A Grave Concern

Written by Gary Holdgrafer

This is a joint communication of Island Futures and Gabriola Green Burial Exploratory Committee.

The Gabriola Green Burial Exploration Committee (GGBEC) was established at the request of Island Futures (IF) to explore the possibility of a green or natural burial cemetery on Gabriola with the support of IF. 

Green burial, also known as natural burial, appears as the more commonly used term. The  body is not embalmed. It is buried directly in the earth, wrapped in a shroud or placed in a biodegradable container and allowed to decompose naturally to be environmentally friendly.

Green burial cemeteries are commonly called natural burial cemeteries. They are located in the natural environment often in a forested or wilderness area. The land is restored to its natural state after burials. This is called “rewilding” where nature takes over. Examples are the natural burial cemeteries on Denman and Salt Spring Islands pictured below.

The critical first challenge is finding suitable land that has broad community acceptance and  appropriate zoning. The current Gabriola Cemetery resides on donated land as does the Natural Burial Cemetery on Denman Island. The committee is considering suggestions it has for potential land donation and welcomes others.

The Gabriola cemetery has ample space for cremation plots and scattering of ashes, but is approaching capacity for full body burials. There is erosion of the bank into False Narrows causing gravesites of Gabriola pioneers to slip into the water. This was reported by Jared Hooper, Chair of the Gabriola Cemetery Commission in the April 11, 2017 Sounder. The cemetery is an important part of community history.

The GGBEC is volunteered-based. It is Co-Chaired by Mary and Gary Holdgrafer, hosts of the Gabriola Death Cafe. Members include Jared Hooper, Chair of the Gabriola Cemetery Commission, Leah Prentice and Elfi Shaw, founders of the Gabriola Death Care Collective, community members Maureen Wild, Kristina Baerg as well as Laura-Jean Kelly and Cameron Murray who are also principles of Topographics Landscape Architecture.

We began meeting in December in an expected multi-year process with community consultation. We have gathered resources and reached out to both Denman and Salt Spring Island for advice. Committee members have made field trips to the natural burial cemeteries there.

We are working with the Gabriola Cemetery Commission. They expressed support for a natural burial cemetery while continuing current services. There have been green burials there but it is not a natural burial cemetery. We have also consulted with the Green Burial Society of Canada which has offered support.

Our email address is naturalcemeterygabriola@gmail.com.

This is the first of a planned series of articles on green or natural burial from GGBEC as part of the communication plan with the community.