Heritage Cemetery work set for summer months

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This article was published 24/01/2019 (1911 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As cemetery land continues to be filled, the City of Steinbach is hopeful the growing trend towards cremation burials allows it to maximize available space.

Tenders are expected to be issued in the coming weeks for work at Steinbach’s Heritage Cemetery, next to Eastman Education Centre, Parks and Recreation department head Russ Dyck told city council on Tuesday night.

Dyck noted to council that a major feature of the changes at the cemetery will be the incorporation of a cremation garden.

The city plans to dedicate a third of an acre in the 19.2 acre cemetery to a cremation garden, where cremation niches (above-ground compartments that hold cremation ashes) would be located. The first phase of that project would begin this year.

Asphalt work on the cemetery’s roadways and the addition of 740 more regular burial plots is also planned for this summer.

Dyck noted cremation is becoming more and more common. When he began his position in 2000, cremation accounted for about 4 to 5 percent of burials at city cemeteries. Last year, that number was at 16 percent.

Accommodating that growing trend has benefits for the city, Dyck noted.

About 2,000 cremation niches could potentially be placed in that one third of an acre space. In contrast, Dyck pointed out that the cemetery’s remaining 19 acres could only fit about 5,200 burial plots.

Cremation niches are expected to be available for sale in the fall, Dyck said.

The cost of niches (which can be used for two individuals) is expected to be around $3,500, similar to the price of purchasing two burial plots. Dyck noted people who select this burial option also save on the expense of a headstone because engraving on niches is included in costs.