Disposition refers to what you finally do with the body or ashes. The Society has no contract with cemeteries. Again, planning ahead is important -- shop before you drop!

What do you do with:

• Ashes/urn?
  • You can scatter ashes as long as you have the owner's permission. No permit is required.
  • You can bury the ashes or entomb them in a columbarium (above ground niches). This costs money in a commercial or municipal cemetery.
  • You can bury the ashes anywhere without a permit so long as you have the owner's permission.
• Body?
  • You are permitted to bury a body only in licensed cemeteries. The law requires the body to be in a container, such as a casket, if it is transported.
  • Cemeteries may charge for a grave, digging a grave and filling it, and a grave liner. The rules for a cemetery are called 'Bylaws', but these are not municipal bylaws. They are controlled by whoever owns the cemetery. Religious and cultural reasons can help persuade the cemetery owners to forego a requirement for grave liner and casket.

If you secure a price list for any cemetery, please fax it to us for our records: 605-733-7730.

Grave or urn markers can be purchased from independent manufacturers and distributors. Here are some:

CENTURY MONUMENTS INC. -- Century Monuments is committed to providing members of the Memorial Society of B.C. with the highest quality custom memorial markers and monuments – we offer a 15% discount off of our regular low rates. With expertise in traditional and contemporary monument manufacture, our highly experienced craftspeople offer you many choices and encourage your involvement in the process of designing a loved one’s memorial. Prompt service and customer satisfaction is very important to us! Please call for a free consultation today at 604-992-5025.

REFLECTIONS MONUMENTS -- 2840 Cosgrove Cres., Nanaimo, B.C., V9S 3P6. 250-729-9378. 1-877-729-1515.