Cemeteries

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 spring 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:

June 13, 2020

As per the provincial government’s announcement today, the COVID-19 maximum attendance restriction has been changed to a 30 per cent capacity rule for funerals and visitations.

• The number of people allowed to attend an indoor funeral ceremony is a maximum of 30 per cent of the capacity of the funeral home or venue.  
• Funeral services taking place outdoors will be limited to 50 attendees.

Everyone must follow proper health and safety advice, including physical distancing of two metres from people who are not from the same household or their established 10-person social circle. 

Note, that if you advertise a funeral, visitation or gathering in any medium you must state this limitation or link to this directive at https://thebao.ca/registrars-directive/

For more information, visit https://thebao.ca/registrars-directive/

Visiting a grave?

We want to assure the public they can visit County of Brant Cemeteries, but please be mindful of COVID-19 protocols. We would like to encourage families to find alternative ways to remember and celebrate their loved ones such as phone calls and online video conferences.

Residents are being reminded to abide by the Provincial Order regarding social gatherings which bans gatherings of more than 10 people (not from the same household). Please remember to practice physical distancing and to keep at least two metres (6 feet) apart from others.

Visitors to the cemetery should be patient and expect short waiting times as other families may be in the vicinity of their loved one’s grave.

Family and friends are welcome to place flowers (real or artificial) at the graveside. In order to keep the cemeteries clean and neat in appearance, staff will dispose of withered flowers and artificial flowers when in poor condition.

For more information about the planting of flowerbeds and dwarf shrubs, please refer to the Cemetery By-law 119-13 at www.brant.ca/CemeteryBylaw

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:

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