landscape/ buffer areas along some of the Maple Ridge Cemetery site are not
effective.
• Cremation borders are laid out in a very tight pattern.
• Columbaria, ossuaries and family vessels are interment options for cremated
remains that are not presently offered in Maple Ridge.
• The scattering garden was expanded but is nearing capacity.
• Memorialization of interment lots is limited to flat/ at-grade markers.
Infrastructure Assessment: Key Findings
• Roads are narrow and curbless, leading to damage to graves and
deteriorating pavement.
• On and off-site signage is inadequate.
• Turf is in generally good condition, although poor drainage poses an ongoing
challenge.
• Maintenance buildings are in good condition, although the level of service they
offer is rudimentary.
• There is limited access to washrooms, no indoor place for a funeral service
and the site is not designed for customer service.
Marketing, Bylaws, Policy Assessments: Key Findings
• Marketing of cemetery services in Maple Ridge is virtually non existent.
• Concern was expressed by funeral home professionals, and the community,
that many people do not know there is a cemetery available for their use in
Maple Ridge.
• The Cemetery Bylaw needs to be updated to account for changing customer
expectations, interment trends and to align it with the Provincial Cemetery and
Funeral Services Act.
• The policy regarding ornamentation needs to be formalized and consistently
applied by Staff and Council.
In order to address these findings, a series of recommendations have been brought
forward. Key recommendations are included in the following table.
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 4 -
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Maple Ridge Cemeter
Implementation Table
Meeting Future Needs
In-fill at Maple Ridge Cem
Family
Colum
Cremati
In-fill at Maple Ridge Cem
Hydro/geo
Implem
Mausol
Phas
North Expansion Areas
Land a
Desi
Plot lay
Off Site Cemetery
Land Ac
Interim
Interim
y Master Plan
Priority
etery (Cremated Remains)
Vessels, columbaria High 1 - 3 years Staff, consultants, contractors (100,000.00)$ Primarily Capital
baria in Section 2 High 1 - 3 years Staff, consultants, contractors (75,000.00)$ Primarily Capital
on Garden in SE area High 1 - 3 years Staff, consultants, contractors (100,000.00)$ Primarily Capital
etery (Traditional Burial)
tech study of drainage in Section 3 High ASAP Consultant 10,000.00$ Capital
ent drainage improvements in Section 3 High Year 1 Staff, contractors 25,000.00$ Capital
ea Design and Business Case Analysis Medium Year 3 - 5 Consultant 10,000.00$ Capital
e I Mausolea Design and Construction Medium Year 4 - 6 Contractor, Consultant, Staff (100,000.00)$ Primarily Capital
cquistion, preliminary planning High ASAP Consultants, staff 20,000.00$ Capital
gn and infrastructure services High Year 2 Consultants, staff 30,000.00$ Capital
out and cremation garden construction High Year 3 Consultants, staff, contractors (50,000.00)$ Capital
Lands
quisition Planning, Site Identification High Year 2 - 4 Consultants, staff 20,000.00$ Primarily Capital
pre-cemetery land use studies Medium Year 5 - ? Staff, consultants 25,000.00$ Capital
land use implementation Low Year 15 - ? Staff TBD Capital
tery Lands Preparations Low Year 25 - ? Consultants, staff -$ Capital
es
y Section Names High Year 1 Staff 5,000.00$ Operating
gnage improvements High Year 1 Staff, consultants 30,000.00$ Capital
y profile in the community
ite development and roll out High Year 2 Staff, consultants 12,000.00$ Capital
letter/brochure development and roll out High Year 2 - 3 Staff, consultants 10,000.00$ Capital
ess and Partnerships
High Year 1 Staff, consultants 8,000.00$ Capital
ocedures Update High Year 1 Staff 8,000.00$ Operating
Board Medium Year 2 Staff 7,500.00$ Operating
ture Maintenance and Enhancements High Year 1 - 3 Staff, contractors 50,000.00$ Capital
ery
tions Low Year 5 - ? Staff, consultants (25,000.00)$ Capital
und Contribution Update***High Year 1 - 10 Staff, consultants 180,000.00$ Operating
etery Financial Plan ASAP Year 1 - 7 Staff, consultants 30,000.00$ Capital
harges****High
Ceme
Marketing the Cemeteri
Changing Cemeter
On and off-site si
Enhanced Cemeter
Webs
News
Increasing Effectiven
Bylaw update
Ornamentation Pr
Create an Advisory
Cemetery Infrastruc
Enhancing Cost Recov
Product introduc
Perpetual Care F
Comprehensive Cem
Update fees and c Year 1 - 10 Staff (224,000.00)$ Operating Revenue
Impleme
ntation
Delivery Method Net Cost
Estimates*
Operating or
Capital Cost
Net Total Cost (Revenue)(193,500.00)$
* Net cost estimates include estimated revenues over a maximum 10year period (in many cases the ROI will occur over a much shorter period)
** Net revenues are included for years 1 - 10; costs beyond year 10 are not included
*** Assuming a 5% increase over current contributions occuring on average over the next 10 years
**** Assuming a 10% fee increase to meet industry standard and inflation on average over the next 10 years
In order to move cemetery services in Maple Ridge towards full cost recovery, a
comprehensive cemetery business plan is recommended. A series of new interment
options for both casket and cremated remains interment need to proceed in order to meet
the needs of Maple Ridge residents as well as the expectations of funeral home service
providers in the community. Implementing the initial recommendations in this plan over a
two - four year period would instill a sense of confidence with the funeral home owners,
generate interest in the community and would move this important civic service towards full
cost recovery.
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 5 -
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Chapter 1: Introduction
The Maple Ridge Cemetery on Dewdney Trunk Road has been serving the community
since 1878. Over the last 130 years the burial grounds have grown to accommodate the
growth of the District and its citizens’ needs for places of interment, memorialization and
commemoration. The Lee Cemetery in Whonnock is a small pioneer cemetery with a rich
history and an important cultural landscape, but due to its size and location will not have a
significant bearing on the District’s long term interment capacity.
Although not as prominent a service as others within the Parks and Leisure Services
Department, cemetery services are a crucial component of the District’s service delivery. In
recent years, cemeteries have become much more than just a final resting spot. They are
seen as spaces for the living as well, with community events being held on their grounds
(even weddings in some cases), and as park space for passive recreation. Not only a part
of family history and genealogy, cemeteries reflect community memory in a tangible way.
The purpose of this study is to look at the long term capital, operating and spatial needs of
the cemetery. Spatial needs have been addressed and will be impacted by the physical
restriction of expansion space, the expectation that gravesites are for single use - in
perpetuity - and the large numbers of baby boomers that will die over the next two
decades.
The assessments and recommendations in this report were formed by an analysis of burial
statistics, death projections, site assessments and financial performance, and interviews
with District staff and funeral home representatives. A full list of data sources can be found
in Appendix C. A summary of the history of the cemetery is followed by a synopsis of
projected death and interment trends in Maple Ridge. This is followed by key findings from
interviews with staff, stakeholders and funeral service providers. A synopsis of input,
received at the open house and from web feedback forms, which informed our work
follows the key findings. An analysis of interment services provided as well as physical
opportunities and constraints underpins the land needs assessment. The land needs
assessment details how much land will be required to meet needs for the next twenty-five
years. Recommendations, including an implementation plan, address the key findings and
the need for additional land.
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 6 -
HOOD ST.Maple Ridge Cemetery-Existing Scale 1:2500021st ST.No. 2 CREMATIONSNo. 1 CREMATIONSNo. 3 CHILDRENSWORK SHEDOFFICEROSE GARDEN- PAVED ROADS- GRAVEL ROADSLEGENDCEMETERY No. 3CEMETERY No. 5CEMETERY No. 1CEMETERY No. 4CEMETERY No. 2Total Area (sq.m) Grave Area (sq.m) Grave % Road Area (sq.m) Road % Buffer Area (sq.m) Buffer % EmptyCem. 159033775 64%1993 34%134 2% 9Cem. 21388410333 74%2913 21%638 5% 140Cem. 32965418746 63%2396 8%8512 29% 390Cem. 422871630 71%479 21%178 8% 2Cem. 53514996 28%1528 43%990 28% 0Total Full Burial5524235480 64%9310 17%10453 19% 541Children's Area 126689 33%176 66%1 0% 3Children's Area 32482140 6%186 7%2156 87% 55Total Childrens2748229 8%362 13%2157 79% 58Cremation 12846417 15%380 13%2049 72% 9Cremation 21611723 45%760 47%128 8% 1056Total Cremation44571139 26%1140 26%2177 49% 1065Maple Ridge Cemetery Area Takeoffs- CEMETERY BOUNDARYEXISTING TREES & SHRUBSLEES + ASSOCIATESLandscape Architects
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Cemetery History
The Maple Ridge Cemetery is an historic burial ground
that consists of six hectares of public property located on
214th Street south of Dewdney Trunk Rd. It is a fine
example of the type of rural cemetery that was the
traditional style in Canada starting in the late nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries. In 1878 the Municipality
established the Maple Ridge Cemetery on a half acre
donated by George Howison and William Nelson. By
1895 the community purchased an additional half acre
from the original donors. The original entrance was
located on River Road, one of the major historic
transportation corridors in the area. The first burials
occurred in the mid-1870s on a private lot belonging to William Nelson, which he donated
to the District. Its heritage value lies with the prominent settlers of the District of Maple
Ridge who helped to develop Maple Ridge and for whom it is now their final resting place.
These include the Haney family, early founders and entrepreneurs in the District as well as
pioneers of the Japanese community in Maple Ridge. Aside from grave markers, no formal
records were kept before 1897. A flood in 1950 resulted in the destruction of many burial
records. Identities of most people buried in cemetery section 1 are known, but not the
exact locations of their graves where headstones are absent. In 1915 the District of Maple
Ridge purchased a second section of the cemetery. In 1917 the first plots in cemetery
section 2 were available for sale to residents. After that time the cemetery grew rapidly
with section 3 being added in the 1950s and sections 4 and 5 more recently.
Maple Ridge Cemetery
Maple Ridge Cemetery Gates
The history of the site is apparent in the different methods of
commemoration over time, including the move to horizontal
lawn markers, more uniform in size and material, after the
1960s. Restoration projects have kept some of the stones and
markers looking fresh even after a hundred years. The
cemetery has an important connection to the artistic growth of
the community as reflected in the entry gates: they are the work
of Maple Ridge’s first artist-in-residence, Colin Southwell.
The Whonnock Cemetery consists of two parts: the Norwegian
or Lee Cemetery of 1905 and the lands purchased by Maple
Ridge from Kwantlen First Nation in 1919. The Lee Cemetery
was established by closely related pioneer families from Norway
who settled in Whonnock. In 1982 the property was transferred
to the District of Maple Ridge. The historic Lee Cemetery in
Whonnock accommodates two or three burials a year.
Historic Lee Cemetery in Whonnock
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 7 -
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Death and Interment Trends
Several key demographic and interment trends have been examined in order to
understand the current and future need for cemetery services within the District. This
information, combined with an assessment of interment services, provided the necessary
data to project land needs over the next twenty-five years.
Population Trends
Growth in the over-65 age class in Maple Ridge has been growing steadily and is
predicted to grow faster in the coming years. In fact, by about 2025, there will be more
dependent elderly than children in Maple Ridge. The median resident age in Maple Ridge
in 1986 was 31 years old. In 2005, it was 37, and by 2031 it is projected to be 45 years of
age.
Source: P.E.O.P.L.E. Projections 31
Source: P.E.O.P.L.E. Projections 31 Projected Population Dependency Ratios of Maple Ridge
Projected Population of Maple Ridge
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 8 -
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Death Trends
With the aging population, the death rate is rising. In 2006, 562 people died in Maple
Ridge. This is projected to grow to 926 decedents in the year 2020 and 1273 decedents in
the year 2030 (P.E.O.P.L.E. Projections 32). As the baby boomer cohort dies, additional
cemetery space will be required.
DATE DEATHS CREMATIONS %BURIALS %
2001 447 397 82% 86 18%
2002 514 436 82% 93 18%
2003 540 467 82% 102 18%
2004 528 415 84% 78 16%
2005 558 506 86% 79 13%
2006 562 490 87% 72 13%
2007 567 498 88% 69 12%
2008 618 548 89% 70 11%
2009 643 575 89% 68 11%
2010 667 602 90% 65 10%
2011 692 630 91% 62 9%
2012 719 655 91% 64 9%
2013 743 676 91% 67 9%
2014 772 703 91% 69 9%
2015 795 724 91% 71 9%
2016 820 746 91% 74 9%
2017 844 768 91% 76 9%
2018 871 793 91% 78 9%
2019 896 816 91% 80 9%
2020 926 843 91% 83 9%
2021 953 868 91% 85 9%
2022 984 896 91% 88 9%
2023 1019 928 91% 91 9%
2024 1056 961 91% 95 9%
2025 1092 994 91% 98 9%
2026 1133 1031 91% 102 9%
2027 1165 1061 91% 104 9%
2028 1197 1090 91% 107 9%
2029 1233 1122 91% 111 9%
2030 1273 1159 91% 114 9%
2031 1314 1196 91% 118 9%
2032 1357 1235 91% 122 9%
2033 1404 1278 91% 126 9%
2034 1453 1323 91% 130 9%
2035 1502 1367 91% 135 9%
TOTAL (2007-2035): 28,708 26,087 2621
Source: P.E.O.P.L.E. Projections 32 for death projections. Past
cremations and Burials from Vital Stats BC. Cremation and Burial
Projections have been estimated based on 2006 percentages.
Interment Trends
In general, a shift to choose cremation over burial is one that has been seen all over North
America and is most pronounced here in BC. Research undertaken by our firm (with the
Mustel Group) on interment and memorial preferences and decision “drivers” indicate that
cremation is the most preferred method of disposition. This is certainly the case in Maple
Ridge, where in 1998, of those that lived in the Maple Ridge Local Health Area 22% chose
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 9 -
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
to be buried and 78% chose cremation. By 2005 the cremation rate had increased to 87%
and the traditional in-ground burial rate reduced to 13%. This constitutes a significant shift
and one that has had an important impact on the cemetery system.
British Columbia
Method of Disposition Trends, 1986-2006
00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
90.00%198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006Burial Percentage
Cremation Percentage
0.
Source: Vital Stats BC
Why are people choosing cremation? Our research indicates that aside from undisclosed
personal reasons, protecting the environment is the single largest reason for choosing
cremation. Our sense is that this is a perception that may change as more evidence
emerges about the deleterious effects of pollutants associated with cremation and the
amount of CO2 released during the process.
47%
43%
10%
9%
3%
2%
1%
1%
10%
<1%
Personal reasons
Protecting environment
Price
Family tradition
Availability
Religious beliefs
Community norm
Societal pressure
Location in cemetery
Don't know
Reasons for Preferring Cremation
• Similar to burial, many hold a
preference for cremation for
undisclosed personal reasons.
• Concern regarding the protection of
the environment is registered as the
second most common reason.
• Price, tradition and availability are
among the other minor
considerations.
Base: Respondents who stated a preference for cremation (n=241)
Q.8b) Can you tell me why this is your preferred choice?
Source: Mustel Group Research
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 10 -
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
What are people choosing to do with the cremated remains? Many choose to scatter
remains in undisclosed locations, or have them interred in a cemetery. Research with the
Mustel Group found that the most preferred options for interment of those cremated
remains were columbaria, a scattering garden or a family urn.
Source: Mustel Group Research
Interments at Maple Ridge Cemetery
The following table tracks the record of interment of cremated remains in the cemetery
compared with total number of cremations in the Maple Ridge Local Health Area:
2005 2004 2003 2002 average
Total Cremations in Local
Health Area
506 415 467 436 456
Cremated remains interred in
the ground at the Maple Ridge
Cemetery
120 102 114 105 110
Cremated remains interred in
the Rose Garden at the Maple
Ridge Cemetery
19 13 21 28 20
Total cremated remains
interred in the Maple Ridge
Cemetery
139 115 135 133 131
Cremated remains at other
cemeteries, not picked up or
kept at home (not accounted
for)
367 300 332 303 326
% of Total Cremations from
the Maple Ridge LHA interred
at the Maple Ridge Cemetery
27% 28% 29% 31% 29%
Source: District of Maple Ridge
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 11 -
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
These findings are typical of the patterns we would expect in a municipal cemetery system
– approximately 25% of families those that choose cremation bring the remains to a
cemetery for interment. The question that remains is: “where do all the ashes go?” They
are either at another cemetery, scattered somewhere other than in a cemetery or no
decision has been made as to what to do with the ashes and they are in safe keeping in
undetermined locations.
The following table tracks the record of traditional in-ground burials at the cemetery
compared with total number of burials in the Maple Ridge Local Health Area:
Burials
2005 2004 2003 2002 average
Total Burials in Local Health
Area
79 78 102 93 88
Burials interred at MRC 57 57 65 78 64
At other locations
22 21 37 15 24
% of Total Burials interred at
MRC
72% 73% 64% 84% 73%
Source: District of Maple Ridge
Market Share
Not all the people that die in Maple Ridge will be interred in the District cemetery. The
extent to which the City cemetery accommodates the need for traditional burials and the
need to inter cremated remains has a direct impact on the amount of land that will be
required.
During the year 2005, the Maple Ridge Cemetery served the following proportion of those
residents in the Maple Ridge Local Health Area that died:
• 27% of those that chose cremation were buried in the Maple Ridge Cemetery.
• 72% of those that chose burial were buried in the cemetery.
• 73% of those that chose cremation chose to scatter the ashes, or keep them at a
location other than the cemetery, or interment at a cemetery other than the Maple
Ridge Cemetery.
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 12 -
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Key Findings
The demographic, burial and cremation trends researched for this study have been based
on BC Stats, P.E.O.P.L.E. Projections and Maple Ridge Cemetery data.
• Rising death rates will lead to an increased demand for cemetery services in
the District over the next 20 years.
• The cremation rate will rise somewhat, but is not likely to move significantly
beyond the 85% level.
• There will continue to be a demand for full depth (in ground) burial space, and
• The need for cremated remains interment opportunities will be sustained for at
least the next 20 years, quite possibly beyond that time.
Recent research in the Lower Mainland shows that the desire for columbaria and more
intensive forms of cremated remains interment will continue. Green burials (that minimize
the ecological footprint of interment) will slowly rise over the coming years. P.E.O.P.L.E.
Projections show an increase in migration to Maple Ridge over the coming years, and with
this will likely come additional cultural interment considerations. An increased expectation
of site, service and ceremonial service options will need to be addressed in response to
this trend.
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 13 -
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Chapter 2: The Cemetery
Site
The Maple Ridge Cemetery has an orderly and open spatial quality with the plots and
pathways laid out at right angles across a relatively flat site. Designed to enhance views
within and across it, a formal spatial structure is created, considered fashionable in the era
in which it was established. The cemetery features an open expanse of lawn with a mix of
mature trees and more recent plantings. There are many decorative and unique
monuments and headstones, ranging in materials from wood to granite, marble, zinc and
other metals. The cemetery is a tranquil and beautiful site shaded by some large maple
trees near the entry.
The perimeter of the cemetery is almost entirely fenced with 6’ chain link fencing with
plantings of shrubs and trees. These plants add to the sense of enclosure, but also cast
shade across the site.
Context
The Maple Ridge Cemetery is located in a largely residential neighbourhood of modest
family homes that developed as the commercial centres of Haney and Hammond took
shape.
The projected growth in population in Maple Ridge will result in the growth in density in
the area. The OCP encourages a variety of higher density residential forms including
townhouse and multi-family housing development in the cemetery’s surrounding
neighbourhood.
Source: Zoning By-Law Map A, Maple Ridge Planning Department
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 14 -
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Cemeteries as Crucial Community Open Spaces Cemeteries as Crucial Community Open Spaces
One of the often overlooked aspects of cemeteries is the important role they play in the
community’s range of open space types and recreation experiences. The Maple Ridge
Cemetery is an example of how sacred space can be a keystone of the suburban and
urban open space fabric. While the cemetery’s hidden qualities create a quiet and
reflective space suitable for a cemetery, if the site had access and visual sight lines from
Dewdney Trunk Road it would be perceived as a more accessible open space. We heard
from many people at the open house that recreation use should be encouraged for
walking, quiet contemplation, running, tai chi and even dog walking. (We hasten to add
that off leash dog walking is not proposed in this report.)
One of the often overlooked aspects of cemeteries is the important role they play in the
community’s range of open space types and recreation experiences. The Maple Ridge
Cemetery is an example of how sacred space can be a keystone of the suburban and
urban open space fabric. While the cemetery’s hidden qualities create a quiet and
reflective space suitable for a cemetery, if the site had access and visual sight lines from
Dewdney Trunk Road it would be perceived as a more accessible open space. We heard
from many people at the open house that recreation use should be encouraged for
walking, quiet contemplation, running, tai chi and even dog walking. (We hasten to add
that off leash dog walking is not proposed in this report.)
The following diagram shows the parks in the neighbourhood areas around the cemetery
and the 400 metre walking distance to them. The importance of the cemetery to the open
space and recreation opportunity spectrum in Maple Ridge is quite evident.
The following diagram shows the parks in the neighbourhood areas around the cemetery
and the 400 metre walking distance to them. The importance of the cemetery to the open
space and recreation opportunity spectrum in Maple Ridge is quite evident.
5 minute walking radii on parks in the cemetery area.
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 15 -
POTENTIAL EXPANSION AREAUNDESIRABLE VIEWSPOTENTIAL INFILL AREAPOTENTIAL PLANTED AREAEXISTING FUTURE INTERMENTNON DESIGNATED INTERNMENTRIPARIAN AREASCEMETERY No. 3CEMETERY No. 2CEMETERY No. 4CEMETERY No. 1WORK SHEDOFFICEOPPORTUNITIES/ CONSTRAINTS • Road infrastructure has degraded to the point of replacement.• No designated parking exists on site.• Variety of trees creates a park like setting• Way/grave fi nding is diffi cultunsightly shops /adjacent residentialvisible from this part of cemeteryshade in this area detracts from useprime location for additional interment options.stream setbacksoil storage - potential problem re-garding setback, not well organizedarea likely too wet for intermentvery poor visibility and signage at entry.artistic entry gates provide effective threshold.area bright and exposedbuffer to work shed required. ROSE GARDENSOIL STORAGEEXISTING TREES & SHRUBSCEMETERY BOUNDARYHOOD ST.21st ST.DRAFT5232453DEWDNEY TRUNK RD.4area would benefi t from vertical defi nitionarea would benefi t from vertical defi nition11CEMETERY No. 5Maple Ridge Cemetery-Opportunities/Constraints Scale 1:40,000LEES + ASSOCIATESLandscape Architects
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Site Ecology
McKinney Creek, which runs along the south of the cemetery, is a fish-bearing tributary to the
Alouette River. Regulations regarding ecological value and restricted development around water-
courses will affect use of land adjacent to the Creek and hence the cemetery capacity. In light of
this, the area where soil is currently being stored needs to be examined to ensure current practices
and future possible interments are planned with these setbacks in mind.
Vegetation
The vegetation is largely what gives both of the
cemeteries in Maple Ridge their distinctive feel. The
Maple Ridge Cemetery is characterized by the
maturing maple trees at the main cemetery, and an
enclosed feeling created with evergreen plantings
around the perimeter of the site. The Whonnock
Cemetery’s mossy groundplane and forested context
add its quintessential rural cemetery ambience.
At the Maple Ridge Cemetery, trees help to frame views within the site and to add visual
interest. Hedges and tree planting at the edges of the cemetery help to define the
cemetery boundaries. The importance of the vegetation at the cemetery cannot be over-
stated and its care needs to be emphasized.
The following are the key findings based on our assessment:
• There is a large dead conifer tree outside the site office
which needs to be removed.
• Remedial pruning of some trees is required;
• A new tree/ replacement tree program should be
instituted and formalized in annual capital budgets.
• Shrubs and hedges should be managed with views in
mind as well as to create an appropriate sense of
enclosure;
• When entering the Maple Ridge Cemetery the two
mature maples create a distinctive ‘gateway’ feel as
visitors walk beneath their canopies;
• Hardy shrubs, grasses and perennials – ideally those
native to the Maple Ridge area – should be planted
where practical.
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Opportunities and Constraints
The aerial photograph on the pull-out page depicts the physical boundaries, cemetery
layout, amenities of the site and the land uses of adjacent properties. Areas shown in black
highlight empty burial plots, i.e., the remaining cemetery capacity. The aesthetic of both
the Maple Ridge Cemetery and the Lee Cemetery in Whonnock are of “secret gardens.”
The perimeter of native vegetation combined with more exotic trees at the Maple Ridge
Cemetery give the site a distinct horticultural character – opportunities that need to be
exploited.
Located in the middle of a built-up area, the cemetery is an oasis of calm and peace. In
terms of design of the space, the “secret garden” feel should be emphasized as a place
where one feels as though they have just discovered it.
On the whole, the cemetery has the makings of a beautiful place of interment and memory.
Ongoing enhancement of the visual amenities on the site will help to ensure this potential.
Lot layouts are generally efficient. Some roads have been in-filled with burial lots leaving
very little walkway space or potential for additional in-fill. Other walkways are wider than
they need to be and could be used for a limited range of cremated remains interment
options.
Opportunities include:
• Maintaining the buffering of views and sounds of the Lougheed Highway through
planting along the south boundary of the site.
• Buffering the residential and other land uses which are adjacent to the site,
particularly in the south-west corner of the site, with a planting program.
• Creating more communal amenity areas, such as plazas or fountains, for
communal grieving. These would become visual amenities.
• Screening the operations shed and proposed parking area;
• Enhancing the entry experience through a re-design and re-development of the
entry signage and planting.
• Creating more interesting places in the current burial and cremation plot areas.
• Strengthen the presence of the cemetery sign at the intersection of 214th - and
Dewdney Trunk.
• Framing of selected views outside of the cemetery – at present there are few.
• Integrating future expansion northwards with the existing developed portion of the
cemetery.
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
One of the site’s key constraints is that there is only one entrance and exit. This inhibits
access to the cemetery, community visibility and possible links to the surrounding
community. It also limits options as funeral entourages enter and leave the cemetery. The
site would benefit from more frontage on Dewdney Trunk Road. This would address
security issues such as theft and vandalism by creating better visibility. More exposure
would certainly encourage passive recreation and would make finding the site easier for
out of town visitors and members of the funeral entourage.
Another key constraint is the extent to which the burial area to the west is so poorly
drained. In the winter time there is often standing water in this part of the site and pumps
need to be used to drain the graves prior to burial. Poor drainage in this area has
effectively reduced the remaining cemetery grave capacity by around 100 - from 471 to
roughly 360 lots.
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Chapter 3: Interment
Options and Services
The current services offered at the Cemetery are limited
to a small range of casket burial and cremation lots, as
well as a scattering garden. The lot layouts and choice of
locations are limited. Columbaria, ossuaries, family
vessels and other services offered by both the public and
private sector are not available in the District’s
cemeteries.
The current ethnic diversity of the District is not reflected
in the cemetery system, although there are Asian and
Japanese grave markers, most of these are from previous generations. It is difficult to
determine if this is the result of the limited range of interment and memorialization options.
Asian families in particular appreciate upright grave markers – an option not presently
available in Maple Ridge.
Community input, including interviews with funeral home service providers was clear: an
enhanced program of services is long overdue at Maple Ridge Cemetery.
This chapter examines the traditional (in-ground) and cremated remains interment options
which are currently available and those that could be considered as possible options in the
future at Maple Ridge Cemetery.
Interment Options: In-Ground Burials
Options for those families that prefer full depth traditional in-ground burial in the District’s
cemetery system are limited compared to other private and public cemeteries in Western
Canada. The range has not changed significantly over the last many years and needs to
broaden in order to both meet the needs of the community and to compete with other
cemeteries.
At the present time, only traditional, single depth, in-ground burial graves are available for
those that choose to be buried in a casket.
Key findings of the assessment of in-ground burial options and services include:
• Physical conditions are poor in the remaining interment area. The ground is
extremely wet and requires pumping out of water in the winter months. This
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
reduces the available number of interment lots and also affects the funeral
experience when there is standing water on and near the grave sites.
• Limited traditional burial options hamper the extent to which the cemetery can
serve Maple Ridge residents.
• The limited options constrain the ability for the cemetery services to attain financial
self sufficiency.
An increased range of in-ground burial options should incorporate the following options:
• Double depth burials (one grave over-deepened with another casket interred on
top of the first);
• Outdoor mausolea (above ground crypts for interment of remains in caskets);
• Indoor mausolea (indoor crypts for interment of remains in caskets);
• Green burial (in-ground burial, typically without embalming, nor with any metal
casket parts)
Allow double depth graves
The single depth policy compromises the ability of the District to optimize the
opportunity for more people to be buried there. It also compromises the ability of
family members to be buried together. While this policy cannot be started in
existing burial areas due to concern of sidewalls caving in, it should be explored for
new areas of the cemetery, where plots can be laid out using slightly wider grave
dimensions.
Mausolea
Of those that choose casket burial, a small percentage wish
to be buried in above ground crypts called mausolea. These
can be stand alone structures designed for one family or
larger buildings where the mausolea are indoors. In the
latter case, they typically include glass fronted niches for
interment of cremated remains as well. This type of
interment is the most expensive and has the highest net
revenue potential. Mausolea can be effective structures for
separating uses in a cemetery, providing walls and giving
structure to a cemetery space. Family mausolea (6-8 families) at COLMA
Cemetery in California.
Family mausolea (6-8 families) at COLMA Cemetery in California. Family mausolea (6-8 families) at COLMA
Cemetery in California.
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Green Burial
Green burial is a relatively new burial option. To suggest it is a trend at this point is a
stretch; however, within a year there will be a green burial area in at least one
cemetery in a prominent BC community, with several others close behind. Green
burials are interments that occur without embalming the decedent, interment in a
simple wood casket without metals or refined materials, or in a shroud. Green burial
areas will have more trees planted on or near the grave and with discrete memorials, if
any. Alternatively, a memorial wall could be located near to the green burial site. Input
from some residents indicated that a Green Burial site would be well received. At the
present time the District does not offer green burial services or areas where this can
occur.
One of the components of a green burial site- as envisioned by some practitioners –is
the ability to re-use a grave after a certain period of time. Usually, in this climate and
with the soils such as those found in Maple Ridge, there will be little or no remains
evident after 20 years. Re-use of the grave for another interment is an effective way to
keep using the ground, thereby taking advantage of the microbial cycle. This implies a
fixed time for the right of interment. The present Provincial act requires a right of
interment in perpetuity. In other words, it may be awhile before a fixed term of
interment is allowed and for re-use of graves to be a common offering at cemeteries,
even though this is the practice in Europe and most other parts of the world except
North America.
Interment Options: Cremated Remains
Options for interring cremated remains in the District’s cemetery system are limited
compared to other private and public cemeteries in Western Canada. The range has
not changed significantly for many years and
needs to broaden in order to meet the needs
of the community and to compete with other
cemeteries.
Service Type Currently
Offered
Cremated Remains Burial
Cremation borders Yes
Outdoor Columbaria No
Indoor columbaria No
Ossuary No
Scattering Garden Yes
Living Memorials No
Garden/family urn No
Green cremation plots No
At the present time, the following cremated
remains interment options are available at the
Maple Ridge Cemetery:
• Interment of cremated remains in the
ground, single depth;
• Interment of cremated remains in the
same place as a burial plots (max. 4 per
plot);
• Scattering of cremated remains in the Rose Garden.
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Key findings of the assessment of cremated remains interment
options and services include:
• Cremation lots are very closely laid out with no
amenities, communal commemoration, walkways or
landscaped areas.
• There is no cremation “garden” that includes a range
of options within defined, landscaped areas.
• The Rose Garden is a very popular area of the
Cemetery and is nearing capacity. There are
currently 87 of the 144 new spaces left. There is
demand to expand it or to create a new one for future
needs.
Cremated remains interment in No. 2
Cremations area.
• The design, layout and creation of places of interment for cremated remains
warrants more resources.
An increased range of cremated remains interment options should incorporate the following:
• Columbaria (above ground structures that include niches that accommodate one
or more urns that contain the cremated remains of a decedent);
• Several types of community columbaria (individual, family, community in single or
double niches);
• Double depth cremated remains for in-ground interment;
• Community and family scattering gardens with memorial walls and other forms of
commemoration;
• Cremation borders (in-ground interment of cremated remains);
• Community vessels (large, 2’ diameter urns) for interment of cremated remains in
individual urns or co-mingled cremated remains;
• Family vessels, as above, but for members of the same family;
• Ossuaries (above or below ground large vessels for co-mingling cremated
remains);
• Glass front niches, typically indoor, as part of an indoor mausoleum.
Columbaria
The provision of columbaria for cremated remains is long overdue at Maple Ridge
Cemetery. The funeral service providers emphasized a latent demand identified over
the last several year with their customers. In addition to meeting the needs of the
community, columbaria are a good solution where space constraints exist such as at
the Maple Ridge Cemetery. They allow for infill within the existing site and reduce the
need to expand. A range of “off the shelf” and custom columbaria are available from
local suppliers and others across Western Canada.
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Informal columbaria at Capilano View
Cemetery, North Vancouver Newly installed formal columbaria at Mountain View
Cemetery, Vancouver
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Repeated column columbaria at Mountain View
Cemetery, Vancouver Smaller columbaria at Mountain View
Cemetery, Vancouver
Rose Garden
Sketch of a Scattering Garden
The rose garden is a well-loved part of the cemetery
where families have been scattering cremated remains
for some time. It was recently expanded to accommodate
144 new spaces – currently only 87 of those spaces
remain. Consideration of expansion to either side of the
rose garden, or in a new cremation garden in the
triangular south-east portion of the site, for this type of
service should be explored. Procedures need to be
brought forward that enhance the capacity of the
scattering gardens to accommodate as many decedent’s
remains as is aesthetically reasonable.
Family Urns
Family urns, as have recently been provided at Mountain
View Cemetery in Vancouver, allow for multiple cremated
remains to be interred in one above-ground vessel.
Research undertaken by the Mustel Group, on behalf of
several BC communities, indicates that family vessels
rank only just behind columbaria as a desired form of
interment. Like columbaria, they also allow for higher
density within the existing cemetery site and can be
located in relatively narrow areas where columbaria may
not be an appropriate fit either aesthetically or for access
reasons.
Family Urn
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Interment Options: Memorialization
At the present time, the following memorialization options are available at the Maple Ridge
Cemetery:
• Memorialization on flat/ at-grade markers,
• Memorialization on a wall at the Rose Garden,
• Memorial benches.
Key findings of the assessment of memorialization options and services include:
• The aesthetic of the few memorial benches which are provided do not fit with the
heritage nature of the site.
• Flat/ at-grade markers do not meet the needs of many in the community that want
a more elegant monument and a greater tableau upon which to inscribe an
epitaph.
An increased range of memorialization options should
incorporate the following:
• Different types of flat and upright markers,
• Memorialization walls,
• Brass and stone plaques,
• Community memorial stones,
• Living Memorials.
Rose Garden Memorial Walls Living Memorials
Living memorials are memorial trees, shrubs or gardens planted at the time of
interment of the casket or cremated remains. In some instances they are not
associated with the actual interment and are entirely a memorial gesture, in which
case the planting of the tree or other plant occurs at the time of memorialization. Living
memorials are an increasingly popular form of memorialization, a central component of
the green burial movement, and are often requested for lands outside of cemeteries.
This trend has led to the management of memorial sites (sometimes even with non-
authorized spreading of cremated remains) in parks, golf courses and other public
lands. Living memorials are fitting ways to accommodate the need for memorialization
in cemeteries, enhance the biodiversity and aesthetic interest of the cemetery, and
utilize lands that may not be useable for interment purposes.
Key Findings
The District’s cemetery does not offer an adequate range of interment services in order to
meet the needs of residents and site space constraints. Many additions, alternatives and
improvements to the present interment services are available and should be actively
considered through the in-fill and cemetery expansion processes. Future land needs and
the services that will be provided by the cemetery need to be discussed at the same time
as the financial viability of the cemetery. The concluding chapter to this report describes
this need in further detail.
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Chapter 4: Infrastructure
and Amenities
Cemetery infrastructure consists of the visible and invisible structures that result in the
efficient circulation of funeral entourages and other site visitors as well as meeting the
practical needs for security, stormwater drainage and turf health. Infrastructure includes
roads, pathways, fencing, lighting, electrical systems, signage, refuse containers, drainage
and irrigation. Cemetery amenities include the benches, flower taps, portable coverings,
funeral accoutrements and other features that add to the comfort and use of the site. In
order for a cemetery system to be sustainable, the infrastructure and amenities need to be
well planned, managed and maintained. This chapter addresses infrastructure and
amenities that will, over the short and long term, meet the desired levels of service,
efficiency and aesthetic criteria.
The table below includes major elements of the Maple Ridge Cemetery, along with some
that are typical in similar cemeteries:
YES NO
Facility Yes No Comment
Administration Building X Does not include a formal customer service area
Maintenance Shop X Well organized and adequately sized
Parking X limited parking at entrance
Potable Water X
Power X
Sewer X recent septic tank installation
Washrooms X were updated a few years ago
Bus Route Access X on Dewdney Trunk Road
COMMENT
A cemetery office is on site, as well as an equipment shed. These buildings are in
reasonable condition although they do not include a formal customer service area, which
limits the way in which and ease with which customers can find information and make
decisions about burial at the cemetery. There is a bathroom in the cemetery office which
was upgraded recently to an acceptable standard for public use, however, it is only open
when staff are in the office.
There are no designated parking areas at the Maple Ridge Cemetery. During services,
people park along the internal roads. Since graves are only two feet off the road, this
creates issues with driving over markers and sometimes over graves. There are no curbs
on the roads which can lead to turf damage as cars negotiate the tight radius corners.
Some of the perimeter internal roads are gravel, not paved and become pot holed and
poorly drained in the winter months.
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Fencing along the perimeter of the cemetery is utilitarian and
although it fulfills the need of blocking unwanted access, it
lends an institutional quality to the space. Existing benches
on site are not aesthetically pleasing and do not add to the
elegance of the site.
Tents are not available to protect families during services
when the weather is inclement. Chairs are also not available
for services and sometimes the Funeral Director will provide
chairs from their funeral home when they have a large
entourage or several elderly family members they wish to
accommodate.
Existing benches are not aesthetically
pleasing
Signage
On and off site signage is crucial at this cemetery because
the site visibility is poor and access off Dewdney Trunk Road
is difficult to see, especially when approaching from the west.
There is a good interpretive sign at the entrance which
speaks of the history of the site, but additional internal
wayfinding would help visitors “self guide” to graves and
points of interest if they so desired. In general, patrons to a
cemetery should be able to find graves without difficulty and
without guidance from staff. Existing directional signage is not
sufficient to allow for self-directed wayfinding or for funeral
entourages. Wayfinding is by section marker spray-painted on
the asphalt walkways. Although this is cost effective there
are alternatives that would enhance the heritage quality of the site.
Wayfinding- Typical Section Marker
Signage in the cemetery should be improved. When there is proper street frontage on
Dewdney, a large formal sign should be incorporated into a stone wall. Additional
interpretation of significant historic monuments should be explored. A program of
wayfinding signage needs to be prepared.
Key requirements for an effective cemetery signage program which should be considered
at the Maple Ridge Cemetery include the following:
• Signage specifically to assist with the funeral entourage and direction to recent
graves;
• Section, block, plot and lot layout signs/maps available for self-directed grave
finding;
• “Available graves” information, including how to contact staff, where and
during what hours;
• Self guided interpretive maps and signs for significant monuments and graves;
• Consistency in text, colour, font and form of signs, and
• Positively worded regulatory signage.
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Drainage
There is poor drainage on the south side of the site near to McKinney Creek. As previously
mentioned, it is so wet that future gravesites will not be able to be dug in the eastern most
parts of this section. Key findings include:
• Drainage be undertaken on an as-need basis, contingent on site verification of
geo-technical conditions;
• Drainage of the south area be a key priority in the short term.
Level of Maintenance
The level of maintenance and the level of interment services is an important measure of
service to the bereaved, families and members of the community that use the cemetery as
a place for quiet contemplation or passive recreation.
One staff person is on site all year, with an additional staff member on site for six months
to assist with grass cutting.
In general, equipment is in good shape. The Parks backhoe is used for opening, closing
and other materials handling. This seems to be working well.
The Whonnock Cemetery has been maintained at a fairly low standard. This has been and
will continue to be appropriate in the short term, but as the cemetery system matures and
a greater sense of the historic and cultural importance of that site and the adjacent First
Nation’s burial ground emerges, a greater level of maintenance will be warranted. In the
short term, increased care and maintenance of the maturing trees and shrubs should be
undertaken.
Ornamentation has been one of the most difficult
management issues at this cemetery, as it has
been for almost every municipal cemetery in BC.
During the time before and in the months after a
funeral, the time honoured tradition of leaving a
memento becomes part of the grieving process.
This is not only understandable but needs to be
accommodated wherever practical. Ongoing,
additional ornamentation and semi-permanent or
even permanent installations such as gardens,
stone mulches, glass lanterns and other materials
can become a maintenance and safety issue. As
well, if ornamentation is not managed within a
defined set of criteria - that are supported across the organization - it tends to grow to a
point where rectifying the issue can become a major issue that is both difficult for Council
and Staff and families.
Ornamentation issue – No. 3 Childrens Area
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Our overview assessment of the maintenance at the Maple Ridge Cemetery is that:
• The cemetery appears to be well cared for, well attended and in generally
good condition.
• Grass is being cut in a timely manner and sunken graves are topped up and
seeded promptly.
• Headstones are generally in satisfactory condition.
• Perimeter gates and fences are in generally good condition, although over the
long term the perimeter edge should be addressed through alternates to chain
link construction.
• Road systems are narrow and barely wide enough to accommodate hearses
and the necessary movement of cars and people during funerals. Care should
be taken to be sure the useable traveled parts of the roadways are not
significantly narrowed.
• Some cracking of older pavement is evident. Ongoing cracksealing is
required;
• Curbs are required, especially in the tightest radii corners to avoid asphalt
erosion and damage to turf;
• Sight lines in and out of the cemetery need to be addressed to mitigate
vandalism and control views from inside the site.
• Maintenance attention is required on the unpaved roadways to fix potholes
and water hazards.
• Water could be made available at other locations than the office for watering
of flowers.
• Tents for inclement weather as well as moveable chairs for services should
be provided.
• Ornamentation needs to be addressed as a priority policy and management
issue.
Erosion issues caused by cars driving over turf Excess soil is placed south of the perimeter fence near to the
creek
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Chapter 5:
Organizational
Assessment
This chapter looks at customer service and records management aspects of the cemetery
organization. Fees, charges, and policy changes are discussed in the business
management chapter. Enhancement of the professional attitude toward management and
marketing will be required as well as support for the cemetery services as a “business unit”
within the realm of the District’s municipal services. Future land needs and the services
that will be provided by the cemetery need to be discussed within the context of a business
case philosophy.
Customer Service
The customer service at the cemetery needs to be addressed. While the present site staff
member is very helpful in addressing issues and concerns, there is no staff member on
site who deals solely with the public and the funeral side of the cemetery. As it stands,
when someone arrives at the cemetery looking for records or to locate a grave, they must
find the field staff who are often out working on maintenance of the site. This can disrupt
their workflow and creates a “stall” in the customer service cycle. Communication between
the funeral service providers and the site should be reviewed to ensure that funeral service
provider’s needs are being met. They require easy access to the person on site for making
the necessary arrangement and for dealing with any “last minute” issues prior to the
funeral entourage arriving at the cemetery from the funeral home.
On-site grave finding services have been requested in community consultations and with
the funeral directors. As mentioned previously this needs to be part of a renewed signage
program. It should also be integrated in to the criteria for the implementation of a
computerized cemetery records management program.
Visitor Centre
In terms of customer service, we heard feedback that a visitor centre on site would
enhance customer service. A review of the customer service cycle, including the possibility
of serving cemetery and potentially other customers at the cemetery is needed. In the long
term, a customer service building should be considered.
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February 19, 2008
Record Keeping
The computer program in which records are kept is out-dated, with card copies filed on an
impressive rolodex system. A detailed procedure is in place for capturing decedent and
customer service information at the time of the plot sale. A typewriter is used to type the
information onto cards. There is no computer on site. Although this system has worked, it
does not meet industry standard, is cumbersome and is vulnerable to theft and fire.
Given the antiquated nature of the record keeping, opportunities for mistakes in locating
graves, directing customers to graves and in recording
the precise location of graves as per industry best
practices increases. Both the cemetery field office
records and those kept at City Hall should be on the
same system to ensure accuracy, appropriate
redundancy and adherence to records management
protocols. Currently, multiple users cannot access the
program at the same time. There are key functionality
issues that need to be addressed in order to meet best
practices in the industry.
The old records management system should be replaced
with a purpose-built commercial cemetery records management program.
Site Office
Quality control and assurance of the records needs to be done on cemetery records to
ensure that they are up-to-date and accurate. With a quality control/assurance program in
place and a modernized cemetery records program implemented, answering questions
from family members regarding existing graves will be a much more straight-forward task.
The current map of the cemetery is not accurate. In the field, as lots are used, a small
amount of space on each side is consumed but that land is not reflected on the map. This
results in half-size lots at the edges of plots. An accurate cemetery lot layout map is
needed and should be updated using current database and mapping technology.
Cemetery Bylaw
An overview of the cemetery bylaw has been undertaken as part of this project. The Maple
Ridge Cemetery Bylaw No. 5784-1999 lays out definitions, policies and requirements for
all the different aspects of cemetery management and operations.
A particular issue of concern which the bylaw addresses is ornamentation of graves. The
bylaw states that no individual grave space can be defined by a fence, hedge, railing or
curb, and that no memorial other than a tablet type memorial, level with grade, as specified
in the bylaw can be installed on a grave. Additionally, no individual can landscape an
individual grave site or alter the existing planted landscape in any way. Yet, despite this
language in the bylaw, ornamentation continues. This exemplifies the need to, on the one
hand, address the issue in the bylaw and secondly, deal with it as a management priority.
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Provincial legislation permits municipal cemeteries to offer services that include the
selling of monuments, urns, caskets, flowers and the provision of cremation and funeral
home facilities. These items are also not currently provided by the District.
These are just several examples of changes that need to be addressed in the bylaw. A
detailed list of bylaw changes has been generated in consultation with Staff. These
need to be incorporated in a major bylaw revision, brought to Council and the Municipal
Solicitor for review and taken to the public for comment. A detailed listing of the
changes is included in Recommendation #23.
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Chapter 6: Land Needs
Assessment
Additional cemetery lands will be required in order to meet near and long term
requirements in Maple Ridge. The previous sections of this report detailed the primary
demographic factors that will necessitate these additional land requirements. This chapter
looks at how much land will be required to meet the projected number of decedents that
will be interred in the cemetery. Additional infrastructure, buffering and amenity land needs
are also part of this assessment.
Existing Capacity
The following table shows the remaining designated plots within the system. Occupied
plots are those that have been sold and have a casket buried in them. Reserved plots
have been sold but have not yet accommodated an interment. Empty plots are grave
spaces that have not yet been sold.
Available Plot Interment Space- Maple Ridge Cemetery, 2007
Section Occupied Reserved Empty Total
Baby 1 78 0 3 81
Baby 2 138 0 0 138
Baby 3 101 0 55 156
Baby Total 317 0 58 375
Burial 1 861 12 9 882
Burial 2 1814 439 70 2323
Burial 3 3730 611 390 4731
Burial 4 540 34 2 576
Burial 5 382 55 0 437
Burial Total 7327 1151 471 8949
Cremation 1 893 216 9 1118
Cremation 2 489 370 1056 1915
Cremation Total 1382 586 1065 3033
Maple Ridge Total 12357
**some of the burial shown as empty may not be available due to water concerns.
Cemetery 1 239 23 62 324
Cremation 1 8 13 2 23
Cremation 2 0 5 21 26
Lutheran Burial 65 24 32 121
Whonnock Total 312 65 117 494
Maple Ridge
Whonnock
Source: District
of Maple Ridge
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
These do not include the undeveloped lands on the east of the Number 3 Children’s
Cemetery, nor do they include undeveloped land around the Rose Garden. From this table
it is clear that space for interment will soon be depleted if current trends of interment
continue.
Existing Grave Capacity in Cemetery (from District of Maple Ridge info.):
• Full Burial 471
• Children 58
• Cremation 1065
This information leads to the following key findings:
• By 2014 the designated in-ground inventory of burial lots will be exhausted.
There are currently 471 spots remaining. However, due to drainage issues as
many as 100 plots will likely not be useable which means that the cemetery
will be at capacity by 2012.
• By 2012 the designated interred cremated remains lots will be full.
Projected Land Requirements
The following graph shows the number of full burials and cremated remains interments that
are projected over the next 28 years at Maple Ridge Cemetery.
Maple Ridge Cemetery Market Share 2007-2035
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
2007-2010 2012-2015 2016-2020 2021-2025 2026-2030 2031-2035
Full Burial
Cremation
Source: LEES + Associates
The graph shows that required land for interment will continue to grow each year. Looking
at five year increments, just over 1000 people will be interred during the years 2011 to
2015. By 2031 to 2035, nearly double that, or 2000 people, will be interred.
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
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In calculations for determining the amount of land which will be required to accommodate
future burials and interment of cremated remains, several factors must be taken into
consideration:
• Size of full depth burial plots
• Size of interred cremated remains plots
• Amenity space
• Access/Service Roads
• Buffer space between plots
Burial Lot Yields at Maple Ridge Cemetery
The cemetery "yield" is the number of graves per hectare a particular cemetery provides. It
is a function of the layout of graves, areas set aside for trees, roads, buffers and amenities
such as benches, fountains etc.
The following table shows area takeoffs for each Cemetery Area with area of graves, roads
and buffer space broken out:
Total Area (sq.m) Grave Area (sq.m) Grave % Road Area (sq.m) Road % Buffer Area (sq.m) Buffer %
Cem. 1 5903 3775 64%1993 34%134 2%
Cem. 2 13884 10333 74%2913 21%638 5%
Cem. 3 29654 18746 63%2396 8%8512 29%
Cem. 4 2287 1630 71%479 21%178 8%
Cem. 5 3514 996 28%1528 43%990 28%
Total Full Burial 55242 35480 64%9310 17%10453 19%
Children's Area 1 266 89 33%176 66%1 0%
Children's Area 3 2482 140 6%186 7%2156 87%
Total Childrens 2748 229 8%362 13%2157 79%
Cremation 1 2846 417 15%380 13%2049 72%
Cremation 2 1611 723 45%760 47%128 8%
Total Cremation 4457 1139 26%1140 26%2177 49%
Maple Ridge Cemetery Area Takeoffs
Source: LEES + Associates
The following ‘Cemetery Yield’ numbers show an average number for the entire Maple
Ridge Cemetery, followed by examples of typical burial and cremation areas:
Existing Cemetery Yield
• Overall cemetery yield: 632 in ground graves/acre (1605/ha)
• Yield of burial area #3: 725 in ground graves/acre (1842/ha)
• Yield of the cremation area #2: 2722 in ground cremation graves/acre
(6915/ha)
The table below shows the gross plot size for both burial and interred cremated remains
which were used in calculations to determine future land requirements. These calculations
include provisions for infrastructure to service the plots, taking the larger site needs and
including them in each plot size calculation. As mentioned in the amenity and infrastructure
text in previous chapters, the Maple Ridge Cemetery is generally low on the amount of
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February 19, 2008
amenity space (includes seating areas, fountains, etc.), access/ service roads and paths,
and buffer space (includes plantings). Taking this into account, the amenity, roads and
buffer space numbers have been increased in order to include desired proportions of
layout into the projected land needs calculations.
Land Calculation Figures
Full Burial
Net plot size (m²) (2.5m x 1.25m)3.13
Gross plot size (m2)--
Amenity Space @ 27%0.84
Access/Service Roads and Paths @ 40%1.25
Buffer Space @ 25%0.78
Total 6.00
Cremation
Net plot size (m²) (.61m x .91m)0.56
Gross plot size (m2)--
Amenity Space @ 27%0.15
Access/Service Roads @ 40%0.22
Buffer Space @ 25%0.14
Total 1.08
The key finding in the table is that a total of 6m² is required in calculations for required
land for full burial, while 1m² is required for cremated remains interment.
In the table below, current burial and cremation rates are projected over thirty years in
order to determine how many people will be buried and how many will be cremated.
This table takes into account market share numbers, which are numbers of deaths
reported in the District of Maple Ridge as a ratio of the numbers of interments in Maple
Ridge Cemetery. The historical average (1996-2006) of market share was applied
forward through 2035.
The following table summarizes land requirements, broken down by five year
increments. The table begins at the year 2012 because it has already been determined
that there is enough designated interment space remaining in the cemetery to carry
through until that year. This table uses the 6m² per grave and 1m² per cremated
remains lot to calculate the lands needed for the future.
Year 2012-2015 2016-2020 2021-2025 2026-2030 2031-2035 Cumulative
Full Burial (m²) 1007 2225 2225 2616 3065 10814
Cremation (m²) 689 1300 1523 1791 2098 7402
Total (m²)1697 3526 3749 4407 5163 18216
Total (ha)0.17 0.35 0.37 0.44 0.52 1.82
Total (Acres) 0.4 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.3 4.5
Cumulative acres 0.4 1.3 2.2 3.3 4.5
Source: LEES + Associates
Source: LEES + Associates
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
The key findings in the table on the previous page are that in the next thirty years,
nearly 2 ha (nearly 5 acres) of land is required to meet the needs of residents in Maple
Ridge.
Key Findings
There will be a projected 28,700 deaths in Maple Ridge by the year 2035. Of these, 2600
of the decedents will be buried and 26,100 will be cremated. With the market share of
burials at 81%, 2000 decedents will be buried in the Maple Ridge Cemetery. With the
market share of cremations at 30%, 7550 will have their remains interred in the Cemetery.
Therefore, nearly 10,000 residents will be interred in the Maple Ridge Cemetery by the
year 2035.
The District has only four years supply of developed cemetery land for cremation and full
burial. By 2035, based on the demographics, analyses of the disposition and interment
patterns and utilizing the current plot layout, it is estimated that the District of Maple Ridge
will need an approximate total of nearly two hectares (nearly five acres) of land designated
for cemetery purposes.
It should be emphasized that given the much higher land consumption associated with
full depth burial as compared to cremation, that lands for traditional burial are the
primary “driver” for cemetery land needs, especially in the short term. Depending on the
outcome of the following recommendations, the need for new lands may be extended
by a relatively short period past 2012.
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District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
Chapter 7:
Recommendations
A summary of key findings in this report: By the year 2035, there will be an estimated
28,700 deaths in Maple Ridge. Calculations of the market share captured in the Maple
Ridge Cemetery show there will be an estimated 2000 traditional burials and 7550
cremated remains interred in the cemetery. There are currently 370 empty useable burial
lots and 1065 empty cremation lots. With limited designated interment space remaining in
the cemetery, by the year 2012 those remaining cremation and burial lots will be full. By
the year 2025 the cemetery will require 0.37 hectares (2.22 acres) of land, and by the year
2035 a total of 2 hectares (5 acres) will be required to meet projected interment needs.
In addition to future land needs recommendations including infill and acquisition, this
section of the report makes a series of recommendations for provision of interment
services, improvements to infrastructure and to the organizational systems of the
cemetery. Recommendations are broken into 3 categories:
• Meeting Future Land Needs
• Infrastructure and Amenities
• Organizational
Recommendations specific to business planning, including priorities and an
implementation matrix conclude this report.
Meeting Future Land Needs
There are several short and long term strategies that would meet the District’s
cemetery land needs. These include:
• In-fill of existing cemetery roads and pathways;
• Acquisition of new lands;
• Altering some bylaws which restrict certain types of interment (eg. double
depth burial and cremation – these are included in the ‘Organizational
Recommendations’ at the end of this chapter).
Infill at the Maple Ridge Cemetery
Over the course of the evolution of the cemetery, the in-fill of redundant paths and roads
has been an effective way to extend the capacity of the cemetery. These options are now
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CEMETERY No. 3EQUIPMENT SHEDOFFICEproposed planted buffer to screen unsightly shops /adjacent residentialprune and replace trees in this area to allow light but still buffer adjacent road and uses. proposed cremation and mausoleum garden areaenhance children’s area with seatingmanage buffer to enhance biodiversityorganize soil storageexplore drainage options to maximizegrave yield and create seating. improve signage and visibility.proposed planting to screen equipment shed. shade trees to be plantedsmall fl owering trees to be plantedROSE GARDENHOOD ST.21st ST.DEWDNEY TRUNK RD.LAITY ST.PROPOSED EXPANSION AREAPROPOSED OFFICE PARKING PROPOSED CREMATION GARDEN(eg. columbaria, ossuary vessels)PROPOSED CREMATION GARDEN(columbaria and cremation border)NON DESIGNATED INTERNMENTRECOMMENDED SOIL STORAGE/ADDITIONAL BURIAL PROPOSED CREMATION, MAUSOLEUM AND BURIAL PROPOSED AREA TO BE PLANTEDPROPOSED OSSUARY URNSPROPOSED AREA TO BE PLANTEDEXPANSION AREAOFFICE PARKING LINEAR INFILL (eg. columbaria, ossuary family vessels)CREMATION GARDEN(columbaria and cremation border)ORGANIZE SOIL STORAGECREMATION, MAUSOLEUM AND BURIAL PLANTINGFAMILY VESSELSBUFFER PLANTINGADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS • Overall planting plan required that addsto park like nature of the site.• Roads and pathways to be improved/ graded. Attention to curves and corners,surface replacement, pervious pavement , LEGENDNo. 2 CREMATIONSNo. 3 CHILDRENSNo. 1 CREMATIONSDRAINAGE CONCERNS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXPANSION AREA• Existing house on site to be retained as on-site Administrative/Visitor’s Centre.• Variety of interment options. • Ammenity space for sitting/ communal gathering (eg. fountains etc.)• Allocate space for designated parking lot•CEMETERY No. 5CEMETERY No. 2CEMETERY No. 4CEMETERY No. 1CEMETERY BOUNDARYLEES + ASSOCIATESLandscape Architects Maple Ridge Cemetery-Recommendations Scale 1:40,000
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
February 19, 2008
much more restricted, but there are still areas where in-fill is a desirable option – especially
for the interment of cremated remains. When examining infill possibilities within the site,
the two types of interment will be considered separately – traditional in-ground burial and
the interment of cremated remains.
Traditional Burial Infill
The future needs of traditional burial are the primary concern and driver of land needs in
the near future. As mentioned, projected numbers of in-ground burials will fill the remaining
empty lots by 2012. However, if the cemetery were to address drainage concerns, the
length of time that the existing cemetery could accommodate in-ground burial could be
extended by about 2 years.
Recommendation # 1: Improve Drainage to Extend Capacity
Improve drainage to optimize grave yield. A geo-technical engineer with experience in
surface water drainage issues should be commissioned to review the present
conditions and bring forward recommendations for improving both the surface and
sub-surface drainage issues in the south-central part of the cemetery.
Recommendation # 2: Install Family and/or Community Mausolea
Install two or three outdoor mausolea in the south-east corner of the cemetery. These
should be small (6 – 8 casket) garden mausolea that could accommodate one family
or be available for individuals in the community.
Cremated Remains Infill
While designated cremation lots will be full by the year 2012, there is less concern for
meeting future demand because there are potential infill areas in the cemetery. The
attached Recommendations Plan includes several areas that have potential for linear
cremated remains options, such as columbaria and family vessels.
Recommendation # 3: Infill Existing Site with linear cremation elements
Columbaria should be installed within the existing site to allow for vertical infill, where
space between existing graves is greater than 8’-0”. Where space is less than 8’-0”,
but greater than 6’-0”, family vessels and ossuary should be installed.
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Columbaria
Columbaria can be installed within the existing site to allow for vertical infill.
This would give vertical definition to the cemetery, which is mostly at-grade.
We recommend that columbaria be installed immediately in the cemetery to
meet the anticipated latent and future demand. These should be installed in
the locations identified on the Recommended Site Plan.
• Family Vessels
These are ideal interment options in areas where space is too limited for a
cremation border or columbaria. They should be offered as both family and
community vessels.
• Ossuary
This is typically the most affordable interment option for cremated remains and
is also very space efficient where there is little horizontal space.
Recommendation # 4: Create a Cremation Garden in the Triangular Area at the
south of the Site.
This area is well defined by the south boundary of the cemetery, existing roads and
plantings and as such has the character of an outdoor room within the cemetery. It is
an ideal location to bring forward several different interment options for cremated
remains. It is the same area shown above for installation of family mausolea.
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The Cremation Garden should consist of the following:
• Columbaria and Family Vessels
These are the most distinct architectural elements in a cremation garden.
They should be accessible from all sides, have ample circulation space
around them and should be used to create structure and focal points to the
garden.
• Ossuary
Several ossuary could be planned and one installed within the first phase of
the Cremation Garden.
• Create Another Scattering Garden
The existing Rose Garden was extremely popular and is nearly full. A similar
interment option should be implemented in the new cremation garden, but
given the shade and cost of maintaining roses, it is recommended that plants
be chosen from more of a woodland palette. The interment of cremated
remains in the scattering garden should allow for the scattering of a small
amount of the cremated remains, if the family wishes, with the remaining
remains interred 10 – 14 inches below a mulch layer in direct contact with the
soil. Several forms of memorial options should be available for those that
choose to use the new rose garden for scattering, including inscriptions on a
stone wall, bronze plaques grouped in no more than 24 – 36 names also on
stone walls and digital memory devices as technology becomes available.
Etched inscriptions, bronze plaques mounted on wood bases and many
plaques grouped together should be avoided.
• Cremation Borders
Cremation borders are in-ground interment of cremated remains, whether in a
linear ‘border’ element or in a large expanse as are in the No. 2 Cremations
area at Maple Ridge Cemetery. This option allows for a larger plaque, and, if
the family wishes, interment of the cremated remains in a small vault. (This
allows for portability if the family wants to relocate the remains in the future.)
Cremation borders should be incorporated in to the cremation garden but they
should not be any greater than 2 cremation lots “deep” in order to facilitate
visitation of the sites without stepping on other’s memorial plaques, and in
order to avoid a sea of small plaques that are costly to mow around and make
grave finding difficult.
Acquire Land for Expansion
The cemetery land needs assessment identified the need for nearly 2 hectares of
cemetery land in order to meet the needs of population and death projections to the year
2035. The implementation of immediate, mid and long term development and management
recommendations is required. Criteria for cemetery lands acquisition need to be applied to
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February 19, 2008
current and future potential sites as an ongoing matter of cemetery management and
planning.
Cemetery Lands Criteria
Given the growth in the community and the increasing cost of acquiring property, the
acquisition of new lands should be a priority. Through the course of this project, our
team has reviewed the anticipated growth patterns, and the long term demographic
changes expected in Maple Ridge and has discussed the existing and future cemetery
lands locations with staff and members of the funeral home industry. These
consultations have informed our recommendations for future land needs and locations.
Cemetery lands should:
• Accommodate most of the short/medium term cemetery needs in one location;
• Be located in an attractive, setting and one that can be designed and built to
create a meaningful place of remembrance;
• Be situated on stable, free draining soils;
• Be readily accessible;
• Not be a detriment to the neighbourhood.
Short Term Land Acquisition Needs
Recommendation # 5: Acquire lands to the north of the cemetery
The adjacent four properties which are located north of the cemetery are ideal for
acquisition to expand the cemetery. They fulfill many requirements, including:
• Cemetery space requirements through 2028.
• Enable sightlines into the cemetery which would increase safety and reduce
vandalism with frontage on Dewdney Trunk Rd.
• Keeps all cemetery operations in one area, thus keeping operating costs down.
• Existing house on site could be retained as on-site administration/ Customer
Service Centre and park area.
• Provide space for a variety of interment options.
• Provide space for site amenities, funeral services space (eg. fountains etc.).
• Frontage on a major street would enhance the marketability of the services and
encourage passive recreation.
• Provide space for increased parking.
Size of Lands
• Total size of four properties north of cemetery: 10240 (m²)/ 1.02 ha (2.53 acres)
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The following recommendations (# 6 - # 14) should be considered as/ when
expansion lands are planned, designed and implemented for the area immediately
north of the existing site:
Recommendation # 6: Allow double depth graves
Allow double depth graves in expansion areas in order to optimize capacity. This
means the first interment has to be at the “over deepened” depth. The lands north
of the existing cemetery are better drained and would include supplemental
drainage in order to avoid problems such as those now present at the southern
edge of the cemetery.
Recommendation # 7: Build Mausolea on the Lands North of the Cemetery
Indoor and outdoor mausolea should be part of the range of interment options for
the lands north of the existing cemetery site. Indoor mausolea typically include
glass front columbaria niches as well as casket crypts. This would not only
enhance customer service, but would also enhance the capacity for the Maple
Ridge Cemetery services to increased net revenue. A mausolea business case
analysis, including market survey should be undertaken in conjunction with the
master planning for the expansion area.
Recommendation # 8: Designate Green Burial Area(s)
The District should explore the market interest in “Green Burial” through surveys and
introduction of green burial options within the range of services available within this
expansion area. Accommodation for approximately 100 green burial graves should be
incorporated in to the plan for this area. This new service option should be
implemented as part of an overall strategy to enhance the environmental sustainability
of the cemetery system.
Cremated Remains
Recommendation # 9: Create Cremation Gardens
Cremation gardens should be the primary form of interment on the expansion lands.
The components of the cremation garden should be similar to those shown for the
Woodland Cremation Garden, but should be designed to meet the more urban
condition found nearer to the Dewdney Trunk Road. This area would contain a variety
of interment options include columbaria, cremation borders, family vessels, ossuary
and scattering gardens.
Recommendation # 10: Allow double depth cremated remains
Use double depth graves in a newly created area of the cemetery where plots can
be laid out with sizes capable of accommodating two markers. Similar to the double
depth graves above, this could occur on newly acquired land to the north of the
cemetery fronting on Dewdney. This could also occur in ‘Linear Cremation Infill’
areas, in locations specified on the attached Recommendations Plan.
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Memorialization
Recommendation # 11: Allow ornamentation in designated areas of the site
Create an area of the cemetery that will allow a defined and acceptable level of
ornamentation. Fees for this service should increase In order to offset the costs of the
additional maintenance necessary to cut turf, trim, remove and manage ornamentation
and undertake any horticultural tasks necessary to keep the area at an acceptable
standard. Small (18” x 12”) garden areas should be incorporated with the ability of
families to choose upright markers if they wish.
Recommendation # 12: Allow vertical markers in designated areas of the site
Create an area of the cemetery for upright markers. The size, material, base
dimensions, method of installation and costs should be determined with staff, the
funeral service industry and in compliance with the Cemetery and Funeral Services
Act.
Customer Service
Recommendation # 13: Create a Customer Service Centre
A Customer Service Centre on the lands immediately north of the existing cemetery is
recommended. This would allow administrative and field staff to serve customers from
the same location, would help with grave finding for visitors, friends and family of
decedents and would allow for more effective liaison with the funeral services industry.
Vandalism and site security would also be enhanced if there was a consistent,
conspicuous presence at the cemetery. The option of adapting one of the existing
residences to a customer service building should be considered although this may not
meet programming and design criteria.
If an indoor mausolea/columbaria building is envisioned in the future it should be
integrated with the customer service building, site conditions and other master
planning issues permitting.
Recommendation # 14: Create a play area for children
Input at the Open House included the suggestion of a play area for children. It would
encourage visitors to stay longer and would encourage use of the space by youngsters
of bereaved and visiting families. It should be located in an area which is buffered to a
certain degree from the cemetery. Benches, tables, and the shade of trees would
encourage use by a wide range of visitors and enhance the experience for both the
bereaved, those interested in the cultural significance of the cemetery and those using
the site for passive purposes.
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February 19, 2008
Long Term Land Acquisition Needs
Recommendation # 15: Acquire lands for long term Cemetery Purposes
Additional lands, over and above those available to the north of the existing site will
be required near the year 2028. Lands in the eastern part of the community should
be acquired to satisfy needs from 2028 beyond.
The District should consider interim uses for lands needed for the long term
cemetery needs. There are several ways of amortizing the cost of acquiring and
developing cemetery lands, as well as ways of funding the acquisition of cemetery
lands that could dovetail effectively with interim uses. For example, if the District
were to integrate the acquisition of cemetery lands along with other parks,
environment, recreation and open space needs, future cemetery lands could work
double or triple duty over the coming 50 – 100 years. Lands that are not required
for immediate cemetery purposes could be used for playing fields, arboreta, tree
nurseries, gardens, playgrounds, habitat areas, indigenous plant conservation
zones or one of a number of other appropriate public interim uses. With suitable
caveats, the lands could be leased to a private entity for farming, horticultural or
other “non-built” purposes until some or all the land is required for future
interments. Legacies of this use, could be beneficial to the creation of a beautiful
cemetery.
Infrastructure and Amenities
Signage
Entry signage, wayfinding signage and signage for funeral entourages needs to be
improved.
Recommendation # 16: Improve Signage
Improve entry signage
Improve the site presence at Dewdney Trunk Road. This should occur as an order
of high priority and also be addressed in site planning when expansion takes place
to the north.
Improve existing wayfinding system
• Name different sections of the cemetery after locally significant people/ places.
Work with the Heritage/Cultural Advisory Committee to identify appropriate
naming options. The existing numbered sections could still be used for the
administration of the cemetery (data management/ historical data reasons).
• Section, block, plot and lot layout signs/maps should be made available for
self-directed grave finding;
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• Self guided interpretive maps and signs for significant monuments and graves
needs to be implemented in partnership with local heritage advocates, cultural
and ethnic groups.
Create signage for funeral entourages
Moveable, weatherproof signage should be created to assist with funeral
entourages and directions to recent graves. These should be portable, but also
should be part of entry kiosk information that aids the entourage as they proceed
in to the cemetery.
Improve regulatory signs
• “Available graves” information, including how to contact staff, where and
during what hours needs to be provided.
• Consistency in text, colour, font and form of signs is important in the
professional presentation of the cemetery services.
• Positively worded regulatory signage is needed in order to create a welcoming
feeling and at the same time meet the necessary bylaw needs.
Roads
Road infrastructure upgrading needs to be incorporated into the annual budget to ensure
maintenance of gravel and installation of curbs (only where necessary) is undertaken on
an annual, incremental basis.
Recommendation # 17: Improve road infrastructure
Replace roads
The road infrastructure has declined to the point of replacement in some cases. A
program of cracksealing, grading and re-surfacing should be adopted and
implemented.
Install curbs at intersections
Install curbs at intersections where cars are cutting corners and driving over
graves.
Improve circulation system within the site
Test the efficacy of a temporary one-way system for vehicles moving around the
site during large funerals, using moveable signage. This should help to alleviate
the issue of cars driving over grave sites in order to get around parked cars as
they leave the cemetery.
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Amenities
Recommendation # 18: Provide increased amenities
Provide benches
Benches should be placed and chosen for durability, appearance and function.
They should be part of a consistent family of materials and styles chosen for all
amenities.
Provide water taps
Presently the only water tap is at the site office building. Water taps for flowers
should be incorporated at regular intervals around the site and incorporated with
waste containers and, where practical, signage.
Chairs/ rain shelter for funeral services
The purchase of collapsible chairs for use at graveside services and a cover for
inclement weather is recommended.
Portable walking mats
Given the climate, drainage conditions and need for customers of differing mobility
abilities, portable walking mats should be purchased. This will enhance access to
the gravesite and prevent wet feet and other discomforts.
Level of Maintenance
Recommendation # 19: An ongoing site upgrade program is required
Restore damaged grave markers
There are several damaged grave markers in the Cemetery and as the years
pass, the older markers are deteriorating. This is partly due to age and partly due
to vandalism over the years that has not been repaired. The evaluation,
restoration, and repair of the oldest most culturally significant should be
undertaken with the guidance of trained professionals.
Ongoing Tree and Shrub Planting and Maintenance
Both the Lee Cemetery and the Maple Ridge Cemetery warrant an additional level
of horticultural and arboricultural care and attention. The Recommended Site Plan
provides opportunities for additional planting that could be part of a tribute tree
program.
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Organizational
A series of organizational actions are required to meet the best and improving practices in the
industry. These are primarily related to record keeping, bylaw amendments and policy.
Record Keeping
Recommendation # 20 -: Acquire a new record keeping computer program
‘Stone Orchard’ is Canada’s leading cemetery records management computer
program. Multiple users can use the program and it includes a hand-held palm unit
for the on-site caretaker or staff to locate information in the system. This program
or an equivalent program with a proven track record of service and flexibility
should be purchased as a matter of high priority.
Recommendation # 21: Update cemetery maps and records
Mapping improvements are recommended to ensure paper maps and records are
reconciled and to also ensure redundancy in records management in the event of
fire or other disasters. Quality control and quality assurance during this process is
imperative. Ideally, this work should occur at the same time as the computerized
records management process is initiated.
Customer Service
Recommendation # 22: Keep gates open after 4pm on weekdays
Input at the Open House requested longer accessible hours to the cemetery, with the
present 4 pm closing time thought to be too restrictive. The cost and operational
implications of extending the opening hours of the cemetery should be examined by
staff. It should be noted that longer "opening" hours does not mean that interments
would occur later than the time shown in the bylaw.
Bylaw Recommendations
Changes need to be made to the cemetery bylaw to bring it in line with current practices
and to give Staff and Council the necessary tools to manage site issues, such as
ornamentation, new interment options, opening and closing times etc.
Recommendation # 23-: Update the Bylaw
Proposed updates to the Cemetery Bylaw include:
(**note that any numbers in the text below refer to the existing Bylaw numbers for
reference)
Definitions
• Identification of the age of an infant versus that of a child (Infant is under 1 year
and a child is over one year up to ten years of age);
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• Addition of definitions for “Scattering Garden”, “Family Vessels,” “Columbaria”,
and “Ossuary”;
• “Resident” - proof of former residency required which should be at least 5 (or 10?)
years as a property owner;
License to Use the Cemetery
• No more than 2 plots to be purchased for reserving by a person (one for
husband/partner and wife/partner). Adult children should come in and purchase
their plots themselves;
• Transfers by the owner can only be made to another family member (transfer fee
for each plot transferred) or the plot must be sold back to the municipality if they
wish to relinquish their rights to the plot;
• Any interment in the rose garden (or other scattering place) must have a date of
interment given at the time of purchase of the plot that is within 6 months of the
purchase;
Fees and Charges
• Consider removal of costs from the bylaw as they change more than the bylaw
does;
• Determination of how much a person receives when they sell their plot back to the
municipality is needed in the bylaw;
Permission to Inter, Exhume and Cremate
• Language that references only the caretaker or his designate shall inter remains in
the cemetery is needed;
Interment in the Cemetery
• Maximum allowable size of interred ashes container – relates to how deep the
caretaker must dig the hole needs to be specified;
• Size of liner – inside measurements to tell people the maximum size of wood or
cardboard container than can be interred;
• Bylaw #20 (b) Reference to “Double Depth” graves if decision is made to create in
new burial section;
• Bylaw #20 (d) Alter the language regarding “a concrete or steel vault” – there has
been misinterpretation of this in the past; (note: this requires additional discussion
with Staff and the Funeral Home Industry)
• Language regarding the solely at the discretion of the Municipality to decide what
type of grave liner the municipality uses is needed; Any request to use a liner that
is not of the municipal choosing will not be considered.
• Bylaw #22 – Consider revision to read that a body may be interred in the cemetery
on Sat, Sun or Stat Holiday for added fee. This revision should be considered in
conjunction with and contingent upon a review of staffing levels as interment on
the weekend will trigger the need for overtime funding and/or additional part time
staff on the weekends.
• Determining whether or not interring ashes in a full burial plot before the casket is
interred should be allowed;
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Administration and Care Fund
• Clarification of what the contribution will be from interment in columbaria, a
scattering garden and ossuary into the Perpetual Care Fund;
Memorials
• No person other than the caretaker or his designate shall place a marker at any
site in the cemetery;
• Marker sizes of infant and child should be uniform since the grave plot sizes are
the same;
• Clarification that “In Memory” names can be placed on the rose garden plaque -
this is if there are no remains interred in the cemetery, and that other forms of
memorial will be allowed, without actual interment occurring;
• Clarification that headstones cannot be placed on grave sites unless they reflect
the person/s buried at that site;
• Clarification that markers can only be accepted at the cemetery and placed after
the interment of remains;
• Clarification on allowance of a non-conforming marker adjacent to a previously
installed non-conforming marker;
• Clarification of marker sizes for burial and cremated remains;
• Bylaw #33 (d) Addition of “memorialization of two persons on an ashes size grave”
and addition of “Cremation interment on casket graves (up to four)”;
• A second plot cannot be purchased to get a larger marker for one person. Double
markers must have the room to put the second name on the marker. Each plot
reserved must have a designated person to occupy that plot. Language that meets
this need must be drafted.
Other language that formalizes the recommendations in this report and that brings the
bylaw in to compliance with the Cemetery and Funeral Services Act needs to be drafted.
The Municipal Solicitor should be consulted in the drafting of the revised bylaw.
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Chapter 8: Business
Planning Strategies
In order to move forward with the recommendations included in this report, strategies are
required that will ensure the long term economic sustainability issues are addressed. This
chapter integrates the site, service and infrastructure recommendations within a strategic
framework that also includes:
• Marketing;
• Partnerships;
• Organizational management, and
• Financial management.
Community consultations at the open house and via feedback forms, staff and funeral
home interviews and our professional experience in managing and planning cemeteries
has informed the recommendations in this report. One of the themes that emerged through
the consultations was the desire to “make the cemetery the best it can be.” This report is a
road map that describes how the District can meet that challenge. Aside from the physical
changes needed to ensure the long term sustainability of the cemeteries and the enhanced
services needed to meet the existing and anticipated demand, there are additional actions
required in order to meet financial objectives.
For the purposes of this report, we have assumed that minimizing the load on tax-based
revenues for all the costs associated with land acquisition, planning, management and
operations of the cemetery is desirable. This is not to say that the cemetery services
section of the Department should become a profit centre, but it does imply that cemetery
services should be managed in a business-like manner. This approach was corroborated
by local funeral directors we spoke with during the course of our consultations. They do not
expect the District to maximize their potential returns, but they are expecting a business-
like approach be adopted.
Strategies to meet these needs, within a business planning context, include:
• Increasing Interment Services (and then Products);
• Marketing the Cemeteries;
• Increasing Effectiveness and Partnerships, and
• Enhancing Cost Recovery.
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Increase Interment Services
This report brings forward recommendations to enhance interment, site and
memorialization services. Customer service and the introduction of product sales also
needs to be addressed.
A range of interment service enhancements need to be brought on stream. We
recommend they be implemented in the following priority:
• Cremation gardens (columbaria, scattering areas, family vessels and
ossuaries);
• Outdoor family mausolea;
• Indoor mausolea and columbaria, and
• Funeral service products.
A phased program of enhancements is recommended in order to optimize available capital
funds and not strain existing staffing levels. As enhanced interment services for cremated
remains are established, then mausolea should be considered. A business case analysis
for mausolea should be integrated with site selection, planning and design. Potential
mausolea sites are referenced in the master site plan.
As mentioned, a range of cremated remains interment options is recommended, where
space permits. Where space does not permit, then site specific designs, supplemented
with simple business case analyses should be undertaken in order that all costs and
revenues associated with the interment option are incorporated in a full cost recovery
model.
The central theme in this strategy is to start with in-fill projects, working up to the more
ambitious and demanding mausolea services. The latter represent the highest level of
customer service, the greatest potential return and also the most skill sets in terms of
customer and interment services. Pending the outcome of land acquisitions, a cemetery
expansion area design will be required for the lands north of the existing site. If these lands
are not acquired then design and business case decisions will need to be made as
alternate new cemetery lands options are explored.
As interment and site services improve, the introduction of products should be considered.
This could include the sale of flowers, markers, commemoration cards and a host of other
items that would both meet the needs of customers and generate revenue. The
introduction of product sales needs to occur in sync with the consistent improvement and
enhancement in service and interment options. This exemplifies the “walk before run”
approach that underpins recommendations in this report.
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Marketing the Cemeteries
The Maple Ridge and Whonnock cemeteries are not easily “imageable” places. This is
partly due to their locations, partly due to poor signage and partly due to the lack of an
ongoing, effective marketing strategy. Those that participated in the consultations talked
about the Maple Ridge Cemetery as a “secret garden” or a “hidden room,” and although
those are apt descriptors of the cemetery, they also reveal one of the challenges in
meeting resident’s interment needs. If people don’t know the cemetery is there, or that the
service even exists, how can we expect to meet their needs?
A multi-pronged approach is required that includes:
• Changing the Maple Ridge Cemetery section names;
• Improved on and off-site signage, and
• Enhanced cemetery profile in the community.
Recommendation # 24: Coordinated Marketing
A coordinated set of cemetery marketing actions are required, starting with the renaming of
the Municipal Cemetery. The logical choice would be the “Maple Ridge Memorial
Gardens,” but confusion with Memorial Park could be created if this name were chosen.
Therefore, we recommend the cemetery name remain as is, but that the existing section
names (Cemetery # 1, 2, 3 etc) be renamed after Maple Ridge’s founding mothers and
fathers and other worthy notables. It may be appropriate, for example, to re-name the
section where many Japanese are interred after one of the founding Japanese families or
to use a Japanese word or title for that section. In this way, the cultural significance of the
site is made more evident and the meaning of the cemetery as a sacred place is
enhanced. Similarly, the Whonnock Cemetery, founded by the Lee family, should be re-
dedicated as the “Lee Cemetery.” The Lee’s were founding members of the Whonnock
community and were some of the first loggers and farmers to settle that part of the District.
The history of that cemetery is also closely linked to the First Nations of the Whonnock
area who sold an acre of land to the District for cemetery purposes. It is also adjacent to a
First Nation’s cemetery – due east of the District’s cemetery.
The District’s cemeteries are a rich repository of community history, hardship and
experience. They tell the community’s story as it has evolved over the last 100 years. They
need to be brought more in to the public realm in order that recent and future generations
be remembered, and their stories honourably told. Re-naming the cemeteries and giving
discrete cemetery sections within the cemeteries proper names will help tell those stories
and at the same time, add to the interest and marketability of the services offered there.
Improving the signage, both on and off site at the Maple Ridge and Whonnock Cemeteries
will not only help with wayfinding, but also will assist those attempting to find graves and
funeral homes directing families. The lack of signage was another common refrain we
heard during the consultation process. A coordinated signage program would also lessen
the impact of regulatory “blunt” messaging and temper it within modern, welcoming
language, graphics and placement. A combination of on and off site directional, regulatory,
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interpretive and informational signage is required. This should be considered a key priority
in the marketing program.
The profile of the cemetery is perceived as low by the consultants and by the funeral home
directors we spoke to as part of this project. Re-naming the cemeteries and signage
improvements will boost the profile of the services, but a concerted effort is needed to
increase the profile of the cemetery services. Many municipal cemeteries have adopted
some or all of the following actions as part of their ongoing marketing strategy:
• Monthly or quarterly newsletters;
• On site “events” such as “Mums for Mothers Day,” poppies and white crosses
for Veteran’s graves at Remembrance Day, Historical tours, Night for All
Souls, Ching Ming Festivals etc.;
• Interactive websites;
• On site grave finding services;
• Links to “find a grave” websites;
• Information in annual tax notices, and
• Participation in Radio call-ins.
These and other actions need to be considered and incorporated in to an increased
marketing program. In the next 3 years, we recommend that:
• A Maple Ridge Cemetery website be developed;
• A quarterly newsletter be developed, and
• Information brochures be included in tax notices.
Increasing Effectiveness and Partnerships
In order to make the cemetery the “best it can be,” and in order to move the cemetery
services towards full cost recovery, efforts towards increasing effectiveness and enhancing
partnerships are required. Within the policy and bylaw framework, certain procedures and
the application of the various regulations need to be reviewed to ensure they meet the
needs of customers, the funeral service providers and the District's objectives. As well,
partnership opportunities need to be identified and leveraged over the coming years.
Staff, funeral home operators and some members of the community have identified the
need to review the Cemetery Bylaw as well as work procedures in order that they meet
customer needs and management concerns. A host of bylaw amendments are mentioned
in this report. They need to be formalized by Council in order to ensure the bylaw meets or
exceeds the standards set by the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority
(BPCPA). They also need to be updated to accommodate changes to interment and
memorialization options, ornamentation issues, fees and charges and operational issues
identified by Staff.
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It is important to note that the application of the bylaw needs to occur in a consistent and
timely manner. Unauthorized ornamentation (placement of non-authorized items in the
cemetery) has become a major issue at the Maple Ridge Cemetery. For the bylaw to be
effective, it needs to be controlled early and consistently by staff and with the backing of
Council. This can be a difficult and emotional matter for families, especially those suffering
the loss of a child. Visiting the grave is a healthy way for families to grieve and often times
leaving mementoes is an act that accompanies the visit. However, safety and aesthetic
issues arise as well as additional costs when flat marker graves have artifacts placed upon
them. Removal of the items in a timely manner is part of the site management and is an
action that needs to be explained to families at the time of grave purchases, via signage
and other communications. Clear ornamentation procedures need to be established and
applied as an ongoing cemetery management priority.
Recommendation # 25: Create a Cemetery Advisory Commission
Communication with the community, including funeral homes that operate in Maple Ridge,
is a central component of an increasing service trajectory. We recommend that a
Cemetery Advisory Commission (or another entity that fits the District’s “advisory” system)
be created. This Commission should include:
• 3 members at Large from the Community
• 2 members from the Funeral Home Industry
• 1 member of Council
• 1 Member of the Heritage Advisory Commission
• Staff support and attendance as required.
The purpose of the Commission would be to:
• Enhance communication between the District, cemetery users and the funeral
homes;
• Advise Council in the application of the Cemetery Master Plan;
• Assist in the marketing of the cemeteries;
• Review issues, budgets and matters pertaining to the Cemetery as forwarded
from Council and advise to Council as necessary.
Enhancing Cost Recovery
Cemetery services are one of the few services provided by local governments that have
the potential to recover most, if not all of their operating and capital costs. The 2007 –
2011 Long Range Business plan for the District’s cemetery services indicate a positive
trend towards cost recovery. In the last 3 years, operating costs have been recovered
partly through cemetery service fees and partly through plot sales. Plot sales have been
used to subsidize the operation by approximately $60,000 per year. In the next 4 years,
cemetery services, including plot sales, are expected to recover slightly more than
operating costs.
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Although these trends are encouraging, it is important to note that they do not include land
costs, capital development, planning or business analysis costs. If the District is to operate
this service not necessarily as a business, but in a more “business-like” manner, financial
scenarios are required that seek to limit demands on tax based funding, yet provide quality
service at reasonable rates to residents of the District. Moving the cemetery system
towards full cost recovery will necessitate the following financial planning initiatives.
• Assessment of the status of the Perpetual Care Fund;
• Review rates and charges for services and products;
• Develop Capital Development Cost Estimates, and
• Integrate the above components in to a comprehensive financial plan.
Perpetual Care Fund
The Perpetual Care Fund (PCF) is a fund set up for the care and maintenance of the
cemetery for the time when operating revenues may no longer be available. This is a
requirement of the Cemetery and Funeral Services Act. A minimum percentage of each
burial lot, columbaria or mausolea sale must be deposited in a stand-alone fund. The
interest on that fund can be used for maintenance purposes only, according to the Act.
Typical practice is for interest to compound with the principal up until the time when there
are sufficient principal funds to generate a significant contribution towards maintenance of
the cemetery. Many municipalities do not use any interest at all in their cemetery
maintenance as the principal amounts are typically quite low.
In the case of Maple Ridge, the current PCF fund stands at $586,000 as of December,
2006. Approximately $36,000 has been contributed to the fund, on average, over the last 5
years. With declining returns on investment, the interest on the principle amount would
barely pay for a small portion of the $173,000 annual cost of maintenance. It should be
noted that if all revenue were to cease, the level of maintenance would be reduced to a
minimum standard and hence costs would decline commensurate with less grass cutting,
trimming, repairs and other activities that are now part of the regular maintenance cycle.
The key finding here is that the current PCF balance is well below what it would need to be
if/when operating revenues at the Maple Ridge Cemetery slow or stop altogether. A
principal amount of approximately $1.5 million would be required to generate $75,000 at a
consistent interest return rate of 5%. If more conservative interest rates are applied, then
of course the principal requirement would increase. Meeting this requirement could take
one of several routes:
• Increase the PCF contribution beyond existing amounts for an expanded
range of services and products;
• Lump sum contributions from any surplus operating revenues, or
• A combination of the above strategies.
Increasing the PCF rates above the statutory requirement is the preferred and most
common strategy to bring the PCF fund up to where it needs to be. In this way, the long
term maintenance of a plot sold today is funded, to a larger degree, by the owner of the
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plot, rather than future customers or from tax based revenues. Maple Ridge already
charges a 33% PCF contribution, which is 8% over the requirement of 25% for burial lot
sales. This rate should be increased by a minimum 5% in order to hasten growth in the
principle amount. The rate can always be brought back down to the statutory minimum
if/when the PCF reaches a desired target amount.
Lump sum contributions to the PCF can be made, although the amounts available (based
on recent performance) from operating revenue surpluses are relatively small. This is not a
recommended approach. As the fund grows, scenarios for using interest from the fund
should be analyzed in the context of the other business plan components.
Rates and Charges
Rates and Charges for Cemetery Services are well below the industry standard. The burial
lot and interment fees in Maple Ridge are $1000.00 lower than the average of 10 other BC
municipal cemeteries, not including PCF contributions. Non-resident fees for the same
services are $1400.00 below the BC average. Rates for other land and interment services
are similarly well below the industry standard. There is clearly room to adjust those rates
upwards and still maintain the desired goal of affordability for Maple Ridge residents. The
challenge is the extent to which net returns can be expected and at the same time
increase PCF contributions and maintain “affordability.” This challenge is further
compounded if full cost recovery is expected in the very short term. Although there is
some elasticity in demand, Maple Ridge residents do have choices and in fact many
presently choose to either not patronize the cemetery or are not choosing to use any
cemetery.
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The following table shows the District's 2007 Fee schedule as compared against 6 other BC Municipalities PLOTSResident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Fmr-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-ResidentAdult SINGLE DepthPlot 885.00 1,778.00 2,912.00 3,931.20 1,550.00 3,100.00 2,400.00 4,800.00 600.00 900.00 3,090.00 4,668.00 1,500.00 3,600.00 600.00 900.00 1,848.14 3,253.89 3,090.00 4,800.00 Care 295.00 593.00 728.00 982.80 1,630.00 3,260.00 600.00 1,200.00 200.00 300.00 773.00 1,167.00 500.00 1,200.00 200.00 300.00 675.14 1,243.26 1,630.00 3,260.00 Total $ 1,180.00 $ 2,371.00 $ 3,640.00 $ 4,914.00 $ 3,180.00 $ 6,360.00 $ 3,000.00 $ 6,000.00 $ 800.00 $ 1,200.00 $ 3,863.00 $ 5,835.00 $ 2,000.00 $ 4,800.00 $ 800.00 $ 1,200.00 $ 2,523.29 $ 4,497.14 $ 3,863.00 $ 6,360.00 Cremation - SINGLEPlot 132.00 248.00 958.00 958.00 540.00 1,080.00 930.00 1,860.00 187.50 281.25 1,017.00 1,017.00 705.00 787.50 132.00 125.00 536.46 771.25 1,017.00 1,860.00 Care 44.00 83.00 239.50 239.50 430.00 860.00 230.00 460.00 62.50 93.75 254.00 254.00 235.00 262.50 44.00 75.00 190.96 298.32 430.00 860.00 Total $ 176.00 $ 331.00 $ 1,197.50 $ 1,197.50 $ 970.00 $ 1,940.00 $ 1,160.00 $ 2,320.00 $ 250.00 $ 375.00 $ 1,271.00 $ 1,271.00 $ 940.00 $ 1,050.00 $ 176.00 $ 200.00 $ 727.43 $ 1,069.57 $ 1,447.00 $ 2,720.00 INTERMENT FEESResident Non-Resident Resident Non-ResidentResident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-ResidentAdultStandard $ 589.00 $ 589.00 $ 650.00 $ 650.00 $ 1,180.00 $ 2,360.00 $ 870.00 $ 870.00 $ 600.00 $ 600.00 $ 675.00 $ 675.00 $ 1,050.00 $ 1,050.00 $ 589.00 $ 589.00 $ 802.00 $ 970.57 $ 1,180.00 $ 2,360.00 Cremated RemainsIn-ground Interment $ 217.00 $ 217.00 $ 300.00 $ 300.00 $ 320.00 $ 640.00 $ 300.00 $ 300.00 $ 200.00 $ 200.00 $ 414.00 $ 414.00 $ 280.00 $ 280.00 $ 200.00 $ 200.00 $ 290.14 $ 335.86 $ 414.00 $ 640.00 OTHER PRODUCTSGrave Vault/LinerCremation Vault/LinerCOMPARISONSResident Non-Resident Resident Non-ResidentResident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-Resident Resident Non-ResidentPlot and Burial (in-ground)(liner if req'd, no marker fees)1 Adult $ 1,975.00 $ 3,166.00 $ 4,290.00 $ 5,564.00 $ 4,900.00 $ 9,260.00 $ 4,230.00 $ 7,230.00 $ 1,675.00 $ 2,075.00 $ 4,538.00 $ 7,185.00 $ 3,380.00 $ 6,180.00 $ 1,675.00 $ 2,075.00 $ 3,569.71 $ 5,808.57 $ 4,900.00 $ 9,260.00 1 Cremated Remains $ 455.00 $ 610.00 $ 1,497.50 $ 1,497.50 $ 1,290.00 $ 2,580.00 $ 1,540.00 $ 2,700.00 $ 450.00 $ 575.00 $ 1,685.00 $ 1,685.00 $ 1,220.00 $ 1,330.00 $ 450.00 $ 575.00 $ 1,162.50 $ 1,568.21 $ 1,685.00 $ 2,700.00 * Based on data collected from the BC Municipal Cemeteries Network, (c/o Mountain View Cemetery Vancouver), 2007$ 275.00 $ 0.00 LangleyMinimum Average Maximum$ 360.00 Port CoquitlamMaple RidgeCoquitlamWest VancouverCity of North Vancouvern/an/a$ 206.00 New Westminster$ 540.00 $ 80.00 $ 206.00 $ 372.20 $ 80.00 $ 62.00 $ 71.33 $ 62.00 $ 330.00 $ 540.00 LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 57 -
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In order to move to full cost recovery, rates for burial plots and interment services would
have to increase by at least 100%, possibly by as much as 150%. The range would
depend on a variety of cost factors including land and development costs, financing
charges, rates of inflation and other market considerations.
It is recommended that rates and fees for all services be increased, following a detailed
review of financial considerations undertaken during the development of a comprehensive
cemetery financial plan.
Capital Development Cost/Revenue
Capital Development Plans are useful ways to plan and test the financial viability of
enhanced cemetery services. These amount to mini-business plans for services such as
cremation gardens and mausolea. As mentioned previously, we recommend a “walk
before run” strategy wherein improvements to the traditional and existing services are
improved before embarking on significant new service provision for mausolea. The Capital
Development Plans need to take into account not only the land, construction and soft costs
but also any charges associated with internal “borrowing” if that is an option palatable to
Council. Often times it is more effective to create a complete interment garden rather than
just install one columbaria or a single scattering garden. Experience with the interment of
cremated remains has shown that the creation of a “place” is more successful than just the
creation of an interment niche or series of niches. This can require more funding, which
may or may not be available from capital budgets, hence the potential need to finance
larger, more comprehensive projects.
Recommendation # 26: Develop a Comprehensive Cemetery Financial Plan
A comprehensive financial plan is recommended and should be considered a high priority
for implementation. This plan should be formulated in sync with site designs and
development plans in order to ensure the range, number, type and price point of proposed
interment services and products associated with those elements matches the location,
material, level of finish and extent of amenities proposed. Many a lofty cemetery financial
projection has grounded on the shoals of poorly conceived site designs and conversely,
many thoughtful cemetery designs have been insufficiently grounded in sound financial
projections. Conspicuously absent in many financial plans, for example, is the cost of land
acquisition. With the days of “free” or discounted municipal lands now but a distant
memory, land acquisition costs need to be taken into consideration when fees and charges
rates are determined. Principles that should guide the financial and physical planning
should include:
• A desire to increase the number of Maple Ridge residents that use the
Cemeteries;
• Affordability must be sustained;
• Minimization of tax based revenues in cemetery operations and development;
• Optimization, not maximization, of cemetery lands is the goal,
• Progress towards full cost recovery.
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Cost and revenue implications of the recommendations in this report must take into
consideration these principles. Marketing, for example, comes at a cost, but presumably
results in increased use of the cemetery by residents. That “market share” needs to be
incorporated in the business plan. Offering a range of interment options will also attract
more residents to the cemetery. Setting prices so that there are affordable options will
mean there are always ways for residents to use the cemeteries regardless of income
levels. Providing more enhanced services at rates higher than the existing levels will also
enhance the long term financial sustainability of the system.
Implementation
The Maple Ridge Cemetery is in need of an infusion of capital dollars in order to meet the
needs outlined in this report. Our sense is that implementation of these recommendations
over a two - four year period would instill a sense of confidence with the funeral home
owners and generate interest in the community. The following is a prioritized
implementation table, including cost estimates.
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 59 -
Appendix A
Stakeholder Consultations- Key Issues and Opportunities
Discussions were held with senior staff, office/ administrative staff, field staff and
funeral service providers in order to receive input on the key issues and suggestions for
potential cemetery improvements and services. Names and dates of meetings are in
the appendix. Key issues identified are as follows:
1. Cemetery By-law
• The by-law has not been updated since 1999 except for a 2002 fee update.
Updating it is of high importance.
• It is not clear and leaves room for interpretation. A stronger document would ease
enforcement of rules when presented with odd requests.
• A modernized by-law would include a variety of interment options to reflect the
needs of the demographics and cultures of Maple Ridge’s residents. Over time
public perception of what cemeteries can include changes (eg. a denser structure
with columbaria, scattering gardens for ashes).
• Many people feel that there is no choice with the memorial markers and they do
not want to be restricted to low at-grade markers.
• Stakeholders want the by-law to include current industry standards and practices.
2. Visibility and access to the cemetery
• The cemetery does not front onto a major road- it is set back from both Lougheed
Hwy. and Dewdney Rd. Limited visibility into the site results in increased
opportunity for vandalism. Stakeholders feel that means of expanding the
appearance of the cemetery to the rest of the community should be explored.
• Stakeholders feel that connections through the cemetery site linking Lougheed to
Dewdney were important. A bike path through the cemetery would allow
commuters to ride through the site. Historic routes through the site have been cut
off with fencing and vegetation.
• The cemetery is seen as an important passive recreation space. The adjacent
neighbourhood is not currently being served by other parks.
3. Cemetery site capacity
• The existing site has limited capacity for cremation interment and full depth burial.
Other areas exist for potential interment, but they have not yet been identified.
• There is further limitation to available land due to poor
drainage in the southern area of the site near to the
McKinney Creek.
• It is important to try and acquire adjacent lands in order to
keep cemetery operations together. To add another site
in a different location would create difficulties for getting
equipment and staff back and forth.
• Other sites which are not adjacent were mentioned as
possible expansion sites in discussions (eg. the Jackson Farm).
4. Customer service
• Stakeholders feel that wayfinding could be improved in the cemetery. There are
few on-site markings to direct visitors to gravesites. Maintenance work is
interrupted when visitors have questions or require assistance. Stakeholders feel
that an additional staff member in the cemetery who is familiar with the funeral
side to play a customer service role might be warranted.
• Stakeholders want avenues of communication between funeral service providers
and the cemetery site to be reviewed. Some feel that they worked well, while
others did not.
5. Plot ornamentation
• There are ongoing issues with ornamentation. Although the by-law restricts
ornamentation, borders are continually being created around plots with bricks
which become 3’x8’ gardens. They currently number around two hundred. When
the grass season starts, the staff move them to a shed. This causes heated
emotions and people replace the ornamentation.
• Stakeholders find that the ornamentation issue increases the time necessary for
cutting grass, as areas have to be maintained manually.
6. Columbaria
• There are no columbaria in the Maple Ridge Cemetery and they are “long
overdue”. People are either going to other cemeteries to be buried in columbaria,
or are waiting for columbaria to be built in Maple Ridge. Maple Ridge Cemetery is
not meeting the needs of its residents and it is losing revenue.
• There are few choices for interment. The Rose Garden is full. Besides
columbaria, stakeholders feel that other interment options should be explored
including scattering gardens.
7. Municipal role in cemetery operations
• Stakeholders feel that a review of the municipal role in cemetery operations
would be in order. The assumption that the cemetery is a core service of the
District was queried.
• Privatization of the cemetery is an option. Stakeholders feel the state of the
private cemetery industry should be examined, as should possible partnerships
with local funeral service providers.
8. Cemetery economics
• Long term economics are important to the Cemetery Master Plan (includes the
Perpetual Care Fund). As a core service, stakeholders feel that the cemetery
should be run in an efficient manner.
• Stakeholders would like fees charged to reflect operating costs. They also feel
that rates charged on burials and markers should compare to average rates of
other municipalities in the Lower Mainland. Fees have not been raised for several
years.
• Stakeholders want the costs associated with cemetery operations and the Parks
Department to be examined.
9. Cemetery software system
• Of high priority is to have an updated computer program which uses proper legal
terms for managing the cemetery records.
• Stakeholders want records to have a house-keeping done on them to ensure that
they are accurate and up-to-date. It is of utmost importance to maintain detailed
records in order to answer questions from family members regarding existing
graves.
Open House Input (Oct. 18th ’07 - also from feedback forms sent in)
1. Interment Options and Services
Increased interment options are desired at the Maple Ridge Cemetery including:
• columbaria,
• ossuaries,
• green burial,
• scattering gardens.
• family burial sites which allow denser interments.
Increased services desired include:
• a playground for children,
• improved customer service with a staff person to welcome visitors, help in
locating graves and also be a deterrent to vandals,
• a store to purchase flowers etc.
2. Site
• Re-name the cemetery to reflect its age, its historical significance and its natural
beauty- Maple Ridge Memorial Park or Heritage Memorial Park;
• The dignity of the cemetery should be maintained in its site design;
• Encourage public use of the cemetery;
• The Maple Ridge Cemetery has a special ‘Secret garden’ character to it which
should be preserved and enhanced.
• The Cemetery should be exposed to public view from two sides. “Opening up” the
site to busy streets will increase visibility, aiding in security concerns. Increased
visibility would also make more people aware of the site and increase its use for
passive recreation;
• Shaded areas in the cemetery are needed for enjoyment
of peace and quiet;
• Security issues of theft and vandalism in the cemetery
must be addressed;
• Any new site chosen for expansion of the cemetery
should be:
• located in a growth area (probably east or north east),
• at least twice the size that is needed,
• serviced by public transport by 2031 and,
• accessible.
3. Organizational
• The cemetery should have the database of existing graves properly archived in a
useable system;
• The cemetery should promote and build awareness of services;
4. Infrastructure
• The infrastructure in the cemetery could better service visitors with:
• designated parking,
• wider roads for two-way access,
• water available other than only at front for flowers (water taps),
• the addition of benches to encourage passive use of the cemetery,
• maintenance of the unpaved roadways- potholes, water hazards,
• restoration of damaged grave markers,
• rain protection during funerals,
• chairs for elderly people at funerals,
• better entrance sign on Dewdney Trunk Rd.
5. Bylaw
• A few of the feedback forms have Pitt Meadows addresses, meaning that they
are not considered ‘residents’ for interment in the cemetery and are likely not
aware of that fact;
• Upright headstones are desired;
• Request was made to keep the gate open later than 4pm on weekdays;
• Ornamentation issue: The prohibition of individual landscaped graves in the
bylaw should be enforced, however a grandfather clause could allow existing
ornamented graves to remain.
This is a summary of responses from the feedback forms received at the Open House and those
sent in to the District.
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
Open House
Fraser Room (Maple Ridge Library, second floor)
Oct. 18, 2007
INPUT FORM
1. At the present time, the District offers the following options for interment of cremated remains
at the cemetery. Please let us know what your preferred option would be :
Rose Garden (similar to a scattering garden) 7
Cremated Remains Plots (burial in the ground) 17
Inter cremated remains (up to 4) in addition to a traditional casket burial 14
2. Additional options for interring cremated remains could potentially be added at the cemetery.
Please let us know if you would consider one or more of these options if they were made
available at the cemetery in Maple Ridge:
Columbaria (niches in which urns containing cremated remains are kept) 14
Ossuaries (in ground vessels in which cremated remains are co-mingled) 3
Family vessels (large 3’ high vessels in which multiple urns are nested) 11
3. Additional options for full casket burials could potentially be added at the cemetery. Please let
us know if you would consider using one or more of these options if they were made available
at the cemetery in Maple Ridge:
Double depth graves (burial of 2 people in one grave) 17
Indoor Mausolea (a building in which indoor crypts are available) 5
Outdoor Mausolea (garden or family estate mausolea for 4 – 8 caskets) 5
4. Do you believe there should be more passive use areas at the cemetery?
Yes 13 No 6
5. Please check which options you think should be considered in future site planning:
11 Additional parking 6 Additional entry, exit points 8 Caretaker residence
15 Public washrooms 16 Historic interpretive signs 7 Additional landscaping
features
21 On site grave finding service 6 Drinking fountains 16 Water taps (for flowers)
13 Rain protection during funerals 17 Benches 7 Alternate memorial markers
1 Areas designated for specific faiths
or religions
8 Shade structures 10 Permanent vases/holders
9 Indoor funeral facility 5 Outdoor funeral area 13 Chairs ( for elderly
attendees at services
7. Tours are available for those interested in the historic significance of the cemetery. Do you:
a) know about these tours? 10
b) have an interest but have never attended? 10
c) wish to know more? 11
8. Many of the site burial plots at the cemetery have individual landscapes which and are
contrary to the cemetery bylaws and interfere with routine maintenance and safety . Should the
landscapes be:
a) Removed and not permitted in future 6
b) Permitted with some restrictions related to safety, for
an additional fee paid by the licence holder (for maintenance) 19
Appendix B
Interviews Conducted
July 19, 2007
Discussions were held with senior staff, office/ administrative staff, field staff and funeral service
providers in order to receive input on the key issues and suggestions for potential cemetery
improvements and services.
• Nance Worfolk (Cemetery Administration);
• Shannon (Finances);
• Bruce McLeod (Manager of Parks and Open Space);
• Jane Pickering (Director of Planning); Roland Hill (On-site);
• David Boag (Director of Parks and Facilities);
• Jane Baile (Operations Supervisor);
• Mike Murray (General Manager: Community Development, Parks and Recreation
Services)
July 23, 2007
Discussions were held on site with field staff in order to receive input on the key issues and
suggestions for potential cemetery improvements and services.
• Roland Hill
July 23, 2007
Discussions were held with council in order to receive input on the key issues and suggestions
for potential cemetery improvements and services.
• Mayor Gordy Robson;
• Councillor Ernie Daykin;
• Councillor Judy Dueck;
• Councillor Al Hogarth;
• Councillor Linda King;
• Councillor Craig Speirs;
• Councillor Ken Stewart;
• David Boag (Director of Parks and Facilities)
July 23, 2007
Discussions were held with funeral service providers in order to receive input on the key issues
and suggestions for potential cemetery improvements and services.
• Garden Hill Funeral Chapel:
• Tim Logue (Owner- Funeral Director/ Embalmer);
• Peggy Logue (Owner- Funeral Director);
• Nathan Logue (Funeral Director/ Embalmer);
• Nolan Logue (Funeral Director/ Embalmer Apprentice).
August 27, 2007
Discussions were held with funeral service providers in order to receive input on the key issues
and suggestions for potential cemetery improvements and services.
• Maple Ridge Funeral Chapel and Crematorium:
• Joan Gibson (Owner- Funeral Director/ Embalmer);
• Diane MacKenzie (Owner- Funeral Director/ Embalmer);
•
October 18, 2007
Discussions at the Open House were held in order to receive input on the key issues and
suggestions for potential cemetery improvements and services.
• Claus Andrup (Heritage Commission Representative)
• Sheila Nichols (Maple Ridge Historical Society)
• Nance Worfolk (Administrative Staff)
• Dave Boag (Senior Staff)
• Nathan Logue (Funeral Service Provider)
Appendix C
Information & Documents Reviewed
1) Maple Ridge Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 6425-2006
2) Zoning Bylaw 3510-1985 (consolidated March 2007)
3) Cemetery Bylaw 5784-1999 (Amending Bylaw 6095-2002)
4)
5) Organizational Chart
6) Maple Ridge Cemeteries Annual Report -2006
7) Proposed Cemetery Financial Plan 2007-2011
8) Comparison Chart for GVRD Cemeteries
9) Procedures for Full Burial, Child Burial, Cremation Interment and Rose Garden Interment
10) Cemetery Perpetual Reserve Trust Fund
11) Detailed costs of conducting a full burial at the cemetery -2002
12) Detailed costs of conducting a full burial at the cemetery -2003
13) Cemetery Annual Statistics 1992-2006
14) Cemetery fees increase steps - 1998 to 2006 (not increased since 2003)
15)
16) Cemetery Maintenance Budget for 2007
17) Maple Ridge Cemetery
a) Colour Ortho Photo
b) Black and white ortho map
c) Layout of cemetery showing hectares
d) Layout of cemetery showing contours
e) Layout of cemetery showing creek
f) Layout of cemetery showing sewer system (small and enlarged)
g) Right in Interment Form for Maple Ridge Cemetery
18) Whonnock Cemetery
a) Colour Ortho Photo
b)
c) Layout of cemetery showing hectares
d) Layout of cemetery showing contours
e) Layout of cemetery showing creeks in surrounding area
f) Right in Interment Form for Whonnock Cemetery
19) Application Form of Cemetery Plot Purchase
Information/Documentation regarding the Cemetery Master Plan proposal
Legal Plan of Lutheran section of cemetery showing rest of cemetery which is
Grave Section Status Report -June 14, 2007 (Maple Ridge Cemetery Cremation Section
2007 Business Plan -- Municipal Cemeteries including cemetery statistics for Jan to Aug,
2005 and Jan to Sept 2006
1) Maple Ridge Cemetery layout map
2) Whonnock Cemetery layout map
3) Zoning bylaw map A Bylaw 5556-1997
4) Streamside setback guidelines map
5) Generalized future land use Schedule B Bylaw 6425-2006
6) Natural Features map Schedule C Bylaw 6425-2006
1)
2) Proposed changes to cemetery bylaw
3) Rose Garden interments by years
4) Procedure for cemetery transaction (purchases of plot and/or interment)
Buy-back for fees paid prior to 10 years ago (if plot purchase in 1982 the refund would be
Maps
Miscellaneous Forms
Appendix D
Glossary of Terms
Related to the Funeral and Cemetery Industry
Source: Adapted from the Cemetery and Crematorium Association of B.C. by LEES + Associates
TERM DEFINITION
AT-NEED At the time of, or immediately following, death.
Usually refers to the time of purchase of funeral or cemetery
services.
BOOK OF MEMORIES Plaque with a list of names of the deceased, some of whom
may not be interred at the cemetery.
A type of memorial monument.
BURIAL Interment in the ground.
The placement of human or cremated remains in a grave.
BURIAL PERMIT A legal document issued by a regulatory authority
authorizing final disposition of human remains.
BURIAL VAULT A protective, sealable outer receptacle, into which a casket
or urn is placed, designed to restrict the entrance of
gravesite elements into the casket or urn.
BYLAWS The written regulations, rules or laws governing the
organization, management and operation of a cemetery,
mausoleum, columbarium or crematorium.
CARE FUND
(also known as PERPETUAL
CARE FUND
or MAINTENANCE FUND)
A trust fund established, held and administered in
accordance with applicable law, with the income from the
fund that can be used for the upkeep and repair of a
cemetery, mausoleum or columbarium.
CASKET A rigid container usually constructed of wood, metal or
similar material, designed for the encasement of human
remains.
CEMETERY Land set apart or used as a place of interment or cremation,
together with any incidental or ancillary buildings.
TERM DEFINITION
CEMETERY SERVICES The disposition of human remains by interment or cremation
and includes the supply of goods incidental to the provision
of such service.
COLUMBARIUM
(plural: COLUMBARIA)
A structure, building, or an area in a structure or building
that contains, as an integral part of the structure or building
or as a freestanding sections, niches for the inurnment of
cremated remains.
Can be “Individual”, “Family” or “Community”, based on the
number of niches, and how they are sold.
COMMINGLING The mixing of the cremated remains of more than one
deceased person.
CONTAINER A self-contained receptacle or enclosure other than a
casket, made of rigid cardboard, pressed wood or other
similar material that is of sufficient strength to hold and
conveniently transport human remains, but does not include
a metal or fibreglass casket, or receptacle or enclosure
made of plastic or similar substance, or a pouch or bag.
CREMATED REMAINS The human bone fragments that remain after cremation that
may also include the residue of any other materials
cremated with the human remains.
CREMATION The irreversible reduction of human remains to bone
fragments through the application of flame and intense heat;
in some jurisdictions this may include the repositioning or
movement of the body during the process to complete the
cremation; and the manual or mechanical reduction of the
bone fragments after removal from the cremation chamber.
CREMATION LOT A space used, or intended to be used, specifically for the
interment of cremated remains.
Typically, a smaller than full-sized in-ground lot.
CREMATORIUM The building or part of a building that is fitted with approved
appliances for the purpose of cremation human remains and
includes everything incidental or ancillary to it.
CRYPT One kind of lot
Typically, a space in a mausoleum used or intended to be
used for the entombment of human remains.
TERM DEFINITION
DEATH CERTIFICATE A legal document certifying the vital statistics pertaining to
the life and death of a deceased person.
DIRECT (or IMMEDIATE)
DISPOSITION
The final disposition of human remains without any formal
viewing or visitation, ritual, rite, service or ceremony.
DISINTERMENT The removal of human remains, along with the casket or
container or any remaining portion of the casket or container
holding the remains, from the lot in which the remains had
been interred.
EASEMENT The right acquired, whether or not supported by a
certificate, to interment in a lot.
ENTOMBMENT One form of interment.
The placement of human remains in a mausoleum crypt.
FLAT MARKER A grave marker set flush with the ground.
FUNERAL SERVICES The arrangements, care and preparation of human remains
for interment, cremation or other disposition and includes
the supply of goods incidental to the arrangements, care
and preparation, but does not include the sale of lots.
GRAVE
One kind of lot.
A portion of ground in a cemetery, used or intended to be
used, for the burial of human remains or cremated remains.
GRAVE LINER A fibreglass or concrete structure installed over a casket
once it has been placed in the grave.
INTERMENT The disposition by:
a. burial of human remains or cremated remains in a
grave;
b. entombment of human remains in a mausoleum, crypt,
or;
c. inurnment of cremated remains in a columbarium niche.
INURNMENT One form of cremated remains interment.
The process of placing cremated remains in a receptacle
including, but not limited to, an urn and placing the urn into
a niche.
TERM DEFINITION
LAWN CRYPT A concrete or other durable and rigid outer receptacle
installed in a grave prior to burial.
LOT A space used, or intended to be used, for the interment of
human remains or cremated remains under a right of
interment and includes a grave, crypt, niche or plot.
LOT HOLDER The person in whose name the right of interment in a lot is
registered in the records of a cemetery and, where the
interment has taken place, includes the person who has
legally acquired ancillary rights to the lot.
MAINTENANCE FUND
(also known as CARE FUND or
PERPETUAL CARE FUND)
A fund established for the upkeep and repair of a cemetery,
mausoleum or columbarium.
MAUSOLEUM
(plural: MAUSOLEA)
A structure or building that contains interior or exterior
crypts designed for the entombment of human remains.
MAUSOLEUM CRYPT A chamber of a mausoleum or sufficient size for
entombment of human remains.
MEMORIAL A product, meeting the bylaw requirements of a cemetery,
used or intended to be used to identify a lot or to
memorialize a deceased person interred or to be interred in
a lot, including but not limited to:
a. a marker, headstone, tombstone monument, plaque,
tablet or plate on a lot; or
b. a tablet an inscription, lettering or ornamentation
on a crypt or niche front, or
c. a tree, boulder or other feature so identified;
A ceremony, rite or ritual commemorating the life of a
deceased individual without the human remains being
present.
NICHE One kind of lot.
A space, usually within a columbarium, for placing a
receptacle containing cremated remains.
TERM DEFINITION
OSSUARY A vessel for the interment of two or more cremated remains.
Typically, the cremated remains are commingled, although
the urns may be “nested” next to one another.
OUTER CONTAINER A receptacle, which is designed for placement in a lot to
accept the placement of a casket or urn.
PERPETUAL CARE FUND
(also known as
CARE FUND or
MAINTENANCE FUND)
An irrevocable trust fund established, held and administered
in accordance with applicable law, with the income from the
fund to be used for the upkeep and repair of a cemetery,
mausoleum or columbarium.
PRE-NEED Any time prior to death.
Usually refers to the time of purchase of funeral or cemetery
services.
“Pre-need planning” refers to the process of making
arrangements and/or entering into contracts regarding
future cemetery services for one or more persons who are
still alive at the time.
REGISTRAR In British Columbia, the person responsible for the
administration and enforcement of applicable laws and
regulations relating to cemetery and funeral services.
(Outside of B.C. may be referred to as the Regulatory
Authority or Regulator.)
SCATTERING The dispersal of cremated remains over land or water, or
commingling in a defined area in a cemetery.
SCATTERING GARDEN An area within a cemetery, usually providing an attractive
natural or ornamental setting, dedicated to the scattering of
cremated remains.
UPRIGHT MARKER A grave marker that is not flush with the ground, is mounted
on a footing and intended to be visible over the surrounding
finished grade.
URN A receptacle for holding cremated remains.
District of Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
LEES+Associates Cemetery Planners/Landscape Architects - 60 -
February 19, 2008
Maple Ridge Cemetery Master Plan
Implementation Table
Priority
Meeting Future Needs
In-fill at Maple Ridge Cemetery (Cremated Remains)
Family Vessels, columbaria High 1 - 3 years Staff, consultants, contractors (100,000.00)$ Primarily Capital
Columbaria in Section 2 High 1 - 3 years Staff, consultants, contractors (75,000.00)$ Primarily Capital
Cremation Garden in SE area High 1 - 3 years Staff, consultants, contractors (100,000.00)$ Primarily Capital
In-fill at Maple Ridge Cemetery (Traditional Burial)
Hydro/geotech study of drainage in Section 3 High ASAP Consultant 10,000.00$ Capital
Implement drainage improvements in Section 3 High Year 1 Staff, contractors 25,000.00$ Capital
Mausolea Design and Business Case Analysis Medium Year 3 - 5 Consultant 10,000.00$ Capital
Phase I Mausolea Design and Construction Medium Year 4 - 6 Contractor, Consultant, Staff (100,000.00)$ Primarily Capital
North Expansion Areas
Land acquistion, preliminary planning High ASAP Consultants, staff 20,000.00$ Capital
Design and infrastructure services High Year 2 Consultants, staff 30,000.00$ Capital
Plot layout and cremation garden construction High Year 3 Consultants, staff, contractors (50,000.00)$ Capital
Off Site Cemetery Lands
Land Acquisition Planning, Site Identification High Year 2 - 4 Consultants, staff 20,000.00$ Primarily Capital
Interim pre-cemetery land use studies Medium Year 5 - ? Staff, consultants 25,000.00$ Capital
Interim land use implementation Low Year 15 - ? Staff TBD Capital
Cemetery Lands Preparations Low Year 25 - ? Consultants, staff -$ Capital
Marketing the Cemeteries
Changing Cemetery Section Names High Year 1 Staff 5,000.00$ Operating
On and off-site signage improvements High Year 1 Staff, consultants 30,000.00$ Capital
Enhanced Cemetery profile in the community
Website development and roll out High Year 2 Staff, consultants 12,000.00$ Capital
Newsletter/brochure development and roll out High Year 2 - 3 Staff, consultants 10,000.00$ Capital
Increasing Effectiveness and Partnerships
Bylaw update High Year 1 Staff, consultants 8,000.00$ Capital
Ornamentation Procedures Update High Year 1 Staff 8,000.00$ Operating
Create an Advisory Board Medium Year 2 Staff 7,500.00$ Operating
Cemetery Infrastructure Maintenance and Enhancements High Year 1 - 3 Staff, contractors 50,000.00$ Capital
Enhancing Cost Recovery
Product introductions Low Year 5 - ? Staff, consultants (25,000.00)$ Capital
Perpetual Care Fund Contribution Update***High Year 1 - 10 Staff, consultants 180,000.00$ Operating
Comprehensive Cemetery Financial Plan ASAP Year 1 - 7 Staff, consultants 30,000.00$ Capital
Update fees and charges****High Year 1 - 10 Staff (224,000.00)$ Operating Revenue
Net Total Cost (Revenue)(193,500.00)$
* Net cost estimates include estimated revenues over a maximum 10year period (in many cases the ROI will occur over a much shorter period)
** Net revenues are included for years 1 - 10; costs beyond year 10 are not included
*** Assuming a 5% increase over current contributions occuring on average over the next 10 years
**** Assuming a 10% fee increase to meet industry standard and inflation on average over the next 10 years
Impleme
ntation
Delivery Method Net Cost
Estimates*
Operating or
Capital Cost
These are order of magnitude cost and revenue estimates. This table provides
implementation recommendations regarding order of priority and possible mechanisms for
fulfilling the tasks brought forward in this report. The cost and revenue estimates reveal a
net positive potential return of approximately $193,000, which could be used to repay any
internal funding necessary for land acquisition, however, it is imperative to note that these
costs do NOT include land acquisition. We believe that on the cost side they are
sufficiently accurate for budget allocation purposes and should be considered very
conservative on the revenue side – hence the recommendation to complete a
comprehensive financial plan. A comprehensive financial plan, based on detailed site,
market and organizational factors needs to be developed as an early first step in the
implementation of this master plan.