Natural burial is legal in Canada although not all cemeteries or funeral service providers accommodate it. It is gaining popularity as more people seek environmentally responsible end-of-life options that reconnect them with traditional burial practices. This approach honours longstanding customs of returning the body directly to the earth fostering a sense of continuity and respect for the natural cycle of life and death. As awareness of environmental impact grows, natural burial offers a meaningful alternative that aligns with ecological values and for some, spiritual and cultural values as well.

Cemetery lands are protected in perpetuity through a Certificate of Public Interest issued on the property title by the provincial government. All cemeteries must be licensed as a Place of Interment and are required to hold 25% of all monies paid in a perpetual care fund to ensure the property is looked after for generations to come.

The GIMS mandate is to serve the residents and former residents of Gabriola, Mudge and Decourcy Islands and their extended families and members of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. We see this site as a community resource and most meaningful to people who have strong ties to Gabriola.

Natural burials are less expensive than conventional burials and often the simple materials used - like shrouds or pine coffins - are modestly priced too. Further, GIMS is committed to operating a natural burial site as a community resource at a cost-recovery basis to ensure it accessible to everyone.

We understand from our friends at the Gabriola Cemetery that they average about 12 interments each year. We can expect that number will increase slightly over time but to reach capacity, even in just one acre of space, we expect it would take a very long time. The Gabriola Community Cemetery was established in 1882 and is located on only .6 acres of land.

There are many factors that go into valuing a property. While some people may have reservations about living close to a natural burial site, others may find the location desirable due to the beautiful setting and peacefulness these sites offer. Studies show that when evaluating property next to a cemetery, generally there is no negative impact to property value.

The folks at the Gabriola Community Cemetery estimate that the largest attendance at an interment in recent years was around 40 people, but they advise most services are usually much smaller affairs with 5-15 people attending. We don’t anticipate that the establishment of a natural burial site would result in a significant increase in neighbourhood traffic. Depending on the eventual site we secure and community feedback, we hope to accommodate a small off street parking area to minimize inconvenience to neighbours.

The World Health Organization looked at a number of studies regarding the impacts of cemeteries on the environment and human health and concluded that the pollution potential from a well managed and suitably located cemetery is minimal. Most cemetery pollution comes not from the body but from the stuff often buried with it - coffins treated with varnish and sealers, synthetic fibres, embalming fluids, concrete vaults, and toxic ingredients from fertilizers used in landscaping by traditional cemeteries. Natural burial sites do not allow use of any of these.

A burial site in British Columbia must have a setback of 120 metres or more from a well. Surface water runoff and other considerations including adequate soil composition and depth are part of the careful planning that goes into selecting a natural burial site. Geotechnical work to identify surface water and runoff patterns will be completed for any land under consideration to ensure it is absolutely safe.

The optimal depth for burial is 4 feet with about 2 feet of soil covering the body - at this depth there is no scent to attract animals. A number of studies have concluded this concern is without merit and anecdotal evidence from natural burial sites around the world indicate scavenging animals are not a concern.

A natural burial most often takes place within 1 to 7 days after death depending on medical, legal, logistical and family factors, but there is no prescribed time frame.

All burial sites must keep detailed information about the location of gravesites so each site is surveyed and the coordinates are recorded in cemetery records. Natural burial sites that don’t use markers on individual graves can locate specific sites using gps. Generally families don’t come to visit a specific gravesites when they visit a natural burial cemetery but rather, they come and spend time walking the trails or sitting at a place of community memorial.

One of the most important goals of a natural burial site is to ensure the rewilding of the land after burial. Some planting of native flora may be planned but the land will naturally regenerate with plants, shrubs, mosses and other native species. Aside from placing flowers at the time of burial, further planting, as needed, will be done by the Gabriola Island Memorial Society in accordance with a management plan. More details about how the site will be developed and managed will be finalized once we know what land we are working with.

We anticipate cremated remains will be accepted for burial or scattering. Cremation is still a popular option and we want to accommodate that choices for our community members that make it. Cremated remains are high in pH and saline which can be harmful to plant roots and soil so mixing the ashes with an amendment will be required before they are returned to the earth to mitigate any potential damage.

We are firm supporters of natural ecosystem restoration and protection and believe natural burial sites are one of the best ways of protecting land in perpetuity. All burial sites are under covenant so a well managed site with natural walking trails and meditative spaces that encourages community use functions essentially as parkland as well.

Most natural burial sites will accept bodies with medical implants. Burying non-biodegradable material is never ideal but it is better than the alternative of cremation or conventional burial.