Funerals and Cremations in Ontario
Dealing with a recent death
is an extremely sad and stressful experience, this article outlines some
of the basic requirements and legislation in Ontario governing funeral
homes and what to do when a death occurs.
There are in the region of
700 Funeral
Homes in Ontario, around 70 cemeteries and 60 crematoriums
in Ontario. All Funeral Homes are listed on Canadian Funerals
Online to assist you locate a licensed local Funeral Provider at your time
of need. The Board of Funeral Services - Conseil des services funéraires,
serves the public of Ontario by providing consumer information regarding
the laws governing the sale and purchase of funerals. The board also
provides information on the pre-arranging
of funeral services in Ontario. Funeral
directors in Ontario are governed by the Funeral Directors and Establishments
Act 1990 and the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act 2002.
Registering the Death in Ontario
One of the first things you
will need to do is register the death. The attending physician or
coroner supplies a Medical Certificate of Death, which should be given
to the Funeral Director who collects the deceased. Your funeral director
will usually submit the Medical Certificate of Death and the Statement
of Death to the local municipal clerk’s office. After the death is
formally registered, you may apply for a death certificate. A death
certificate application can be made online or in person, by mail or by
fax. It ordinarily takes approximately 12 weeks for a death certificate
to be issued. The fee is $15 or $22 depending on the size of certificate
issued.
Disposition Arrangements in
Ontario
The next of kin normally make
the funeral arrangements, and this will be influenced by whether the deceased
had any funeral plan or expressed
any specific funeral wishes.
Embalming in Ontario
Embalming is not required by
law in Ontario, and embalming does NOT prevent decomposition of the body.
However embalming the body does enable mourners to view the deceased if
they wish, especially if there is a delay before a funeral can be conducted.
The law requires embalming
when the body is shipped into or out of Ontario or by a public carrier.
Burials in Ontario
If a burial is required you
will require a casket or coffin. It is possible to purchase cheap
caskets in Ontario by using one of the many casket suppliers, and checking
prices for buying a casket online.
Most funeral homes supply caskets and this is the most expensive item of
funeral merchandise, therefore there is a significant mark-up on casket
prices when you buy directly from a funeral home. It is very wise
to check prices before making a commitment to purchase a casket.
If a burial is being performed,
then a burial plot will be required. Most cemeteries have their own regulations
governing the erection of grave markers, so it is wise to fully check cemetery
regulation before committing to any vault, grave liner or grave marker
purchases
Cremations in Ontario
If you are opting for a cremation
in Ontario, then a casket or container will be required for the funeral
service. Many funeral homes will offer a rental casket for the use of the
funeral service, prior to a cremation. A basic container can be used for
cremation purposes, and a cremation urn will be required for the cremated
remains. There are a range of cremation urns available to purchase,
and again a great choice of cheap cremation urns are easily available to
purchase online.
Disposition of Cremated Remains
in Ontario
In Ontario, there appears to
be a misconception that the law prohibits ash scattering. This is
NOT the case, although you must carefully consider the options for the
disposition of cremated remains. There is no need to obtain consent from
the provincial government to scatter on Crown lands, but those wishing
to scatter on municipally owned areas of the lakeshore, municipal waterways
and parkland must gain permission from the appropriate town or city in
Ontario.
Many cemeteries are now offering
columbarium niches (or niche walls), which are the structures that have
either glass or stone fronts. A family can purchase the rights to use one
compartment, which is normally capable of holding two containers or urns.
Ash scattering can be performed in a variety of ways, which can uniquely
memorialize the deceased.
If the death occurs out-of-province
or outside of Canada
With the increasing transient
nature of Canadians, more Ontarians are having to deal with a death away
from home. Your funeral home can assist you by coordinating arrangements
with a funeral home in the town or country of death, arranging the transportation
of human remains and the required administration. If you need
advice concerning funeral shipping please ‘click
here’ to contact us.
Organizations & Agencies
that need informing of a death in Ontario
Unfortunately there are a number
of agencies that need to be notified of the death of an individual, In
order to ensure the estate of the deceased is properly closed, and this
can be distressing for the bereaved. The Canadian Revenue Agency
should be notified for tax purposes.
If the death was unexpected,
no doctor or emergency services are available, or you have concerns about
the circumstances of the death, then contact your local coroner’s office
in Toronto.
Ministry of Community Safety
and Correctional Services, 18th Floor, 25 Grosvenor Street, Toronto ON
M7A 1Y6
Phone: 416 326-5000 Toll
free 1-866-517-0571
Complaining about Funeral Services
in Ontario
If you have a grievance concerning
a funeral
director’s services in Ontario, you should attempt to resolve this
in the first instance with the funeral home concerned. If you do
not gain a satisfactory resolution, then a formal complaint may be made
in writing to the Board of Funeral Services - Conseil des services funéraires:
777 Bay Street, Suite 2810,
Box 117, Toronto, ON M5G 2C8, Canada
Alberta,
British
Columbia, Manitoba,
New
Brunswick, Newfoundland
& Labrador, Northwest
Territories
Nova
Scotia, Ontario,
Prince
Edward Island, Quèbec,
Saskatchewan,
Yukon
Funeral
Sympathy Flowers - Funeral Homes
- Funeral Contacts - A
Celebration of Life - Choosing
a funeral home - Contacting
the Funeral Home - Pre-planning
a Funeral - Canada Funeral Home Directory
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