Cemeteries

Cemetery Updates:

Cemetery Information and Funeral Update - COVID-19

Service Update: COVID-19

Due to the evolving situation with COVID-19, cemetery staff will continue to meet clients at cemeteries or the office by appointment to facilitate; lot sales, service arrangements, marker and fall monument installations. Genealogical requests will not be accepted at this time. Cemetery burial services will continue to be offered. Please contact the Cemetery Office for more information at 519.442.3822.

Funeral Update:

In light of the Government of Ontario's announcement of changes to province-wide gathering limits, Registrar Carey Smith has issued the following directive regarding maximum gathering limits at cemeteries. This Directive rescinds the Registrar's Directive issued September 18 and is effective September 21, 2020.

Maximum at cemeteries

Until further notice, all cemeteries in the County of Brant will limit attendance to a maximum of 50 people (not counting staff) at all gatherings, attendances, funerals, visitations, funeral receptions, and graveside services, provided:

The service is under the control and direction of a funeral director.
Funeral directors have one staff member for every 10 attendees to properly manage the gathering and ensure physical distancing is maintained.
Guests are registered/logged to enable contact tracing.

If a request is made to exceed 50 people, the County of Brant will consider the request on a case by case basis.

https://thebao.ca/registrars-directive-province-wide-cemetery-gathering-limits/

Updated Cemetery By-Law Number 119-13

Please find changes to the By-Law highlighted in yellow in the document below:

BY-LAW NUMBER 119-13

The County of Brant manages 11 active cemeteries where burial services are offered year-round.

Throughout the County, there are 25 inactive cemeteries where loved ones are honoured. Much of Brant's history is commemorated by the settlers that rest in our cemeteries.

The Margaret Graham Memorial Chapel in Paris has available services at no charge for families. The chapel can seat 80 people.

To explore the rich history and heritage that is hidden within the local cemeteries, view the Heritage Cemetery Driving Tour.

2020 Cemetery Decoration Days:

Please be advised that Decoration Day will be held at the following cemeteries

Burford Pioneer Burford Congregational

Please be advised that a Decoration Day will be held this Sunday, August 9th at the Burford Pioneer Cemetery, details can be found below:

Burford Pioneer & Burford Congregational
Sunday, August 9th
Service will be held at 2:00 pm at the Columbarium at the Burford Pioneer Cemetery.

Family and friends are welcome to place flowers (real or artificial) at the graveside. Glass containers, pottery or wires are not allowed, as they are a hazard to staff and the public. In order to keep the cemeteries clean and neat in appearance, our staff will dispose of withered flowers the
following week, and artificial flowers when in poor condition.

Please remember to practice physical distancing when visiting cemeteries.

Enjoy this years Decoration Day in your community.

Oakland & Scotland Cemeteries

Please be advised of the following Cemetery Decoration
Day in the County of Brant:

Oakland & Scotland Cemeteries
Sunday, September 6th

Services will not be held but family and friends are
encouraged to decorate with flowers (real or artificial) at the
graveside. Glass containers, pottery or wires are not allowed,
as they are a hazard to staff and the public.
In order to keep the cemeteries clean and neat in
appearance, our staff will dispose of withered flowers the
following week, and artificial flowers when in poor condition.

Please remember to practice physical distancing when visiting cemeteries.

Enjoy this years Decoration Day in your community.
Brandon Chilvers, Cemetery Operations Supervisor
(519) 442-3822

Mt. Pleasant Cemetery

Please be advised of the following Cemetery Decoration
Day in the County of Brant:

Mt. Pleasant Cemetery
Sunday, September 13th

Services will not be held but family and friends are
encouraged to decorate with flowers (real or artificial) at the
graveside. Glass containers, pottery or wires are not allowed,
as they are a hazard to staff and the public.
In order to keep the cemeteries clean and neat in
appearance, our staff will dispose of withered flowers the
following week, and artificial flowers when in poor condition.

Please remember to practice physical distancing when visiting cemeteries.

Enjoy this years Decoration Day in your community.
Brandon Chilvers, Cemetery Operations Supervisor
(519) 442-3822

Northfield Cemetery

Please look back for 2020 dates.

Family and friends are welcome to place flowers (real or artificial) at the graveside. Glass containers, pottery or wires are not allowed, as they are a hazard to the public and staff. In order to keep the cemeteries clean and neat in appearance, staff will dispose of withered flowers the following week, and artificial flowers when in poor condition. Enjoy this year's Decoration Day in your community.

Cemetery Bylaw

Cemetery bylaws govern the operation of county cemeteries. Read the cemetery bylaw for more detailed information.

Genealogy Requests

For those who are interested in finding a family member, genealogy requests are accepted at the Cemetery Office. To conduct a search of records the following information is required:

Name of the cemetery
Full name of the person
Date or approximate year of death

Some of the records on file for cemeteries are not complete, therefore we may not be able to provide you with the information you request. Please call 519.442.3822 for information. The following resources will also assist you in your family history research:

Online cemetery records for thousands of cemeteries world-wide - www.interment.net
Brant County Genealogical Society - 519.753.4140
The Paris Museum and Historical Society - 519.442.9295
The Burford Township Historical Society - 519.449.1792
The South Dumfries Historical Society - 519.448.3265
The County of Brant Public Library online historical collection and local history book collections - www.brantlibrary.ca