A Vision for Gabriola

A Vision For Gabriola

A vision for Gabriola will ultimately be tied to the land we acquire, the wishes of the community and our financial resources. In our early discussions and information gathering phase, we looked to the natural cemeteries on Denman and Salt Spring Island. Board members visited both sites and had the opportunity to speak with the operators about all aspects of their experiences establishing and now running their cemeteries. From these discussion the board decided early on that we wanted to pursue a community non-profit model, operating at cost-recovery to keep things local and affordable. We are committed to serving as many people as we can who have strong ties to Gabriola as residents or extended family, or as members of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. A few other key things we’ve learned that we hope to incorporate in a Gabriola site:

  1. Having a location within or adjacent to a conservation area with trails for walking and spaces to sit in contemplation;

  2. Designing a space which facilitates a transition from our daily world into one that is sacred and peaceful;

  3. Ensuring the burial needs and desires of the Snuneymuxw First Nation are met by working with them to design a separate space if they choose;

  4. Building a small covered area for gathering and tool storage, and including a small area for parking; and

  5. Having a community memorial and a small scattering garden.

The Search for Suitable Land

Acquiring land is a significant challenge for GIMS. There are a number of important considerations including setback from wells, soil depth and composition, and ease of access that shape what land might be suitable for a natural cemetery. We continue to look for private parcels where a land owner might be interested in a less than market value sale or ideally, a tax receipt for the land. We also don’t need to own the land, we are open to operating under agreement with a land holder. We will continue to meet with our representatives in government to discuss possible options, and collaborate with other non-profit organizations on and off island who value environmental stewardship and protection.

If you or someone you know can help in our search for land please contact: naturalburialgabriola@gmail.com.

A Closer Look at the Denman and Salt Spring Islands’ Natural Burial Cemeteries.

Denman Island Natural Burial Cemetery

The natural cemetery operated by the Denman Island Memorial Society (DIMS) is run as a community non-profit cemetery and serves the past and present residents and landowners of Denman Island and their families. The site is located on a 1.06 ha parcel donated by the Denman Conservancy Association who continues to hold a conservation covenant on the land. The cemetery has been operating since 2015 and employs a part-time manager. It has a non-covered gathering space between two curved concrete memorial walls. Individual graves are not marked but individual bronze plaques, installed on the memorial walls, record every burial. The Denman Island Natural Burial Cemetery sells burial plots on a “pre-need” or “at-need” basis and they have a small scattering garden for cremated remains.

The DIMS website provides information and resources on many aspects of green burial.

Visit DIMS

Photos of the Denman Island Natural Burial Cemetery.

Salt Spring Island Natural Cemetery

The natural cemetery on Salt Spring Island (SSINC) is a for profit business run by Cathy Valentine and Gavin Johnston. It opened in 2020 and is situated on over 5 hectares of their family farm. SSINC offers burials to anyone, regardless of place of residence or connection to the Salt Spring community. Interment here is done in natural clearings of the forest and burial plots are sold on a “pre-need” or “at-need” basis. There is a small covered area with a fire pit for gathering, an adjacent washroom and parking. Memorialization is at individual grave sites with etched stones sourced from the property. There is a also a small scattering garden.

The SSINC website has great information on their services and green burial in general. There are links to many media interviews and print articles about them.

Visit SSINC

Photos of the Salt Spring Island Natural Cemetery.