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Year In Review — Items removed from cemetery

When mementoes were removed from graves at Canyon View Cemetery in June, the community was outraged.

When flower pots, figurines and other mementoes were removed from graves at Canyon View Cemetery and taken to a nearby municipal property in June, the community was outraged.

The removal was part of a larger maintenance and clean-up effort at the cemetery.

At the June 11 council meeting, many expressed their disgust and disappointment with the removal.

“I find it very disrespectful for the living and the dead. It hurts,” said Donna Waddington, one of those affected by the removal.

The clean-up had been advertised in the Summerland Review twice in March and notices were also placed at the cemetery.

Members of council and the public works superintendent apologized for the removal.

“My heart goes out to the public and also to the staff members who had to do the job,” Coun. Martin van Alphen said at the time. “I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant.”

As a result of the incident, municipal council and staff reviewed the bylaw governing how items may be placed at the cemetery.

The revised policy was drafted in November.

 



John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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