The City of Kelowna is taking steps to reclaim unused burial plots that were sold more than 50 years ago at the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery. The cemetery is requesting that those who have rights to these plots, or their immediate family members, notify the cemetery by October 7th of their intent to either use, transfer, or surrender their Right of Interment Permit. If no action is taken, the cemetery will reclaim these unused plots. According to Tracey Hillis, the cemetery manager, the purpose of this reclamation project is to ensure responsible management of cemetery land and to make space available for those who want to be buried in the local cemetery.
Due to the age of the permits, those issued in 1973 and earlier do not have detailed contact information for the purchasers, or the provided information is no longer valid. This lack of contact information is prompting the cemetery to reclaim these unused plots. If the original plot holder has passed away, immediate family members may be eligible to use the original Right of Interment Permit for a casket burial. Reclamation of unused burial plots is a standard practice for cemeteries around the world, and in British Columbia, it is regulated by the Cremation, Interment, and Funeral Services Act. The act allows cemeteries to reclaim permits that were sold 50 or more years prior, as long as efforts have been made to contact the original permit holder and a waiting period of 90 days has passed.
Individuals who may be impacted by this reclamation project are encouraged to send an email to the cemetery at [email protected]. The Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery is providing a five-month notification period before reclaiming the unused permits to allow affected individuals the opportunity to take action. The goal of this project is to prevent unused burial plots from taking up valuable cemetery space that could be utilized by individuals who wish to be buried at the local cemetery. By reclaiming these unused permits, the city is ensuring that cemetery land is being managed responsibly and effectively.
The reclamation of unused burial plots is a necessary practice to ensure that cemetery land is being used efficiently and that space is being made available for individuals who wish to be interred at the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery. By reclaiming unused Right of Interment Permits that were sold over 50 years ago, the city is taking steps to manage cemetery land responsibly and prevent valuable space from being left unused indefinitely. This project aligns with regulations set by the Cremation, Interment, and Funeral Services Act in British Columbia, which allows cemeteries to reclaim permits that have not been used for an extended period of time.
Those who have rights to the burial plots or their immediate family members have until October 7th to inform the cemetery of their intentions regarding the unused permits. If no action is taken, the cemetery will reclaim these permits to free up space for future burials in the local cemetery. This proactive approach by the City of Kelowna and the Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery reflects a commitment to responsible management of cemetery land and ensuring that resources are used effectively to serve the needs of the community. The reclamation project will help to maintain the integrity of the cemetery and make space available for those who wish to be buried at this historic site.
