Memorial Society of British Columbia

ATTENTION MEMBERS:

February 11, 2010. Joining the Society is your first step towards enjoying the lower cost funeral services offered to MSBC members by its Funeral Providers. But some members are still missing out on these savings. Why? Because at the time of death, the Funeral Provider may not realize that you are a member of the Society.

The Society respects your privacy and, for that reason, MSBC does not give your personal information to our Funeral Providers. Furthermore, the Providers do not have access to the Society's membership list. Hence, the person(s) responsible for you at your death must inform the Funeral Provider that you are a member of the Society and therefore eligible for the Society's pricing for goods and services.

To ensure that your funeral costs are kept low at the time of death, you must inform your family members and/or your executor before you die that you are a member of MSBC and impress upon them that they must tell the Funeral Provider that you are an MSBC member.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

December 8, 2009. The Memorial Society lost a treasured colleague and friend this week when Barbara White, long-time Port Alberni Branch Delegate to the Board, suddenly passed away. Barb (she liked the personal touch) had represented the Society in Port Alberni and district almost from the time she joined the MSBC in 1998. She shared volunteer staffing of an office in Port Alberni for a number of years and when she lost her co-volunteer, shared her personal office with the Society, being available at almost any time to provide counsel and support for members of her community, planning for, or going through the loss of a loved one. Barb, with a donation to the society, became a Sustaining Member of the MSBC in 2003. She actively promoted the Society by staffing booths at local fairs and exhibitions and soliciting distribution of our pamphlets by various corporations. Barb's support for MSBC knew no limit.

There will be a memorial service for Barb at Yates Funeral Services in Port Alberni on December 21, 2009. On behalf of the Board and Staff of the Memorial Society of BC, I extend our condolences to Barb's family. Barbara White was a presence. She will be deeply missed.

Gil Evans
Vice President
Memorial Society of British Columbia

NEWS:

November 27, 2009. The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Clayton's Funeral Directors 1981 Ltd. in Quesnel and Compassionate Care Funerals in Williams Lake have recently joined the growing list of Funeral Providers for MSBC, extending services to Prince George, Quesnel, Williams Lake and 100 Mile House.

CARE Funeral Services Ltd. of Victoria has also recently opened an office in Sidney, bringing the Society's total number of Providers throughout the province to forty.

July 24, 2009. The Board of Directors is sorry to note that MSBC member and former director of MSBC, Donald James "Don" Milligan, passed away suddenly on July 13, 2009. A service celebrating Don's life will be held Sunday, August 9th at 3pm at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver located at 49th and Oak Street. A reception will follow.

July 17, 2009. The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that CARE Funeral Services (Vancouver Island) Ltd. of Victoria BC is now a Funeral Provider for MSBC, joining our growing team of first-class funeral homes on Vancouver Island. We now have Providers spread throughout BC: Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, Okanagan, Kootenay, the Thompson River Region, and up the Cariboo highway.

Congratulations to all of our excellent Funeral Homes who are helping to fulfill MSBC's vision to make available more choices to our members throughout BC. We now cover 95% of BC's population!

June 5, 2009. The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that H.W. Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre Inc of Duncan BC is now a Funeral Provider for MSBC, joining our growing team of first-class funeral homes on Vancouver Island.

June 5, 2009. The Board of Directors wishes to inform its members that Telford's Mid Island Memorial Services has changed ownership. The Board is confident that the new owner, Mr. Greg Lonsdale, will continue to serve our membership with the same care and attention that all MSBC members have come to expect. We welcome Greg and wish him success in his new venture.

May 21, 2009. Today, at a meeting of the MSBC Board of Directors, The Venerable Dr. Robert MacRae announced his resignation as President of the Memorial Society of BC. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank "Bob" for his dedicated leadership over a demanding period of change for the Society. Dr. MacRae indicated that he simply found himself with too many obligations in the many organizations that he serves, and observed that his family would like to see him more than "once in a while". It has been a pleasure working with you, Bob.

Fortunately, the Society has enjoyed the services of a capable and experienced Director, John Groom, sitting as Vice President. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome John as our new President. The Board members and the MSBC staff look forward to working with you, John.

Sincerely,

Gil Evans
Board Member and Past President
Memorial Society of British Columbia

November, 2008. The Memorial Society is pleased to note that the Royal Oak Burial Park in Victoria is now open and has held what is believed to be the first green burial in British Columbia. The Memorial Society was honoured in April 2008 (see below) for its participation in this realization of BC's first green burial site.

Award-Winning Society

April 12, 2008. The Memorial Society of BC was honoured to receive the Vancouver Island Human Rights Coalition 2008 award for its initiative and work in assisting in the realization of the first green burial site in BC. The award was presented at Royal Roads University, Victoria. Senator Jean Forest, former Chancellor of the University of Alberta, presented the medal to The Venerable Dr. Robert MacRae, President of MSBC, who received it on behalf of the Society.

In his address to the gathered assembly, Dr. Allan Cahoon, President of RRU, said that it is important to acknowledge the work of individuals and groups that make significant contributions to the life of the larger community, especially in the area of environment. He was pleased this event was taking place in the context of a university that has been leading the country in environmental studies and research.

Senator Forest, herself a pioneer in the pursuit of Human Rights, congratulated Dr. MacRae and the Memorial Society for its pursuit of justice and the betterment of the community.

Celebrate over 50 years of service!

This is your Society
show your appreciation and support
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let's work together
you joined because you believed... share it with others!

The large crowd at the funeral of Sir James Douglas August 6, 1877 in Victoria. On the left is the Episcopal Church of Our Lord (current address 626 Blanchard Street). On top of the hill is Christ Church Anglican Cathedral which is across the street from the current Cathedral and on which the current law courts are situated.

"Like most families that suffer the loss of a loved one, the funeral expenses are an issue. That said, we had stumbled upon this information piece through a friend. It makes the burden so much easier to bear knowing that there is a plan that is affordable and one has a choice of which place they can use or afford. Funerals can be simple, dignified without costing a fortune. My family now is able to concentrate on our tragic loss of husband and father without the added burden of funeral costs.

"What a great service you provide and I will certainly be passing the information on to my friends and family."

"Thank you for your time and consideration."

"The attached cheque represents a small donation with sincere appreciation for the very excellent service I received from your telephone receptionist.

"Thank you!"

Heather M.
Surrey, B.C.

"Thank you for your assistance earlier this week regarding membership for my father...!"

Nancy S.
Burnaby, B.C.

When you die, those you leave behind will be most vulnerable. They may have to make over 100 decisions about your funeral. Will they know what to do? Do you want to lighten their burden? If yes, then join the Memorial Society of British Columbia.

For 50 years the Memorial Society of B.C. has helped its members plan funerals that are simple, dignified and affordable. Membership gives you peace of mind, assurance that your final wishes will be fulfilled, and reduced stress for your family at time of need. Effective September 2, 2006, Members will enjoy more protection, better prices and service with new, Canadian, familiy owned and operated designated funeral homes.

Planning your funeral is a way to say, "Farewell". It could be your most memorable gift to those you love.

As a member of the Memorial Society of British Columbia ^®, you can plan your farewell in the confidence that you have the largest consumer group in B.C. protecting your interests -- and the interests of your loved ones when it's time to make funeral arrangements. For 50 years, the Memorial Society has advocated on behalf of people like you for simplicity, dignity, and affordability in funeral services. Simply put, you have someone on your side.

Why join the Memorial Society?

protect you from predatory marketing and sales practices
preferred pricing on funeral services available only to Society members through our contracted funeral services providers
support for planning and recording your wishes
reduced family stress at the time of death

As a member of the Memorial Society, you will share these goals with over 200,000 other members:

to assist you in planning arrangements for your funeral;
to assist and support your loved ones while making funeral arrangements;
to promote environmentally sound arrangements for disposal of remains;
to ensure the availability of reasonably priced funeral arrangements through written contracts with selected funeral services providers;
to monitor the practices and performance of funeral service providers so you don't buy more than you want or need;
to monitor and encourage government programs;
to engage in educational programs;
to promote the continuance of a dynamic and responsible Memorial Society.

Other advantages offered to members of the Memorial Society can be found in the brief summary of
Membership Benefits.

How all British Columbians benefit:

Your support for the Memorial Society of B.C. ensures that access to simple, dignified, reasonably priced funeral options continues to be available to all British Columbians, as they have been since 1956. The Memorial Society of B.C. performs a significant role as a consumer advocate. Thanks to your support of the Memorial Society, 'Memorial Society Pricing' is becoming more common.

What do I have to pay?

$40 individual lifetime membership, or
$50 a sustaining membership, which includes a donation to the Society
$35 Records (administration) Fee is collected by the Funeral Provider on behalf of the Memorial Society at time of death.

To join the Memorial Society, click on the Join button on the left menu.

Members: call us to get your new membership card and update your address: 1-888-816-5902 or e-mail us: mail@memsoc.org. This is the number that should be on your membership card: 1-888-816-5902, and no other.