Rules & Regulations
Most of these exist for one of two reasons: so the grass can be cut safely, or so that nothing placed on one grave damages another.
This page is a plain-language summary. The cemetery’s formal by-law, approved by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, is the binding document and governs where the two differ. Ask us for a copy — there is no charge, and every interment rights holder is entitled to one.
Hours and conduct
- The grounds are open daily from dawn until dusk. There is no charge to visit.
- Vehicles must keep to the roadways. Please do not drive on the grass.
- Please stay off adjoining graves, and take particular care around older stones.
- Dogs are welcome on a leash. Please clean up after them.
- No hunting, no firearms, no motorised recreational vehicles, no alcohol.
- Rubbings of monuments require our permission. Some older stones are too fragile.
- Commercial photography, filming and drone flights require written permission. Private photographs for family or family-history purposes are welcome and need no permission.
Decorations and plantings
We know these rules are the ones families care about most, and we try to apply them with judgement rather than severity. The underlying problem is simple: this cemetery is mown by volunteers with machinery, and anything hidden in long grass is a hazard to the person pushing the mower and to the stones nearby.
Normally permitted
- Cut flowers, in an unbreakable vase or a vase set into the monument base.
- Artificial flowers, in season — see the clean-up dates below.
- Seasonal wreaths and grave blankets, in winter.
- Flags, and veterans’ markers.
- Small, temporary remembrances placed directly on the monument or its base.
Not permitted
- Glass of any kind, including glass vases, jars and candle holders. Broken glass in mown grass is dangerous and effectively impossible to remove.
- Ground-level fencing, edging, borders, chains, gravel or patio stones. These make mowing around a grave impossible and tend to shift and damage neighbouring lots.
- Shrubs and trees planted by families. Roots reach monument foundations, and the cemetery inherits a mature tree it did not choose and cannot easily remove.
- Free-standing ornaments, statuary, benches, shepherd’s hooks and solar lights placed on the grass, unless approved by the cemetery in advance.
- Open flame. Candles and lanterns are a fire risk in dry grass.
- Anything that obstructs access to a neighbouring lot.
Before you place something unusual, just ask
If an item matters to your family and is not covered above, write to us. We would far rather discuss it with you first than remove it afterwards. Send us a note.
Seasonal clean-up
Twice a year the grounds are cleared so that spring mowing and autumn leaf clearance can be done properly. Anything removed is held for a short period before disposal.
| Period | What happens |
|---|---|
| Spring clean-up [TO BE CONFIRMED - dates] |
Winter wreaths, grave blankets and weathered artificial flowers are removed before the first cut of the season. |
| Autumn clean-up [TO BE CONFIRMED - dates] |
Summer plantings, pots and faded decorations are removed ahead of leaf clearance and the first frost. |
If there is something you wish to keep, please collect it before the dates above. We are glad to set an item aside if you tell us in advance which grave it is on.
Monuments and markers
- Written approval from the cemetery is required before any monument, marker or foundation is installed.
- Size, material and placement must comply with the by-law for the section concerned. Ask us before ordering a stone; a monument dealer’s assurance is not a substitute for our approval.
- Upright monuments require a concrete foundation built to the cemetery’s specification.
- The Care & Maintenance contribution set by provincial regulation is payable before installation. Rates are on the price list.
- Installations by a third party may be inspected, and a stake-out may be required so that the monument goes on the correct lot.
- Only the cemetery may move, level or re-set a monument.
Who maintains what
| Item | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Mowing, trimming, leaf clearance | Cemetery |
| Roads, fences, gates, trees | Cemetery |
| Settling or sinking of the grave surface | Cemetery |
| Re-setting a monument that has become unsafe | Cemetery, as resources allow |
| Cleaning, repairing or re-lettering a monument | Interment rights holder |
| Replacing a monument damaged by weather, age or vandalism | Interment rights holder |
Cleaning an old stone
Please do not use bleach, acid, vinegar, pressure washers or wire brushes on a historic monument. They cause irreversible damage to marble and limestone, and the damage often takes a few seasons to become visible. Plain water, a soft brush and patience are safe. For anything more, ask us — there is a conservation-grade biocide widely used on heritage stone, and we can tell you how to use it.
Interment rights
- An interment right conveys the right to direct burial in a specific lot. It does not convey ownership of the land.
- Burial in a lot requires the written authorisation of the current interment rights holder.
- Transfers must be recorded by the cemetery; an administration fee applies.
- Please keep your certificate safe, and tell your executor where it is.
- Disinterment requires the rights holder’s consent and, in most cases, a licence from the province.
Complaints
If something here is wrong — a mistake in the register, a decoration removed that should not have been, work not done — please tell us first and give us the chance to put it right. Write to us.
If we cannot resolve it, the Bereavement Authority of Ontario regulates Ontario cemeteries and accepts complaints from the public at 647-483-2645 or info@thebao.ca.
Last reviewed [TO BE CONFIRMED - date]. The cemetery reserves the right to amend these rules; material changes will be posted here and at the cemetery entrance.